Student Health Center improves sexual and reproductive health services
Hollan Peterson
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: News
Over the past year UNCW's Student Health Center has taken many steps to ensure that the caliber of its services matches that of its new facility. One particular area in which the SHC has made considerable efforts to improve has been sexual and reproductive health issues, specifically sexually transmitted diseases and emergency contraception for women.
Emergency contraception, commonly referred to as the "morning after pill," has caused much controversy since becoming legal in the United States. Just last month, after much effort, the SHC was able to switch its brand of emergency contraception from Lo/Ovral to Plan-B, which has the potential to be 89 percent effective if taken properly.
"We have always wanted to use Plan-B because it is simpler, more effective, and there are less side effects," Dr. Peter Meyer, Medical Director for the Student Health Center said.
Although the SHC does not keep statistics on the number of students that request emergency contraception, there has been a significant demand for it. According to Dr. Meyer, at least several women each week request EC.
"We try to make the access to Plan-B as easy and as streamlined as possible, and we expect the demand to increase," said Meyer.
Last year students made 10,805 visits to the Student Health Center, and the numbers for this year have increased significantly, from 768 visits in August 2004, to 1,044 in August 2005.
The most common STD treated by the SHC last year was Chlamydia, with 23 reported cases. Herpes was second with 15 diagnoses, followed by four cases of HPV, and one case of gonorrhea. There were no diagnoses of syphilis, or HIV.
According to Dr. Meyer, these statistics do not accurately reflect the rates of sexually transmitted infections on campus. This is mainly due to the fact that many students receive medical attention elsewhere such as Urgent Care, clinics or family practices. Unfortunately, another reason is that in many cases infected persons can remain asymptomatic for years after being infected. It is estimated that one-fourth of people with HIV are unaware that they have contracted the disease.
Emergency contraception, commonly referred to as the "morning after pill," has caused much controversy since becoming legal in the United States. Just last month, after much effort, the SHC was able to switch its brand of emergency contraception from Lo/Ovral to Plan-B, which has the potential to be 89 percent effective if taken properly.
"We have always wanted to use Plan-B because it is simpler, more effective, and there are less side effects," Dr. Peter Meyer, Medical Director for the Student Health Center said.
Although the SHC does not keep statistics on the number of students that request emergency contraception, there has been a significant demand for it. According to Dr. Meyer, at least several women each week request EC.
"We try to make the access to Plan-B as easy and as streamlined as possible, and we expect the demand to increase," said Meyer.
Last year students made 10,805 visits to the Student Health Center, and the numbers for this year have increased significantly, from 768 visits in August 2004, to 1,044 in August 2005.
The most common STD treated by the SHC last year was Chlamydia, with 23 reported cases. Herpes was second with 15 diagnoses, followed by four cases of HPV, and one case of gonorrhea. There were no diagnoses of syphilis, or HIV.
According to Dr. Meyer, these statistics do not accurately reflect the rates of sexually transmitted infections on campus. This is mainly due to the fact that many students receive medical attention elsewhere such as Urgent Care, clinics or family practices. Unfortunately, another reason is that in many cases infected persons can remain asymptomatic for years after being infected. It is estimated that one-fourth of people with HIV are unaware that they have contracted the disease.