STD Prevention and Testing

Where we are in the fight against HIV/ AIDS

People with certain risk factors should get tested more often. If you were HIV-negative the last time you were tested and answer yes to any of the following questions, you should get an HIV test because these things increase your chances of getting HIV:

• Are you a man who has had sex with another man?
• Have you had sex—anal or vaginal—with an HIV-positive partner?
• Have you had more than one sex partner since your last HIV test?
• Have you injected drugs and shared needles or works (for example, water or cotton) with others?
• Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
• Have you been diagnosed with or sought treatment for another sexually transmitted disease?
• Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis or tuberculosis (TB)?
• Have you had sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions or someone whose sexual history you don’t know?

You should be tested at least once a year if you keep doing any of these things. Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing (for example, every 3 to 6 months). Testing is done via blood, and is free for all eligible students 

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP

PrEP is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. The pill (brand name Truvada) contains two medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine) that are used in combination with other medicines to treat HIV. When someone is exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection. 

When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people who are at high risk by up to 92%. PrEP is much less effective if it is not taken consistently.

PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool and can be combined with condoms and other prevention methods to provide even greater protection than when used alone. But people who use PrEP must commit to taking the drug every day and seeing their health care provider for follow-up every 3 months. Are you ready for PrEP? 

Learn more about PrEP from one of Student Health's providers in this video!

Chlamydia is a common STD that can infect both men and women. It can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman's reproductive system, making it difficult or impossible for her to get pregnant later on. Chlamydia can also cause a potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb). Both men and women at risk should be tested if participating in unprotected intercourse or having symptoms. Testing can be done via urine in men and women and/ or with a cervical swab in women.

Recommended annually for all sexually active women 25 years and younger by some authorities, and only for those at increased risk by others. Both men and women at risk should be tested at other times if participating in unprotected intercourse or having symptoms. Testing can be done via urine in men and women and/ or with a cervical swab in women. For more information click here.

Any sexually active person can get syphilis through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider and ask whether you should be tested for syphilis or other STDs. You should get tested regularly for syphilis if you are pregnant, are a man who has sex with men, have HIV infection, and/or have partner(s) who have tested positive for syphilis. Testing is done via blood. For more information on Syphilis click here. 

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause serious health problems, including genital warts and certain cancers. However, in most cases, HPV goes away on its own before causing any health problems.
Testing is done on women through pap smear screenings; HPV tests are done automatically with certain pap abnormalities and can be ordered for women over 30 choosing to be screened every 5 years. There is no routinely utilized test for males. For more information on HPV infections click here. 

Symptomatic testing: sample can be obtained from drainage from sores/vesicles on the skin. Asymptomatic testing: blood test available for antibodies against Type I and Type II herpes, however, results are difficult to interpret, can be inaccurate and do not accurately distinguish between new and prior infections. Not routinely done. For more information on Herpes infections click here. 

Hepatitis B 

Spread through sexual contact as well as exposure to infected blood. Most individuals received the Hepatitis B vaccination series as children, if not it is recommended that all individuals be vaccinated. Testing is done via blood. 

Hepatitis C 

Spread mostly through exposure to infected blood; less frequently spread by sexual contact. Testing is done via blood. For more information on Hepatitis C infections click here.