With the school year coming to a close, finals are enough for students to be concerned about. Students hoping to end the semester with a hookup, however, may have more to worry about than just studying.

According to a 2005 report from the American Social Health Association, more than half of all people will have a sexually transmitted infection at some point in their lives. Diseases spread by sexual contact are among the most common in the United States, just behind the common cold and the flu.

One in two sexually active people will contract an STI by age 25.

“It’s really a much larger problem than it has to be, especially on college campuses where there is a lot of information and resources out there for students,” said Lauri Dusselier, program coordinator for Thielen Student Health Center.

Human papillomavirus, herpes and chlamydia are the most common STIs on the ISU campus, said Meghan Reicks, program assistant for the health center.

“Supposedly 70 percent of sexually active students at this school are estimated to have [human papillomavirus], and most don’t even know it,” she said.

She said many people don’t show symptoms of STIs, so they don’t get tested for them.

“We’re not telling students not to have sex, but it’s really important to use protection and know what you’re getting yourself into,” Reicks said. “In situations where you randomly meet partners, it’s unlikely that you’re going to drag your partner to get tested right before you have sex, so it’s important to know the risks.”

Although approximately half of the population is infected with an STI, people don’t think it will happen to them, said Kathi Di Nicola, director of marketing and communications for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa.

“There’s a sense of invincibility with being young, and students who want the stereotypical college partying experience don’t always make the smartest decisions,” Di Nicola said. “Alcohol can be a big factor in lowering inhibitions.”

Students often don’t take simple steps that could save them from a lot of trouble and worry, but precautions could make a difference.

“Of course, abstinence is the only way to guarantee not contracting a sexually transmitted infection,” Di Nicola said. “But if one decides that he or she is going to be sexually active, it is always a good idea to have a condom ready. Always have proper contraception at hand.”

A common misconception that may lead to reckless sexual behavior is the notion that almost everyone has lots of partners, Dusselier said.

“The perceived number of partners one has had is pretty different from the actual number,” Dusselier said. “Students shouldn’t go to a Spring Break destination – or even in their normal lives on campus, for that matter – with the mindset that they have to catch up to their peers.”

When asked how many sexual partners students had during the last school year, female students perceived other females to have 3.4 partners, according to a spring 2005 national assessment report conducted by the American College Health Association. The actual number is 1.3. Males were perceived to have 3.1 partners, but the actual number is 1.8.

Another disturbing figure from that report is that 59 percent believe that condoms are used most of the time during sexual intercourse. The actual reported number of people that usually used a condom in the past 30 days was only 8 percent.

“The disparity between perceived and actual numbers is shocking,” said Rachel Goeb, junior in English. “People need to look out for themselves instead of just focusing on what they want at the moment and not thinking they’ll have to deal with any consequences.”

Many resources and events are available on campus, such as Free Condom Wednesdays, a program sponsored by the Student Health Advisory Committee. Free, confidential HIV testing is available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays at the health center.