June 17, 2020

'Get Yourself Tested' at the Campus Health Center

Located at 5285 Anthony Wayne Drive in Detroit, the Campus Health Center offers free sexually transmitted infections testing for eligible Wayne State students on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nearly half of all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in the United States are from people between the ages of 15 and 24, and just because there’s a COVID-19 pandemic occurring doesn’t mean they should be ignored.

The Get Yourself Tested (GYT) campaign is a nationwide effort to raise awareness and emphasize the importance of getting tested for STIs, especially in the younger population.

“Did you know that you could have an STI and not have any symptoms, but you can still pass the infection to your partner? If left untreated, STI’s can lead to more health issues as you get older. Do you know your status?” said Breanna Young, CHC’s community outreach coordinator.

If an STI is left untreated, it could potentially lead to permanent health issues such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility in both men and women, and increased risk of HIV.

“GYT is a great way to get STI testing checked off your list, even during COVID-19, because testing is free, safe and confidential. Call the Campus Health Center (CHC) to find out if you qualify for free testing,” said Erika Blaskay, CHC’s community outreach nurse.

Located at 5285 Anthony Wayne Drive in Detroit, the CHC offers free STI testing for eligible Wayne State students on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This includes free rapid HIV testing and free chlamydia and gonorrhea testing for students who meet the specific criteria. Students who are concerned and want to get tested can call the CHC at 313-577-5041 to schedule an appointment or to find out if they meet the criteria for free testing.

Those who are not eligible for the free testing may still be able to bill insurance for STI tests. If you test positive for an infection, CHC provides treatment for STIs, as well as counseling and education on birth control, women’s health, safe sex and more. To promote safe sex, CHC continues to offer the Condom Club punch card, worth 50 condoms for $5.

CHC also offers the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program, which is a once-daily pill taken by people with certain risk factors to help lower the risk of getting HIV if exposed. Call the clinic for more information about PrEP.

Every student at Wayne State is eligible for one free visit to CHC per semester while enrolled. Call CHC at 313-577-5041 with questions or to schedule an appointment.