Sexual health-related practices in Athens are working to ensure students are informed of the dangers sexually transmitted infections impose.
We are all people that want to trust the other person
but I see so many tears in my office said Char Kopchick, Ohio University's director of the Department of Health Education and Wellness.
Athens County accounted for 0.3 percent of the syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia cases registered in the state in 2003, according to the Ohio Department of Health Web site, www.odh.ohio.gov.
The label sexually transmitted disease has evolved during the last 10 years, and the same group is now referred to as sexually transmitted infections, Kopchick said. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention made the change to better reflect the range of illnesses the heading includes. For example, HIV/AIDS is a syndrome, not a disease.
The change also emphasizes that infections can be spread even if physical symptoms are not present, Kopchick said, which is why testing is important.
Kopchick, whose office operates within Hudson, said the student health center offers two HIV tests -an anonymous and a confidential -each for $10. The anonymous test is paid up front in cash as opposed to the confidential tests, which are charged to student accounts.
HIV can take three months to years to be detected, said Heather Hintz, health services director for Planned Parenthood of Southeast Ohio.
An initial HIV test usually is accurate, but should be confirmed by a second test administered at least six months after unprotected sex, Kopchick said.
College students often have an it can't happen to me mind set Hintz said, while she cites that one in four of 18 to 24 year olds will contract an STI.
Pam Scholl, a nurse practitioner at Dr. Coats and Dr. Chan's office, 86 Columbus Road Suite 203, also said people too often think they cannot get infected.
A common misconception is that girls think that they're not going to get anything from nice
clean-cut guys
Scholl said.
Kopchick said that before deciding to stop using a condom, partners should come to an understanding of monogamy, trust and honesty.
She said she has treated many students, especially women, who do not realize chlamydia and gonorrhea symptoms sometimes are not noticeable.
It is recommended that people get tested seven to 10 days after any type of unprotected intercourse, Kopchick said. Diagnosing STIs early usually minimizes their severity.
Aside from the anonymous HIV test, services performed at Hudson are billed to a students' account, but Kopchick said wording is vague. Students can choose to go to Chubb Hall to pay the bill, but remaining fees are sent home according to the normal billing cycle.
Planned Parenthood, 280 E. State St., also offers comprehensive sexual health testing, with many of the service fees dependent on a patient's income and economic standing, said Tammy Fleming, a Planned Parenthood health services assistant.
Hintz estimated the Athens office sees between 3,000 and 3,500 patients a year, which includes a fairly balanced number of high school and college students and Athens residents.
Planned Parenthood's sliding-scale fee system gives it a competitive advantage in an area struggling with poverty, Hintz said.
Nobody is denied services for inability to pay
she said. We slide to zero when necessary
on a case-by-case basis.
River Rose Obstetrics & Gynecology, 75 Hospital Drive, is an OB/GYN office that offers sexual health testing, pregnancy testing and contraception.
Students with university health insurance plans must obtain a referral before becoming a patient of the practice, though they also accept outside insurance plans. For those not on an insurance plan, federal assistance is also available and is based on a person's income.
Our office does not deny services to people
and we're one of the few practices that do that
said Pam Born, River Rose practice manager.
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