Unfortunately, STD clinics are not immune to the budget woes plaguing the country. A free STD clinic and testing service in Jersey City is on the verge of shutdown thanks to empty state coffers. While the clinic might be taken over by a private nonprofit group, the people of Jersey City would lose the option for free STD tests and treatments.

This kind of thing shouldn’t surprise us: New Jersey lawmakers have said they can save $600,000 a year by closing the STD clinic. And some federal lawmakers have called (unsuccessfully) for cutting funding to Planned Parenthood across the U.S.

The (mildly) god news? Things look a little better in Canada.

$14 Allotted for STD Clinics & Education in Alberta

Yes, there are still governments in the world that can spend money on preventative health. Alberta’s new STD initiative includes:

• Plans to hire more nurses, counselors, and prevention coordinators to spread the word about STD tests and treatment options.
• Advertisements about matters of sexual health at nightclubs, in bars, and on TV.
• Online resources that explain STD symptoms, outline treatment options, and guide people to STD clinics near them.

Once upon a time, Canada was the destination for American draft dodgers. Now it might become a haven for folks who want to avoid STDs.

There's a reason why so many areas of medical practice focus specifically on womens health. Though women are statistically more likely to live longer than men, their bodies are also designed to be more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infection. STDs in women are one of the greatest threats to womens health today. For this reason, recognizing the signs of STDs in women is a critical step toward preserving females’ sexual health.

STDs: A Major Womens Health Epidemic

Chlamydia is the most widespread STD in the country, and for the past few years, female infection rates have surpassed those of men. Additionally, recent CDC data indicates that approximately 27 percent of annual new HIV infections occur in women. Furthermore, genital herpes is among one of the most problematic STDs, an infection that women are almost twice as likely to contract as males.

Recognizing Signs of STDs in Women

The ability to identify common STD symptoms is an essential component of preserving womens health. Though womens health issues following STD infection can vary based on a variety of factors, some widespread symptoms of STDs in women include:

Vaginal Discharge: Though vaginal discharge is fairly common among women and is often completely innocuous, the presence of thick, discolored discharge could signify Chlamydia infection, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis. Unusual vaginal discharge may also be accompanied by a foul odor.

Painful Urination: Urinary tract health is a critical facet of womens health. Though pain during urination could point to a basic UTI, in some cases, this symptom can be attributed to gonorrhea, Chlamydia, or trichomoniasis.

Vaginal Sores: Though several factors can trigger vaginal irritation, the presence of sores is often indicative of an STD. Genital herpes, one of the biggest womens health issues today, can produce blistering sores that are painful in nature. Some herpes outbreaks, however, will be mild and unpronounced. Additionally, small, firm, painless sores in the genital region could signify syphilis.

Pain During Intercourse: In some cases, the presence of one or more STDs can result in painful intercourse for infected women. Chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis can all produce this effect.

Bleeding in Between Periods: For some women, spotting between periods is perfectly normal. For others, however, vaginal bleeding during this stage of the menstrual cycle could point to STDs such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Womens Health Maintained Via Treatment

Chlamydia and gonorrhea, two of the most common STDs in women, can be cured completely via antibiotics, as can trichomoniasis. While there is currently no way to eliminate STDs such as herpes and HIV from the body, antiviral medications can target both infections, alleviate symptoms, and protect the body against disease progression.

Preserving Womens Health by Testing

According to the CDC, sexually active females should undergo annual STD testing for common infections such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, herpes, and HIV. HPV, another major womens health concern, should also be tested for on a yearly basis, as certain strains of the virus have the ability to cause cervical cancer.

Females who engage in unprotected sexual activity with multiple partners are advised to test more habitually than those in monogamous relationships. Additionally, women who are 25 or younger are said to be at an increased risk for STDs due to the relatively undeveloped nature of the female reproductive system at this point in a female's life.

STDs are a major womens health concern because many, if left undetected, can produce severe long-term consequences. Untreated gonorrhea and Chlamydia in particular are known to cause chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancies. Protecting womens health therefore hinges on STD testing and proper treatment for those at risk.

Common misspellings for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis include: klamydia, clamidia, chlamidia, klamidia, gonorrhoea, gonorrhoeao, ganaria, gonnorhea, gonorhea, sifilis, syphillis, siphilis

In October 2010, Trojan released its annual Sexual Health Report Card, a study that evaluates and ranks the sexual health status of colleges and universities across the country. Researchers collected and analyzed data from campus health centers and student opinion polls from 12 different categories including health center hours of operation, contraceptive availability and cost, and the cost and locality of STD and HIV testing.

The top five sexually healthy schools are as followed: Columbia University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, University of Michigan, and Brown University. The five least sexually health schools are Chicago State University, Marshall University, DePaul University, Brigham Young University, and University of Idaho.

While this study raises awareness about sexual health on college campuses, it only included four-year universities and failed to take two-year and community colleges into account.  Trojan’s study coincides with a recent news article published by journalist Laura Sessions Stepp who advocates for increased resources for preventing unintended pregnancies at community colleges.

Recent statistics suggest that there is a growing need for such assistance. While the birth rate has declined among the majority teenagers, it has increased among 18 and 19 year old women, the age in which most begin college. Nearly two out of every three women who have a child after enrolling in community college do not finish their degree.

Students at two-year colleges need to have adequate resources to help reduce unintended pregnancies and prevent this alarming drop-off. Yet, more than half of all community colleges are lacking what has been standard at four-year campuses for years: comprehensive health services which are staffed with doctors and nurses to provide students with current health information, perform physical examinations, and provide contraceptives.

Some two-year colleges, such as many in California, are well-equipped with such resources, but many students attending these schools do not have access to such services. In South Carolina, only 6% of two-year schools have on-campus health centers, whereas 85% of four-year schools in the state do. Furthermore, only 28% of two-year schools supply condoms, whereas 40% of four-year schools do. Neither categories offer emergency contraceptive.

In the past, funding for higher education has been primarily awarded to four-year colleges, but lately, President Obama has devoted specific attention to community colleges stressing the need to improve the completion rate. Completing college, whether at a two or four-year university, has undeniable, long-time benefits, and it is important that these institutions have adequate resources across the board to ensure that their students reach completion.

While Trojan’s study highlights the importance of sexual health care on four-year college campuses, Stepp’s article raises awareness for the need for sexual health care and resources all campuses, including community colleges.  Most importantly, all colleges need to provide access to education and resources for healthy relationships and family planning, as well as STD testing and treatment to ensure the well-being and success of their students.

Sources: www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/10/06/stepp.community.colleges/index.html?iref=allsearch

prnewswire.com/news-releases/columbia-university-on-top-of-fifth-annual-trojan-sexual-health-report-card-104419483.html