STIs/STDs affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Approximately 19 million new cases occur in the United States each year. About half of these cases occur among young people aged 15-24 years. There are many specific types and strains of sexually transmitted infections. Some are easily diagnosed through testing, and some are more difficult to detect. Be well informed! Here are some excellent web resources for information about specific STI/STDs:
Planned Parenthood: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/stds-hiv-safer-sex-101.htm
Centers for Disease Control (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/STD/
How Can IC Students Get Tested?
Hammond Health Center can send lab testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and hepatitis. Results are usually back in 1-3 days. Clinician can do medical exams for viral STIs such as genital warts, herpes, and mollescum contagiosum. For payment, the reference lab will bill the cost of STI tests to your health insurance, which may cover most or all of the cost. Talk to your clinician if you have any financial or confidentiality concerns about the billing of STI testing to your (or your parents’) insurance, as other options may be available. Clinicians can also provide treatment of STIs with medications that are available in the Health Center.
HIV Testing
Hammond Health Center provides free, rapid HIV testing for students (cheek swab). The test is confidential (NOT anonymous), with results provided on the same day. Pre–exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP) is available at the HIV Primary Care Clinic in downtown Ithaca.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine
Hammond Health Center can provide the HPV vaccine to IC students. There are 3 injections in the series. There is no charge for the office visit, but there will be a charge for the vaccine itself. The HPV vaccine is now recommended for both women and men. For information about HPV and the vaccine, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at: www.cdc.gov/hpv/.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Hammond Health Center
https://www.ithaca.edu/sacl/healthcenter/
607-274-3177
Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes (PPSFL) in Ithaca offers free STI/STD screening, including the Rapid HIV Test, through the Tompkins County Health Department. Call or visit PPSFL to ask specific questions about how to obtain these services.
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppsfl/
314 W. State St., Ithaca, NY
607-273-1513
The Southern Tier AIDS Program (STAP) offers free STI/STD and HIV testing.
STAP
501 South Meadow Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
Hotline: (888) 206-2870
Phone: (607) 272-4098