Colleges are a place for revelation, contemplation and sexual experimentation, but while you’re having fun be sure to keep your health and wellbeing in mind.

Sex is natural and extremely entertaining, however, communication is key and it’s important to not only be completely honest with your partner but your healthcare provider as well.

Dennis Garcia, medical director of Health & Wellness Services, said many people may be shy about their sexual health, but honesty is critical to accuracy. 

“If we do not have all the information available, mistakes can be made and inappropriate treatments administered,” he said. “A good healthcare provider can draw that information out of their patients and hopefully put (their) patients at ease when talking about uncomfortable or sensitive subjects.”

The harsh reality is that sex – like everything else in the world – has its dangers and if left unchecked, one might suffer dire consequences at the expense of denial, fear or blatant pigheadedness.

As a man who gets tested regularly, I resonate with your trepidation and the fear of potentially being infected with something permanent and potentially life threatening.

Note that this is a completely reasonable reaction.

It is also an extremely selfish thought that not only harms yourself in the long run, but adds innocent lives to an epidemic of unbridled, untreated sexually transmitted diseases.

“(The) Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that health care providers test everyone for HIV between the ages of 13 and 64 at least once as part of routine health care,” according to their National HIV, STD and Hepatitis Testing branch.

The Center for Disease Control is a federally regulated public health institute, so the data is thoroughly substantiated and corroborated.

The site is also easily navigable, with a search tab that allows you to ask questions and links you to keywords or phrases.

“Getting tested is the only way to know your HIV status,” according to the CDC website. “If you are HIV-positive, you can start getting treated, which can improve your health, prolong your life, and greatly lower your chance of spreading HIV to others.”

Knowledge is power. Knowing your status and getting prescribed medication can foster a better life for you and the ones you love in addition to potential sexual partners.

Ask your healthcare professional about getting tested. There is no better person to talk about sex with than a professional in the field with the knowledge, understanding and capability to help.

Tyler Delong is a senior communication major from Moses Lake. He can be contacted at 335-2290 or by [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the staff of The Daily Evergreen or those of the Office of Student Media.