Student Health provides awareness, resources

As you are reading this, more a million people around the world are having sex. It is said that males think about sex at least once every minute, yet it seems that many college students lack information on how to protect themselves against pregnancy and STDs.

"I think the school could to more to promote sexual awareness on campus," senior Adam Walsh said. "Maybe put up posters and information on bulletin boards around campus."

In the United States, close to 3,000 teenagers become pregnant every day, and four out of ten girls become pregnant at least once before they turn twenty. In many cases, lack of information about the importance of using protection is the reason for unwanted pregnancies.

Practicing safe sex is important. The Augustana nurses are available to answer questions students might have regarding safe sex, birth control and sexually transmittable diseases.

"Confidentiality is important to us," said Annette Buthe, Augustana's registered nurse. "Students are adults, no one has to find out that they came to see us unless they wish to tell them themselves."

According to Buthe, students can charge the visit to their Augustana student accounts, and the bill will be sent to them with a code instead of the name of the disease they were tested for.

"It's a way of being tested in privacy," said Buthe. "If it is charged through the Augie account, students get a 20 percent discount on lab work. Visits to the clinic will always be free through Augustana".

According to research done on campuses around the country, one in four college students have an STD, yet only 54 percent of the sexually active students use a condom. Many of these students will never experience any symptoms, which makes it even more important to get tested.

"Students probably do not access us as much as we would like," said Buthe. "We do not examine students at the school, we ask students about their history and their symptoms, and refer them to the clinic."

The nurses have both female and male students come to them with questions and concerns, and are more than willing to help. Some students have done research on their own, and come to the nurses to clarify certain things.

"I do not know if students realize this, but we have so much printed material and we are always willing to answer questions," Buthe said.

Through the Student Health & Counceling Services, female students are offered a mini-physical at the Sanford Clinic. This physical includes a pap smear, checking of lymph nodes, and a few other things. Contraceptive counseling is also available, if needed.

"Students will have to pay a small fee of $75," Buthe said. "This is a super low rate."

Buthe also talked about vaccinations against human papillomavirus (HPV). An estimate of more than 50 percent of people who are sexually active will catch HPV. It is also a major cause of cervical cancer.

"Getting the vaccine is something we really advocate," said Buthe.

Unwanted teen pregnancy and STDs can be avoided. While abstinence is an option for some people, others need to be aware of the ways they can protect themselves.

The Augustana nurses are available every weekday until 2:30 p.m., and no appointments are necessary.