Within the past year, 80 percent of college students have had at least one sexual partner. That means that if you are like the majority of your fellow students, you should be concerned about sexually transmitted diseases and infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 19 million new STD infections occur annually, and almost half of those are young people aged 15-24.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichamiasis, herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV) and HIV — among other sexually transmitted diseases and infections, should be a concern for anyone who is sexually active. Only two-thirds of sexually active UW students claim to use a condom “most of the time,” according to Hall Health Primary Care Center, and even if couples are practicing safe sex, HIV, herpes and HPV can be spread despite prophylactic protection.

In addition to being a real hindrance to your social life, an STD could leave you with some outstanding medical bills. Direct medical costs associated with STDs in the United States are estimated at $13 billion annually. College students are responsible for a large percentage of the proliferation of STDs, but often don’t have the income to deal with the consequences. Taking basic steps to be tested and practice preventive sexual health can save students a lot of money and worry in the long run.

Many students are covered by their parents’ health insurance plans while they attend school full-time or until they turn 25. But up to 30 percent of college students do not have any type of health insurance, according to a Heinz Family Philanthropy and Chickering Group study. That means about 4 million students nationally are responsible for paying for all their own medical costs out of pocket. For these students, clinical costs can be inhibitive.

Fortunately there are several options in the University District for affordable STD testing and treatment. Harborview Medical Center, Planned Parenthood and Hall Health on campus all offer full STD testing.

Planned Parenthood and Harborview have a sliding scale pricing system based on an individual’s last-month income. The average student with a part-time job would fit into the category of earning less than $825 each month. Within that price range, an appointment for an STD infection check could cost between $120-125 for a student without insurance, but that doesn’t include testing for HIV, syphilis or herpes.

“Students have a great resource here on campus in Hall Health,” said Nels Carroll, a health educator with UHELP. “It’s a comprehensive clinic where you can be tested if you have an infection, get a prescription and a pharmacy where you can fill it.”

UW students not covered by their parents’ health insurance can use the school’s Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan, which costs $389 per quarter. Approximately 25 percent of the student population — including graduate students — subscribes to the plan, according to John Medina, director of the Hall Health pharmacy.

At Hall Health, every UW student who pays the quarterly Services and Activities Fee along with tuition is entitled to one free office visit per quarter. If a student without insurance seeks an additional office visit to discuss STD symptoms and/or tests, that visit could cost them anywhere from $38-208, depending on actual symptoms, the duration of the visit and any follow-up plans. A pap-smear test for women is $65, and a typical “Level Three” visit (in which the student is showing symptoms of an STD) would cost $90 for a student without insurance.

The lab work for detecting gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and herpes could cost more than $230 before insurance. Tack on an extra $50 to be tested for HIV. Should any of the tests come back positive, a student must be prepared to purchase the antibiotics or endure the shots required. Without health coverage, the proper treatment can cost anywhere from about $6-228.

Thankfully for students, the Rubenstein pharmacy located in Hall Health is often able to provide the most affordable prices on the market.

“You’re going to find that, most of the time, we’re going to have a little bit better price [than retail pharmacies],” Medina said. “Student health centers and Planned Parenthood are really the only places to have these prices. We’re non-profit; we get the best prices we can and try to pass those savings on to the student.”

The best way to practice safe sex and spare your bank account is to schedule an appointment with a physician to assess your own sexual health, whether or not you display any symptoms. Young women must commit to scheduling regular annual checkups, including pap smears. Then, address the issue of sexually transmitted infections and diseases with all of your sexual partners.

“It seems like everyone we talk to knows in the back of their mind that they are gambling by having sex and not knowing if they’ve contracted anything,” Carroll said.

It is extremely important to catch these diseases early to prevent the progress of the disease and decrease the chance of it spreading, he said. Practicing preventive sexual health is good for you, your partner and your wallet.

Reporter Sarah Anderson: sarahanderson@thedaily.washington.edu