UA health center offers STD testing

By: Leanna Payton

Posted: 9/8/08

One in four Americans has a sexually transmitted disease. An estimated $13 billion is added to the nation's health care costs each year because of STDs. Nineteen million new infections occur each year, and nearly half of these diseases occur among students ages 15 to 24.

With these astonishing statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, why do the numbers only seem to grow each year and not decrease?

The answer is simple: STD testing.

The only way students know whether they are carrying an STD is by getting tested. While this might be a very uncomfortable situation for students, the Pat Walker Health Center can help those cope with the stressfulness of dealing with such tests.

However, some might be hesitant to go through STD testing because of embarrassment, said graduate student Kalani Holleman.

"I think a lot of people are caught up on not wanting to get tested because of embarrassment and that puts them in even more danger," Holleman said.

But health center officials guarantee confidentiality for every student taking an STD test, said nurse practitioner Dottie Pope.

Not only is STD testing confidential at the health center, it also is affordable.

Many types of insurance cover the costs of STD tests, Pope said.

A Pap smear costs students about $65, and testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea costs $32, according to the health center Web site.

Because STD testing is offered on campus, students visit the health center quite often, almost every week, Pope said.

"[The clinic] is close," said senior Zach Hooper. "People can walk to the health center."

Senior Kathryn Livoni said she thinks it is very important for STD testing to be offered on campus. However, she thinks people do not use the clinic as much as they should, she said.

"A lot of people aren't brave enough to go get tested because they would rather be ignorant so they don't have to admit to their mistake," Livoni said.

However, junior Amber Williams thinks a clinic allows students to feel like they have resources, and "they are more likely to go on campus because they do not have to find a place to go," she said.

Today, 41,000 people will become infected with an STD, and half of those infections will be life-long, according to womenandteens.org. More than 65 million Americans currently have an incurable STD.

"It's very important for those who have multiple partners," Williams said. "Most of the time they don't get background information on those people, and it's important for them to get tested so they don't spread anything."

The CDC recommends sexually active people get tested once a year, unless an individual knows he or she has been exposed to a disease, in which case immediate testing is strongly recommended. The testing procedures at the health center are through urine samples, swabs or cultures, and blood tests, Pope said.

It is understood that the only true way to remain STD free is through abstinence.

"It is absolutely OK not to have sex," Livoni said. "Relationships would be much better. You're giving yourself away a little at a time emotionally and physically when you have sex with multiple partners. Whether you are Christian or not, waiting on marriage and having sex with the one person who is worth it would be much more pleasurable than giving yourself away and even risking your health."

However, for those who do not abstain from sex, "[they] need to know the importance of using a condom," Pope said.

Although condoms are not 100 percent effective in preventing disease, it will help, she said.

Students struggling with STDs or those interested in getting tested can contact the health center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except during noon to 1 p.m., at 575-4478.

More information on STD testing and a full list of fees are located on health.uark.edu.