Stay Clean, Get Screened for STDs

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Author: Claire Diggins

National Sex Education week provided numerous opportunities for Oxy students to learn valuable information regarding sexual health and the services available to them, both on campus and off. It was a much-needed reminder of how important a comprehensive sex education is, and presented ideas and facts that should be more prevalent in the minds of Oxy students.

The move for this week-long campaign initially arose in response to New York City public schools not requiring sex education. In response, Planned Parenthood of New York City initiated a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about sex education, rallying around the message that sexual health is not always common sense and needs to be taken seriously. As young people, we absolutely need to receive accurate information about sex, STD testing and contraceptives. During National Sex Ed Week, Oxy tried to provide us just that. Last week, I sat down with Director of Student Health Services Richard Youngblood to discuss what Emmons and Oxy are doing to promote National Sex Ed Week.

Typically, Emmons sponsors “Sexual Responsibility Awareness Week” through the Bacchus Gamma Network in February. With Spring Break and Valentine’s Day around the corner, Emmons reminds everyone to be responsible in the face of peer pressure and sexual expectations.

While they will still sponsor that event next semester, Emmons has decided to participate in National Sex Ed week this year as well, due to the efforts of Oxy junior Morgan Flake. Flake, who has a public affairs internship with Planned Parenthood in Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, brought the campaign to Youngblood’s attention and worked with Oxy to organize several events on campus last week.

Flake’s events included tabling the quad with two Emmons’ nurse practitioners to promote healthy choices in regards to safe sex. She also organized two different hall spreads in the Center for Gender Equity (Oxy’s resource center for information on issues of sexual identity, gender, relationships, sex and assault) with speakers from both Emmons and Planned Parenthood.Youngblood shed some light on all the amazing services and free information Emmons has to offer with regards to sexual health, and all students should be taking full advantage of this resource.

Emmons provides the Plan B pill for $40 and various forms of birth control – including the pill, Nuva ring and the Depo Provera shot – as well as pregnancy testing, all for a minimal fee. They can also test for and treat a variety of STIs.Infections are especially important to be screened for because one may have them and be asymptomatic, and these infections can advance if they go untreated. Prices for testing range from $10 to $55. An HIV rapid test, which produces a result in 20 minutes, is $25 (or it can be sent out for $35). The student health center also offers a “well woman exam,” which is similar to a gynecological exam and includes a pap smear.Emmons can even test for HPV. A significant percentage of the sexually active population has HPV, and men carry it without any symptoms, passing it on unknowingly to their partners. Pretty scary. Are you starting to see why getting tested is so important?

Emmons is cheaper than any community doctor, even if you use your own insurance, because the school subsidizes their services. Youngblood made it clear that Emmons is here for us when he said, “We’re not here to make a buck. We are here to provide a service to the student that is convenient, gets them well and back to enjoying their Oxy experience.” In this vein, Emmons provides free condoms (which are also available in all of your Res Halls), dental dams, sex education literature and self-breast exams for the shower.

If you have not gotten the message of this article yet, let me be explicit: Be safe, smart and get tested regularly. Victoria Rutledge (senior) is emphatic about how important it is to get tested and be safe. “Taking responsibility for your sexual health is a given. If you are going to have sex, you have an obligation to your partner and yourself to be safe AND get tested,” she said.

Students should use the services Emmons provides to keep themselves and the campus safe and healthy. If you are sexually active and have never been tested, please change that. The importance of sexual health is undeniable, and now that you have the information and the resources, take action. Be safe. Get tested. Educate yourself.

Claire Diggins is a senior DWA major. She can be reached at cdiggins@oxy.edu.

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