Are you in the process of choosing and OB/GYN? Check out these 8 questions that will help you get it...
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Same Day Appointments Available
Same Day Appointments Available
Same Day Appointments Available
It’s here! The start of the fall semester. Whether you are an incoming freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, this is a busy and exciting time for you. You have had to think about getting housing, choosing courses, (and professors), getting needed items, and making sure everything is in order with the financial aid office.
You are probably looking forward to celebrating the start of the semester and thinking about all of the social events you want to attend. But first, let’s talk about safety! While this is an exciting time, we want to help make sure it is a safe time. One way we help keep our college community safe is by providing STI testing; but we’d also like to share a few more safety tips for college.
So, here are a few tips to help you protect yourself:
1. Always be aware of your surroundings – familiarize yourself with the campus. Make sure you know where the emergency call boxes are located. Even if you are out with friends, pay attention to where you are and who is around you.
2. Never walk alone at night. If you are out alone, ask a security officer to escort you to your dorm, car, etc. If no security personnel are around, call security and request an escort.
3. If you are going out with friends, always let someone else know your plans. If you would rather not inform your parents, consider notifying another family member or close friend who will remember to check in with you at a designated time. They should know where you are going, who you’re with, and when you plan to be back.
1. Do not assume that you do not have an STI because you are not having symptoms. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chlamydia is often asymptomatic (without symptoms) and can lead to other illnesses and infertility. The WHO also reports that untreated gonorrhea can increase the risk of HIV infection. Untreated trichomoniasis is associated with poor birth outcomes and decreased sperm motility, according to the WHO.
Women often say they can’t have an STI because they don’t have any symptoms. Put this at the top of your list of safety tips for college: you can be infected and have no symptoms at all!
2. Do not assume that your partner will tell you if they suspect they have contracted an STI. They may not even know. And even if they do, they may not tell you. Sometimes sexual partners just do not say anything at all. They may be embarrassed or afraid of what the consequences will be. According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were reported in the United States in 2022.
3. Do not ignore potential symptoms. Assuming that a symptom is caused by something else can delay needed treatment. Do not be afraid to get tested. Give us a call. Here at Alcove Health Women’s Clinic, we provide confidential no-cost screenings for three of the most commonly spread STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis).
Protecting your sexual health also means getting the help you need if you are facing an unplanned pregnancy. This is not something you need to try to figure out on your own. Let us help.
Here at Alcove Health, we provide pregnancy confirmation, a safe space for you to process your thoughts, and an opportunity for you to speak with a trained client advocate and medical staff about all your options. And we do it confidentially and at no cost to you. We don’t accept insurance, so there’s no billing, either.
Whether you need pregnancy services or STI testing, if you’re a student at Virginia Peninsula Community College, Christopher Newport University, Hampton University, or William and Mary – we’re located a short distance from you and we’re here to help.
We care about your safety enough to provide these safety tips for college, and we care about your health. So, call or click here for your free and confidential pregnancy and/or STI testing appointment today. Keep yourself safe; reach out today.
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