OPINION & EDITORIAL
Transmit love, not infections
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Also by Rachel Alkon:
Related Stories:
- DNA of sexual healing (September 7, 2004)
- Sex and the (Mad) City (December 11, 2001)
- Love is the best way to dispel terror of life (March 14, 2002)
- Campus safety includes sexual health (December 9, 2003)
- The stability of marriage (September 30, 2003)
by Rachel Alkon
Friday, October 8, 2004
What has happened to the 1950s tradition of courting? The concept of the romantic dinner and a movie has been ditched and replaced by a cheaper and easier way of getting laid: sex with strangers. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it has become socially acceptable to meet someone at the bar and sleep with them; no strings attached, except the embarrassing walk of shame/stride of pride (however you want to look at it). Although enjoyable for some, hooking up randomly can be dangerous; too often we ignore the serious health consequences of multiple sex partners. What is the real price of promiscuity?
On a campus with a student population of nearly 42,000, it is easy for a somewhat attractive person to find a new mate each weekend. But where were they the night before? From anecdotal evidence, it seems that people who have one-night stands are repeat offenders, drunken nomads who roam bars for sex. To coerce people into bed, expert “sluts” and “pimps” frequently employ clever tactics, such as lying about their sexual history to justify their licentious behavior. These people, the ones who routinely have sex with strangers, are often the messengers of sexually transmitted diseases.
Sexually transmitted infections can be transmitted by anybody who engages in unprotected vaginal intercourse, anal sex or oral sex with an infected partner. Dr. David Spear, Director of Clinical Services at University Health Services, estimates that only 50 percent of students at UW-Madison use a condom during sexual intercourse. This means that about half the time students engage in sex, they place themselves at a high risk for a plethora of common STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, herpes B, HIV/AIDS, human papalloma virus (HPV) & genital warts and syphilis.
You do the math: If an average student sleeps with X number of other students during his four or five years at UW and uses a condom half the time, think about how many diseases he or she could potentially accumulate before graduation.
By the time we turn 25, nearly half of us will become infected with an STI, according to a new report released by the Center for Disease Control.
“Adolescences and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24 have the highest rates of STDs in the U.S.,” said Craig Roberts, an epidemiologist at UHS. “Just being in this age group and being sexually active with multiple partners would put someone at risk.” He added, “The biggest risk factor for getting an STI is having unprotected intercourse with a new partner.”
And this is exactly the problem. Because monogamous relationships have faded in popularity, single college students often engage in random sexual activity with multiple partners. Today, an increasing number of young men and women alike are choosing independence over a steady companion. We fear commitment; it prohibits our sexual freedom to do whatever we want when we want. While liberating in the sense that college students in open relationships have the opportunity to pursue other interests, the trend in sleeping with strangers has turned college campuses into a breeding ground for STIs.
Many students assume that if one’s genitals appear “clean,” they are disease-free. However, according to Planned Parenthood, a majority of STIs are asymptomatic, meaning that symptoms are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, everybody who engages in unprotected sex places himself or herself at risk for STIs. In many cases, the person with the STI is unaware of it. The Center for Disease Control reports that as many as one in four Americans have genital herpes, yet at least 80 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it.
Despite human nature and our physical desire for sexual pleasure, we must make using a latex condom a habit, even in the heat of the moment. And if we are too intoxicated to find one, we should not be having sex.
Dr. Spear emphasizes that if a condom is put on after pre-ejaculatory fluids have already been released, it is ineffective as a barrier to STIs.
Sexually active students should be concerned about their sexual health. We must take it upon ourselves to consistently use a latex condom for protection.
To schedule a free screening for STIs, contact the Blue Bus Clinic at University Health Services at 608-265-5600.
Rachel Alkon (rfalkon@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in English/creative writing.
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 11:04am):
Remember, Rachel, a large number of us sexually active students are lesbian. We don't need condoms except to fill them with water and drop them off the rooftops on...um, never mind, forget I mentioned it.
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 12:05pm):
By a large number, you mean 2-5 percent?
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 12:49pm):
Lesbians can still contract STDs. Oral sex doesn't protect one from most STDs, just from pregnancy.
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 3:27pm):
"it is easy for a somewhat attractive person to find a new mate each weekend"
I guess that makes me...
Thanks for ruining my self-image, Rachel.
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 3:34pm):
Ah, but if you are a lesbian and you steadfastly uphold the traditional tenets of the universal lesbian sisterhood by staying a lesbian, then the only disease you'll ever have to worry about, besides men, is breast cancer. And breast cancer is not an STD.
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 3:37pm):
"By a large number, you mean 2-5 percent?"
In Madison, not by a long shot, bucko! We are far more numerous than you would have everyone believe. Just ask your ex-girlfriend, straight boy.
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 3:40pm):
Who cares how many lesbians there are in Madison or anywhere else anyway? What this country needs is less Bush and more bush. So lick bush-not Bush-in November! Are ya with me!
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 6:07pm):
"So lick bush-not Bush-in November! Are ya with me!"
You should realize, of course, that less Bush also means less Dick (Cheney).
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 7:37pm):
You got it, less Bush and less Dick means more bush and more dick. LET'S GO HOMO!!
Anonymous (October 8, 2004 @ 8:50pm):
Wait, when did STDs only come from men? Did I miss a day in sex education? Seriously, if the lesbian population of Madison is fighting STDs by pretending that they only come from the penis...
Anonymous (October 9, 2004 @ 12:52am):
...then it follows that woman shall inherit the Earth. Die, males, die! Ha ha!
Anonymous (October 9, 2004 @ 7:44pm):
If man haters like the last commenter inherit the Earth, I'm sure all remaining living things will wish they were dead.
Anonymous (October 9, 2004 @ 9:34pm):
Why aren't there condom dispensers in university lavs?
Anonymous (October 10, 2004 @ 2:49am):
If there's one thing that pisses people off it's a man-hating feminist who feels that all her personal problems are conveniently blamed on men. Hey kiddo, if a woman gets the clap from a guy it only shows that not only is he a slut and a walking repository for STDs, but the woman is a total slut as well! Her and the man she slept with are merely reaping the consequences of the free love mentality they inherited from their hippy parents.
Are you absolutely going to die if you don't get laid? Are you afraid you'll turn gay? Get a grip!
Anyone who is casually sexually active is living way too close to the edge. You really didn't think it could happen to you. And if you wind up pregnant then you'll demand that someone else(taxpayers?) pay for your abortion because you know damn well that ol' stud muffin wouldn't pay for it even if he could.
What will it take for you finally wise up? You are a college student. You are here to get an education. You don't seem to be learning anything yet. Then when you hit rock bottom after screwing up your life before you had a chance to get it started, you're just going to blame someone else. As far as I'm concerned you are not ready to become an adult yet. By the way, I'm a woman.
Anonymous (October 10, 2004 @ 3:00am):
Another thing, kiddo: there are a lot of decent men out there, so if all the men you run into seem to be sex-crazed assholes then maybe you need to stop hanging around frat houses and biker bars. Go to church, go to an art museum, or go to a library to meet men. All you'll find at a bar is some guy who is just as drunk, clueless and irresponsible as you are.
Anonymous (October 21, 2004 @ 11:58am):
Ms. Alkon,
This is a nice op-ed piece about an important issue. I thought that, if you should choose to follow up on this story, you might note the very long wait at UHS for STI screening. It is unlikely that students will routinely get tested for STIs prior to starting sexual relationships if they have to wait three or four weeks to get an appointment, and an additional period of time to receive the results.
Again, thanks for the piece.
Anonymous (October 27, 2004 @ 4:25am):
I stumbled upon this while in a depressed state. I googled "the love i lost" and this showed up 4th on the list. Though it doesn't really help me it does show how well the search engine optimization strategy at The Badger is working. Keep up the good work. Sex with stranger is prefered. I should move to your fine town!!
Anonymous (October 27, 2004 @ 4:31am):
I wrote the last comment and did so before reading the comments of others. After reading said comments, I believe your university, like mine (The University of Texas), should provide accessible condoms. UT provides free condoms in the health center and they are purchasable for a fifty cents in all campus dormitories. Think about it straight people can have protected sex and lesbians can purchase water balloons in the convience of their dorm.
Anonymous (October 27, 2004 @ 4:35am):
btw, I love how when I mouse over your picture it says "tranmit love, not infections"
Good Stuff!!!
Anonymous (October 27, 2004 @ 5:06am):
A response to the post two before my first
"And if you wind up pregnant then you'll demand that someone else(taxpayers?) pay for your abortion because you know damn well that ol' stud muffin wouldn't pay for it even if he could."
a. pregnancy is not the topic of this article STI's are
b. You seem like a conservative suggesting that we're all looking for a handout. It's not like rachel is advocating a sex tax to pay for the pregnancies of unwed mothers.
"What will it take for you finally wise up? You are a college student. You are here to get an education. You don't seem to be learning anything yet. Then when you hit rock bottom after screwing up your life before you had a chance to get it started, you're just going to blame someone else. As far as I'm concerned you are not ready to become an adult yet. By the way, I'm a woman."
a. I'm not suggesting that people in Wisconson are stupid, but maybe they haven't learned the dangers of unprotected sex. I mean most people only hear about HIV/AIDS, which is portrayed by the media as a gay/iv drug user disease, not the other STIs. Is sex education a required part of freshman curriculum? If not, why isn't it? If people haven't learned about it yet maybe it's not their fault. Of course i'm not blaming anything or anyone because by your standards everyone should be perfect and anything that goes wrong in their life is totally their fault.
b. People who go to college are young and a lot of them AREN'T ready to be adults yet. We should do a better job of spreading education and awareness.
c. You assume that everyone will shift blame from themselves and not take personal responsibilty. I can almost see you shaking your finger in disgust at "those people"
"By the way, I'm a woman."
Uh, you want a merit badge for having a vagina? Do you think your gender in any way gives you more or less credibility in your argument? I'm a man. I guess that means, in your opinion, i'm a moron not worthy to speak out on this issue.
