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CDC tells college students to get an STD test

Category: Chlamydia

As part of the national STD Awareness Month, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention are targeting college campuses to talk about the stigma associated with STD Testing.

Representatives of the organization recently hosted a telephone press conference in which they stressed the importance of students getting tested, even if it's not something that is talked about much on a college campus.

"The reality is that stigma, shame and lack of testing remain some of the key factors that contribute to the high number of STD infections in our country today," said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC's National Center for STD prevention. "Young men and women have to take the responsibility of protecting themselves and their partners, and STD testing is one of the most effective prevention tools available."

Fenton added that a major goal of the campaign is to reverse the stigma surrounding testing, and make it something people will be proud of.

The CDC is focusing on college campuses particularly because, according to their estimates, almost half of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 have some kind of STD.