Brought to you by: Erin Eisenberg Rebecca Haller Sara Hambleton Traci Murray Paige Oxley

STDs Among College Age Women

Target Population Age – College, Gender – Female Race – All races Socioeconomic status (SES) – All SES’s Educational experience – Some college

Unit Plan 5 Lessons (1 hour each) Lesson 1Prevalence of STDs Lesson 2Prevention of STDs Lesson 3Transmission of STDs Lesson 4Symptoms of STDs Lesson 5Treatment of STDs

Rationale: The most common STDs on college campuses are Chlamydia, Human Papilloma virus (HPV) and Genital Herpes. Many students who are infected can be so without knowing it, and continue to infect others. This is why college adults (ages 18-24) have such high rates of STDs.

Genital herpes — Initial visits to physicians' offices: United States, 1966–2003

Other common STDs to be aware of: VIRAL VIRALHIV/AIDSBACTERIAL Vaginitis (bacterial vaginosis-BV) Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) T richomoniasis GonorrheaSyphilis

Prevalence of STDs Prevalence is the number of new and old cases of something. In 2002, 834,555 chlamydial infections were reported to the CDC 75 percent of reproductive age women and men have been infected with genital HPV at some point in their lives

Prevalence (cont.) 20% of students engaging in sexual activity may be infected with herpes

Prevention of STD’s The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including genital herpes, Chlamydia, and HPV is to abstain from sexual contact. Abstinence is the only 100% effective way to prevent STD contraction or transmission.

Prevention: Using condoms and other barrier methods used properly can also prevention contraction of STDs. To be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

Prevention:

At Risk Behaviors: Having more than one partner Partner has had sex with other partners Having oral, vaginal, or anal sex without using a condom or other barrier method. Sharing IV drug needles or having sex with someone who has Having had an STD in the past

Transmission of STDs Chlamydia can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Herpes can be transmitted through sores that the viruses cause, but they also are released between outbreaks from skin that does not appear to be broken or to have a sore. HPV can be transmitted through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

Symptoms of STDs Some of the same symptoms may be present among different STD’s Only way to diagnose correctly is to get tested Herpes – sores (oral and genital)

Symptoms (cont.) Chlamydia – “the drip” HPV – warts

Treatment of STDs Chlamydia can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but there are medications that can shorten and prevent outbreaks. Treatment for HPV is the removal of symptomatic warts

Treatment No STD should be left untreated!!!!

Risky Business The Human Papilloma Virus 28% of College Students have HPV 28% of College Students have HPV There is an increase in new cases each year LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR SAMPLE POPULATION

References: – Center for Disease Control – Planned Parenthood – AVERT – The Alan Guttmacher Institute