Free STD testing day to be held at Aquatics Center

Southeast Missouri State University will host a testing day for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 12 in the Student Aquatics Center.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STDs are infections transmitted through sexual contact, caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. If the infection goes untreated it could lead to further consequences such as pelvic inflammatory disease in women and infertility in both women and men.

The event is free and open for everyone, specifically those who are sexually active and afraid they may have contracted an STD.

"The idea for the event came about after Bruce Skinner gave me the name of the East Women's Action Agency and told me they were wanting to provide our students with this free service," Sara Wagganer, adviser for the Redhawk Health Educators and assistant director of fitness and wellness, said.

" I called them up immediately and I think we had our first scheduled STD testing date within five minutes of the phone conversation," Wagganer said.

At the event, students can get tested for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea and also receive information on how to prevent these diseases in the future.

"All you have to do is show up, you do not have to do anything prior except practice safe sex," Wagganer said.

How long the test will take may very.

"There is some paperwork to fill out first and they only have so many testers, so if there is a line there could be a 20 to 30 minute wait,"Wagganer said.

"We will have our Redhawk Health Educators helping out and providing students with educational trivia and activities," Wagganer said.

It's recommended that students who are sexually active but don't show any signs of having an STD still get tested because some infections may not show symptoms.

There are a few ways student can engage in safe sex.

"Use a condom, female condom, dental dam or other barrier during sex. Condoms are available through the Campus Health Clinic as well as many of our Redhawk Health Educator tabling events," Wagganer said.

For those who do not get tested at the event but decide later on they want to get tested, call the East Women's Action Agency in Cape Girardeau at (573) 431-5191. April is STD Awareness Month, so they do offer free STD testing as long as you are a Southeast student. Students can also call the Campus Health Clinic at (573) 651-2270 to schedule an appointment for the test.

For the full story, visit SoutheastArrow.com.