Student Health Services to offer free STI testing

Chance Swaim|February 16, 2016

Both infections can be cured with proper treatment, according to the Center for Disease Control.

The effects of both diseases are better mitigated when caught early, Stafford said.

“The earlier we can detect these STIs, the less damage they will cause,” Stafford said.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the rise. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Forty-eight percent of reported cases occur among sexually active young adults between the ages 15 and 24.

The number of chlamydia cases in Sedgwick County, where Wichita State is located, has jumped 20 percent since 2007, according to the latest data from county health rankings.

Additional sexual health services included in the free testing day will be free condoms and other sexual health items.

Stafford asks students planning to get tested not to use the restroom at least one hour before they plan on testing, for accuracy.

Stafford said Student Health Services averages around 45 to 50 students at each free testing it offers.

“We would love to see more students,” Stafford said, “because this is a high-risk population with a lot of sexual activity, and not everyone plays the safe sex game.”