The University of Idaho conducts the American College Health Association (ACHA) National College Health Assessment every other year to assess the health of our students. The most recent survey of UI students found that 51 percent of students had vaginal sex in the past 30 days, and only 42 percent of those students used a condom. When used correctly, condoms greatly reduce the risk of contracting an STI, or sexually transmitted infection, and are 98 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Two birds, one stone.
According to the same (ACHA) survey, 47 percent of UI students had oral sex in the past 30 days, and only 3 percent of those students used a protective barrier. It’s easy to forget that the spread of STIs can still occur during oral sex. Dental dams are an incredibly convenient solution to protecting yourself from an STI. And if you don’t have one on hand, you can make one. Simply cut an external condom from the opening to the tip, lengthwise, and unfold. Discard the dental dam when oral sex is over.
UI students can visit four discrete locations to access free condoms and other items on campus. The SRC Well Space provides a variety of free well-being materials and resources, including external and internal condoms, latex-free condoms, dental dams, and lube. Instructions for how to use these materials are also available. Anybody can drop by the Well Space from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday to access these materials— no questions asked. Take what you need.
Vandal Health Education provides and stocks external condom dispensers in two residence halls, the Wallace basement across from the RHA office, and in both the men and women’s restrooms at the LLC 24-Hour Help Desk. These dispensers are completely free, and students who do not live in the residence halls are still welcome to access them. The Women’s Center also provides free external and internal condoms, as well as lube, dental dams, and pregnancy tests. Students can also access free condoms and a pregnancy test at the Student Health Clinic, downtown at 623 S. Main Street.
Generation Action is a Planned Parenthood organization comprised of a network of young adult activists who organize campus events to educate and raise public awareness about reproductive health and rights and to create lasting change in their communities. Every Friday in the Commons, the group provides free condoms and sexual health information.
You don’t have to have sex to feel like you’ve had the real college experience. Many UI students choose to not have sex. If you are sexually active, consider visiting the SRC Well Space, Wallace basement, LLC 24-Hour Help Desk restrooms, the Women’s Center or the Student Health Clinic for free condoms and other sexual health materials, to stop the spread of STIs. If you’ve had unprotected sex, the only way to know for sure if you have an STI is to get tested as many STIs do not show any symptoms. More information about contraception, STIs and testing, pregnancy, and gynecological information, as well as many other online sexual health resources, can be found at uidaho.edu/vandalhealth. Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution.
Madie Brown GSA, Vandal Health Education