Private MD News

Schools push STD testing to lower rates

Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Colleges across the country taking part of national STD Awareness Week are stressing the role that sexual health plays in the overall wellbeing of their students, and are especially emphasizing the importance of getting an STD test.

The University of Connecticut is hoping a week-long event offering free STD testing and services for individuals who test positive for certain diseases will boost the numbers of young people getting tested.

School nurse Jane Bainbridge told the school's newspaper that she typically sees more students seeking tests during events like this, which is a positive movement given the problems that can come from leaving an STD untreated.

“Many STDs have no symptoms,” she told the newspaper. “With this in mind, having an untreated STD can lead to serious complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease which can affect fertility in females. Males can also be affected with infertility due to complications.”

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that STD testing is one of the most important things individuals can do to help stop the spread of infections, and protect themselves.