STDs, Sexual Souvenirs: College Guide to Prevent & Protect Yourself

So you're ready to start your life. You're going off to college and you are ready to study hard, join clubs, and succeed academically. Or if you're like most high school graduates, you're ready to get drunk, party, stay up all night, and possibly...even have sex. I mean lets face it, most of us come to college a little horny and sometimes we need that physical type of affection. Not every young person is waiting until marriage to get some 'nookie', and now that you live in co-ed dorms you don't run the risk of daddy running in on a steamy session. So now that you left the old boyfriend or girlfriend behind and you can freely have a 'one night stand', sex just seems like another activity to add to your to-do list. However, before you jump into anyone's pants, you should first learn about the consequences. There is nothing wrong with having sex but it's wise to know who you are getting into and most importantly what could be lurking within them.

The first rule of thumb to having a healthy sex life in college is to know the facts. The truth of the matter is that STDs are a fact of life. There is no running away from them. You simply have no idea who has what and what is out there. High school graduates come to college with clean slates, meaning most people don't know each others business. Nobody knows if Sally is really a virgin or if she is a born again virgin. Benny may say he loves only you, but that's not what Tameka said last night. It is hard to believe but even your closest friends and family members are probably infected or affected by an STD. The rule here is: know who you are sleeping with. Do a little research on them before you open or insert. Even if it's asking around to see what people might know. Hey...it might sound nosey, but people's sexual business becomes your own once you have sex. Suddenly what was once Sally's personal business could now be your own because you slept with the same person. In fact many colleges are so close nit that STDs travel extremely fast. So remember that it's okay to be a snoop and get that latest gossip on who did what with whom last night. It's better to be aware that the person you are sleeping with is a little friendly than to find out the next morning and take a trip to the health office.

The second rule of thumb is to protect yourself. Let's say your a little tipsy, you see this really cute guy or girl at the bar and you get a little crazy. You both reach for a condom but it seems like both of you have empty pockets. What do you do? Do you risk your health and potentially your life just for a fun one night stand? Or do you save it for next time after you take a trip to the convenience store? The answer ladies and gentleman is save it. It's not worth the confusion and questioning in the morning. Is he clean? How many guys has she been with? Should I get checked out? Why make yourself paranoid when you can just avoid a potentially nasty situation. Of course there are plenty of STD free people out there, but how many are actually being honest with you? I mean Genital Herpes is not exactly a great conversation starter. And trust me, the sex may be worth every 20 minutes but the questioning and paranoia will last for days. So before you head off to the bars or a party, make sure you have some rubber. Even if you're not specifically looking to have sex, it's better to have a condom on hand just in case that guy you've been eyeing in Calculus decides to do a little division on you.

Okay so your health class in high school exposed you to the nasty world of STDs, you read the first two paragraphs of this article, and some how...you ended up with a little souvenir of your own. It's okay. Breathe. If you had unprotected sex, or suspect you have symptoms the first thing you should do is make an appointment with the health center. The health center is there to help you. Do not be afraid to tell the nurse, "It stinks like fish," or "It burns when I piss." They will understand if you are a little hesitant to point out the specifics. These are professionals who know how to deal with people and they are trained to deal with the nasty stuff. Don't be self conscious, do what you need to do so that you can live a healthy life. Think about it this way, the doctor doesn't care if you had sex with five people, they are getting paid to do this. It's better to find out that you have and STD from your doctor rather than find out the embarrassing truth that you may have given it to someone else.

Here are some common symptoms that are helpful to know if you suspect you have an STD:

Females might experience (but not limited to):

- Foul odor
-Pain during sex
-Warts on the genitals
-Open sores in the mouth or genitals
-Yellow or green discharge
-Abdominal pain
-Discomfort while urinating

Males might experience (but not limited to):

-Discharge
-swollen testicles
-Pain while urinating
-Warts on the genitals
-Open sores on mouth or genitals

The worst symptom of all:
-no symptom.

Many STDs such as Chlamydia and Hepatitis often do not show any signs of symptoms. Many people go about their daily lives not aware of what has infected them. This makes the truth about STDs even scarier. And remember, viruses such as the dreaded HIV infection do not show up until months after you have had sex with an infected person. A difficulty in detection and prevention of HIV is why millions of people on the continent of Africa are dealing with a devastating outbreak of the virus. This however doesn't mean that other countries aren't affected as well. In the United States more than 1 million people are living with the HIV virus, and those are only the people who have been reported. There could be another quarter of a million who don't know it. Don't fall victim to the epidemic.
The truth of the matter is millions of people are living normal lives with STDs. So if you do end up having one, don't worry it's not the end of the world. There are many effective treatments that will help you lead a fulfilling sexual life. Your world does not have to stop just because you feel victim to a nasty reality. Just take from the experience; it will only make you stronger in the end. Educate others to not follow in your footsteps and you might become a little wiser too. Just remember the most effective way to steer clear of an STD is abstinence, and we all know that most of us like to have sex. So protect yourself, know the facts, and party it up. College can be the time of your life if you know how to take care of yourself.