Risky Relationships

By Caitlin Yilek, Staff Writer -- yilek12@up.edu

After Pope Benedict XVI's recent comments about the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS potentially being a "step toward moral responsibility," sexually active college students may wonder if the same principle applies to other sexually transmitted diseases, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia.

Aside from the moral and theological concerns surrounding the pope's comments, STDs are an important health concern in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though the CDC estimates the number of gonorrhea cases is declining, chlamydia and syphilis are on the rise.

The numbers may be especially relevant to the younger generation, including college students.

Young adults ages 15 to 24 represent one-fourth of people who are sexually active, yet they acquire nearly half of all STDs, sometimes called sexually transmitted infections, or STIs.

"It sounds more ‘trendy' or politically correct," Kaye Wilson-Anderson, associate professor in the School of Nursing, said. "An infection is something you can give to someone else, it is not just a disease."

According to Mark Bajorek, director of Health Services at Portland State University, over half of all sexually active college age students are exposed to HPV. Twenty percent contract genital herpes and between one and two percent are diagnosed with chlamydia.

Tim Crump, assistant director of primary care at the University Health Center, says UP does not have statistics for students with sexually transmitted diseases because not all students receive their primary healthcare from the UP Health Center. However, UP has treated students with HPV, chlamydia and genital herpes.

"Occasionally there are abnormal pap smears due to the HPV infection," Crump said. "I would guess we see anywhere from 10 to 20 abnormal pap smears in a year."

Crump says the Health Center usually treats three to four cases of chlamydia in a given year. However, there has never been a case of HIV, syphilis or gonorrhea in the 13 years that Crump has worked at UP.

According to Bajorek, PSU has an average of one case of HIV every two years. These students tend to be male.

"Many males think that HIV is just a disease that old men contract, but young guys are diagnosed as well," Bajorek said.

The correct and consistent use of latex condoms for males can reduce the risk of contracting an STD, especially HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to the CDC's fact sheet on condoms. However, the fact sheet also says condoms are not as effective at preventing HPV and genital herpes.

"The most reliable ways to avoid transmission of STDs are to abstain from sexual activity, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner," the CDC fact sheet says.

Because UP is a Catholic university, the University Health Center advocates abstinence over all other forms of prevention of STDs, according to Crump.

"We emphasize that you can get an STI with all types of sex, like oral sex, which is often forgotten," Crump said.

Though UP advocates abstinence, the Health Center does offer STD screening.

"(The Health Center) offers STI testing through the state at lower costs," Crump said. "However, with exams, we are also encouraging students to think through the implications of their own actions and how to best protect themselves."

Crump says students who are under the influence of alcohol or other substances are much more likely to contract an STD than those that forgo such activities.

"(There is a) connection between substance use and engaging in higher risk behavior, such as unprotected sex or sexual activity in general," Crump said.

Wilson-Anderson says many students believe contracting an STD will not happen to them.

"College students live in the moment," Wilson-Anderson said. "They are not thinking past this moment, but students need to think ahead."

According to Wilson-Anderson, students need to take care of their bodies.

"Many students go untreated when they know something is wrong," Wilson-Anderson said. "They don't want anyone to know something is wrong or they might be embarrassed to seek help, but they really need to follow through."

Wilson-Anderson, Crump and Bajorek agree that females tend to have more STDs than males because of their anatomy. Uncircumcised males also have a greater risk of becoming infected than those who are circumcised.

"Bacteria is able to grow easier in female anatomy or males who are uncircumcised because the area is encased," Wilson-Anderson said.

"Women tend to be infected or affected more because of secretions left on the internal skin, which makes it easier for a virus or bacteria to establish itself," Bajorek said.

However, Crump says the reported numbers may be higher for females because women routinely have pap smears, which identify any STDs or other abnormalities.

Because some STDs are asymptomatic, which means that the symptoms are not noticeable, Wilson-Anderson recommends females have yearly pap smears once they become sexually active.

Untreated STDs can lead to infertility. Though Catholic universities operate within teachings of the Catholic Church, Crump says the health of students is the Health Center's biggest concern.

"We do (medical) care in a non-judgmental way," Crump said. "We will talk about everything and it's not like certain subjects are not talked about."