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Sexually Transmitted
Infections
Testing Resources |
Web Resources |
Common STI's |
Printable
Version Sexually
transmitted infections (STI’s) are
infections that can be spread by
having sexual contact (anal,
vaginal, or oral) with another
person who is infected. Most STI’s
are curable although some are not.
Many people who have been infected
with a STI don't even know it. They
may look and feel healthy, but they
still could be infected.
Furthermore, some people who have
been diagnosed will not share this
information with their partner(s).
It is your responsibility to employ
good judgment, use preventative
measures and be tested if you
suspect that you have been infected.
Practicing safe sex can cut down
on the spread of STI’s but not
totally prevent them. To decrease
risk:
- Abstain from
sexual contact anal, vaginal or
oral.
- Engage in a
monogamous relationship in which
both partners agree to be
faithful sexually.
- Use condoms made
of latex or polyurethane.
- Include STI
testing as part of your regular
medical checkup, especially if
you have changed partners or
have more than one partner.
- Don‘t drink
Alcohol if there is a chance of
unintended or unwanted sexual
activity.
- Get vaccinated
for Hepatitis A and B.
Sexually Transmitted Infection
Testing Resources
Albion College provides all
students with instructions on how to
obtain testing for sexually
transmitted infections (STI's).
Testing is available for gonorrhea,
Chlamydia, syphilis, Hepatitis B and C upon request. All
testing is confidential.
Student Health Services
Phone: 517/629-0220
STI testing except HIV, may be
done during walk-in or during
Doctor’s hours with an appointment.
Costs vary according to the tests
done. Health Insurance companies may
be billed or can be self-paid to the
lab after billing is sent directly
to the student. Testing and
it's results are confidential,
however when using commercial health
insurance, explanation of benefits
letters may be sent by the insurance
company to the home billing address.
These letters often list the tests
that were performed, but not the
result of the testing.
Planned Parenthood of
South Central Michigan (Albion
Office)
101 N. Albion St. (Corner of
Albion and Cass)
Albion, Michigan 49224
Phone: 517/629-3910
Walk-in hours are Wednesday 12:00
pm- 6:00pm. No appointment
necessary for STI testing. Cost:
Testing is provided on a sliding fee
scale.
Jackson County Health
Department
1715 Lansing Ave.
Jackson, MI 49202
Phone: 517/788-4420
STI testing done on walk-in
basis:
- Monday & Friday 1:00 p.m. -
4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday 11:00 a.m. - 6:00
p.m.
- Wednesday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00
p.m.
- Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 11:30
a.m.
No charge for females, however
JCHD does not routinely test males.
If a male suspects STI or STI
exposure, JCHD will treat. Cost:
Donation. HIV Counseling by
appointment only.
Planned Parenthood of
Jackson
2009 W. Michigan Ave.
(Across from Westwood Mall)
Jackson, Michigan 49201
Phone: 517/784-1700
Testing is done on an appointment
only basis except during walk-in
hours on Wednesdays and Fridays from
1:00pm- 3:30pm.
Hours for appointments are as
follows:
- Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00
p.m.; 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00
p.m.; 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday 12:00
p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
- Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00
p.m.; 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00
p.m.
Cost for STI testing is on a
sliding scale. Normally costs are
$20-$55.
Web Resources
Student Health Services:
On-Line Self
Care Guide (Sexual Health)
Go Ask Alice at
www.alice.columbia.edu
Go Ask Alice is the health question
and answer internet service produced
by Alice! Columbia University’s
Health Education Program – a
division of Health Services at
Columbia.
MyStudentBody,com® provides
reliable health information on the
web. The myStudentBody site
addresses the relevant health issues
encountered by college students
today.
Remember:
Sometimes symptoms do not show up
for weeks or months.
Common STI's
|
Infection |
Female Symptoms |
Male Symptoms |
Possible Problems |
Other Thoughts |
Annual New Cases |
Gonorrhea
Curable |
Pus-like vaginal discharge,
lower abdominal pain,
painful urination or
no
symptoms at all. |
Pus discharge from penis.
Pain when urinating.
May
have no symptoms. |
Infertility (inability to
conceive), repeated pelvic
infections in women, damage
to newborns. |
Symptoms show up 2-21 days
after sex. Curable with
proper treatment. |
600,000 |
|
Chlamydia
Curable |
No symptoms for 60-80% of women. Some have
vaginal discharge, pain when
urinating, dull pelvic pain
or bleeding between periods. |
No symptoms for 50% of men.
Pain
when urinating or watery
discharge from penis. |
Infertility in men and
women, eye and lung
infections in newborns. |
Symptoms show up 7-28 days
after sex. Once identified,
Chlamydia can be cured
painlessly with
antibiotics. |
3 million |
|
Trichomoniasis
Curable |
Vaginal itching, often
severe. Heavy vaginal
green/yellow discharge with
strong odor. |
Frequently none.
Occasionally a discharge
from the penis. |
Partners may frequently pass
a disease back and forth
leading to repeat
infections. |
Curable but both partners
must be treated. |
5 million |
Syphilis
Curable |
A sore usually painless. Later rash may develop on
other parts of the body (usually hands and feet). There may also be sore
throat, fever, swollen glands. Symptoms may then
disappear but person is still infected.
|
Heart, spine, and brain may
be affected. Severe threat
to the developing fetus. |
Symptoms begin anywhere from
3 weeks to 6 months after
sex. Detected by a blood
test and cured with
antibiotics. |
32,800 |
|
Hepatitis B
Treatable, not curable |
Symptoms vary a lot. Some
have no symptoms. Others
experience loss of appetite,
fever, tiredness, pain in
liver area, jaundice
(yellowing of skin.) |
Major cause of liver
cancer. May cause death.
Can be passed to newborns by
mother. |
Symptoms begin1 to 9 months
after infection. A vaccine
is available to prevent Hepatitis B. |
78,000 new cases
1.25 million cases of
chronic infection nationwide |
|
HIV/AIDS
Treatable, not curable |
For both sexes, early
symptoms may be recurring
fever, night sweating,
shortness of breath, dry
cough, constant tiredness,
diarrhea, rapid weight loss,
swollen glands or increase
in severity or number of
illnesses- or
no symptoms
at all. |
No cure has been found.
AIDS has been fatal in about
50% of the cases |
Symptoms show up months to
years after infection. HIV
is a virus that can be
transferred through blood,
semen, vaginal secretions
and breast milk. |
886,000 cases of chronic
infection nationwide
40 million cases of chronic
infection worldwide |
HPV / Genital Warts
Treatable, not curable |
Virus that is linked to
cervical cancer. Some
strains may cause warts
found on or around genitals
or rectum. A clinician must
treat them. Passed by
skin-to-skin contact, so
condoms will not be as
effective. |
Warts can grow large and
obstruct penis, vagina or
anus. |
Symptoms usually show up one
to eight months after
infection. Sexually active
females should receive
annual pap smears to test
for cervical cancer. |
5.5 million cases of chronic
infection |
|
Genital Herpes
Treatable, not curable |
One or more blister-like
sores, in, on or around the
genitals. Sore may look
like a rash or cut and are
often painful. Symptoms go
away. Passed by
skin-to-skin contact, so
condoms will not be as
effective. |
Can cause severe damage to
infants of mothers with
active infections at the
time of delivery. |
Symptoms show up 1 to 30
days after sex or longer. Can be spread when there are
no symptoms. Repeated
flare-ups may occur after
the first infection. |
45 million active cases
nationwide |
Abstinence and
latex condoms are two ways to help
prevent the spread of sexually
transmitted infections.
From Kaiser Family Foundation,
Centers for Disease Control 2004 and
American Social Health Prevention
Association, 1998
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