by Morgan Dewey
STIs are sexually transmitted infections, which can easily be spread around colleges and the surrounding areas. Someone is at risk for a sexually transmitted infection when they have sex or perform sex acts with a partner. Condoms, dental dams, and other physical protections help to prevent the spread of STIs but are not 100% effective. Testing can take the form of blood tests, urine tests, or saliva swabs.
STI testing is something a lot of us, as students, choose to ignore. Despite not wanting to think about it, a lot of us should. UNC and the surrounding areas offer a variety of options for those looking to get tested. Whether you just want to know that you have nothing to worry about or you are seeking treatment for something you think might be wrong, you have options.
UNC Campus Health offers STI testing for students. The tests range from $9 to $91.50 in price and cover a variety of common STIs. Payment can either come from insurance or out of pocket. A benefit of getting testing at Campus Health is that they will prescribe treatment for anything wrong. For students looking to avoid using insurance for privacy reasons, Campus Health’s prices can be daunting. For these students, there are also community resources who offer free, private STI testing.
Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) is a free resource offered in Carrboro on Wednesday evenings and Durham on Monday evenings. Operated by students in the health professions, they do free STI testing by appointment or walk in. They do not offer treatment, but for diseases such as HIV they connect patients with the UNC Department of Infectious Disease. SHAC primarily serves marginalized populations, but also students.
Another resource for STI testing is Orange County. They offer free STI testing as well as counselling and treatment at free and reduced prices. The testing is only available through appointment, and Orange County will not bill insurance if asked not to. The benefit of testing at Orange County is that they can provide both testing and treatment at free and reduced costs. They can also provide preventative Truvada for those who are at high risk of contracting HIV. They are, however, less accessible than SHAC and Campus Health because they will only do testing by appointment.
To conclude, students who are comfortable with billing insurance or paying larger amounts out of pocket can find a great resource in Campus Health. Students that may want testing just for peace of mind or have other plans for treatment may fare best with SHAC. Finally, students seeking testing and treatment at low cost without billing insurance may find Orange County Health Department the most useful. Everyone sexually active should consider getting tested because knowing about STIs in advance can protect you and your partner’s health. STI testing can give peace of mind or help to diagnose conditions before any dangerous complications arise. With such great resources around UNC, now is a great time to think about getting tested.
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