Hookup Health on Campus

A health expert urges clear, practical sex education on campus to reduce STI risk among students.

Hookup Talk Needs Real Facts for College Health

A college health clinician walks readers through the realities of hookup culture and the gaps in how students learn about sexual health. Recent surveillance shows that nearly half of the United States’ reported sexually transmitted infections in 2023 were among people aged 15 to 24, underscoring the stakes for college life. The data also reveal that birth control alone does not protect against infections, and condom use among students using contraception at last intercourse was only about half. The message from the clinician is blunt: consent is not a single moment, and risk is not limited to any one group. Nonconsensual sexual contact remains a concern on campuses, and many events occur under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The takeaway is simple but urgent: protection should be a routine part of every sexual decision, not an afterthought.

The piece blends medical authority with a call for nonjudgmental education, highlighting a tension between student autonomy and safety. It challenges the myth that STI risk is someone else’s problem or limited to certain communities, and it points to the emotional toll of infections as a factor shaping students’ mental health. By stressing routine testing and vaccination, the author argues for institutional support in campus health centers, not just personal vigilance. The article notes that vaccines like HPV have dramatically cut related illnesses, suggesting policy and funding decisions at colleges could amplify these gains. In short, the analysis pushes for open, practical dialogue that matches the pace and reality of student life while avoiding shaming or fearmongering.

Highlights

Health education on campus should meet students where they are, with clear guidance that fits their lives.