By partnering with Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC), Southwest Minnesota State University is able to offer free testing for chlamydia on campus. This semester, the screenings will take place on Wednesday, March 21.

According to Valerie Dallenbach, SMSU’s director of health services, chlamydia is the most common cause of sexually transmitted genital infections.

“College age students are more likely to have had exposure to more than one sexual partner,” said Dallenbach, “putting them at risk for STI’s such as chlamydia.”

She also notes that the majority of those infected with the disease show no symptoms, increasing the likelihood that they will not get tested and continue to spread it.

Coupled with the well-known stigma associated with STI’s, the lack of awareness leaves many populations vulnerable to the negative effects of the disease.

People who lack healthcare coverage are especially likely to avoid screenings because of the potentially high cost of a doctor’s visit.

Chlamydia in women, when left untreated, can cause infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ectopic pregnancies. In men, it can lead to inflammation causing pain while urinating, and testicular pain, and testicular swelling.

SMOC and SMSU plan to offer screenings again in October 2013. They are also planning human papilloma virus (HPV) awareness days in April and November of 2013.

“Statistics show that less than half of eligible women are screened. This number decreases signicantly for those without insurance,” said Dallenbach. “Offering free testing will hopefully improve these statistics for our SMSU population.”

Health services on campus are available during the school year for all current students free of charge. Medical providers are on site Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons.