With the combination of hormones, cold weather and less-than-thrilling entertainment venues in Hanover, it's no wonder that students are hopping into bed with each other. From monogamous relationships to steamy hook ups, sex is a given for a significant portion of the Dartmouth population. Unfortunately, despite the benefits of sex, the possibility of STDs is a scary reality. So ... if you want to be sexually active, how do you stay clean at Dartmouth?
Condoms: You've heard it all: No glove, no love. Wrap it in foil before checking her oil. A crank with armor will never harm her. So why not cover up?
"The number-one way to prevent getting STDs if you're sexually active is to wear a condom," Jessica Elfstrom '07, the current Sexual Education Peer Advisor intern, said.
The importance of wearing a condom is drilled into each of our heads, but the question remains -- what's the best way to get condoms at Dartmouth? If you prefer the on-campus route, UGAs should be equipped with a stock of condoms, and vending machine across campus feature LifeStyles condoms for that last-minute purchase. Topside has a relatively small selection of Trojans, but unfortunately they'll be charged to your DASH -- so you can't factor your sex-safe purchases in as a part of your parentally-funded dining plan.
Making your way to the thriving metropolis of Hanover, condoms are available at CVS, FoodStop and Eastman's Pharmacy. CVS has by far the best selection, from a package of 36 Trojan Ultra-Pleasure condoms for $23.99, to a Trojan plus vibrating ring for only $9.99. If you have the time to plan ahead and need to buy in bulk (in a package of more than three), then the walk down Main Street is worth the trek.
Getting Tested: Unless you are and always have been abstinent, there's no way to be sure that you're clean. That being said, Dick's House offers free STD testing, done by appointment. The visit should last about half an hour, and HIV, herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea are regularly tested for, as well as syphilis and hepatitis B if the person is at high risk or hasn't been vaccinated, according to Dr. Dawn Harland, the associate director for clinical affairs. Fortunately, you can get tested without the anxiety of receiving a phone call from your parents asking about what you're doing with your sex life.
"Registered students are not charged for STD tests, and parents are not informed about the names of these lab tests since billing is not involved," Harland said.
With only about twenty students a week getting tested, it seems intuitive that there are many more sexually active students than there are tests being performed. It's not a matter of why, it's a matter of why not -- it's fast, it's free, and it'll help you (and your partner[s]) sleep at night.
Vaccinations: Dick's House now offers the Gardisil vaccine for women, which protects against the four strains of HPV most likely to cause cervical cancer, Elfstrom said.
"If you have Dartmouth insurance [the vaccination] is free, which is amazing because without it, it's $120 per shot, for three shots, which is quite a fee to pay if you don't have coverage," she said. Furthermore, under New Hampshire law the vaccine is free for anyone before they turn 19, which leaves the majority of freshman girls and some sophomores eligible. There isn't an equivalent vaccine for men as of yet, but hopefully there will be in the near future, Harland said.
Dick's house also offers vaccinations against hepatitis A and B.
Abstinence: Proven to be 100 percent effective against STDs. Enough said.
If you're sexually active at Dartmouth, just be conscious about the reality of STDs. Stock up on condoms, schedule an appointment to be tested, and get vaccinated. Remember -- STDs aren't spread exclusively through intercourse, so just because you haven't slept together doesn't mean you're home free. But chances are, if you're smart about sex the only repercussions from last weekend's bad decision will be an awkward Hop encounter and a pounding Sunday morning headache.
