University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, November 14, 1990
11
Health officials advise females to get gynecological checkups
By Courtney Eblen
Kansan staff writer
KU medical officials are urging young women to have gynecological examinations, even if they are not sexually active.
Recent studies indicate that many gynecological disorders of women over 30 actually began during teenage years, and officials said girls should have checkups before they reach age 18. With the increase in adolescent sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases among women in their teens and early 20s have drastically increased.
William Buck, gynecologist at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said that because of the heightened risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, women should have gynecological checks when they became sexually active or by the time they turned 18.
Julie Strickland, who coordinates pediatric and adolescent services at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., said a woman's first trip to a gynecologist used to be scheduled immediately before her wedding. But that practice is out of date because of the increase
in teenage sexual activity.
Buck said sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, were at their highest levels since World War II.
"There appears to be no letup in STDs," he said. "The AIDS message has not carried on to other things that are out there."
One of the other things is chlamydia, an often symptomless STD that can lead to infertility.
Buck said as many as 10 percent of college women - more than 500,000
— contracted chlamydia each year
Students are 500 times more likely to get chlamydia than they are to get AIDS.
The same statistics carry over to the University of Kansas. Buck said he had treated many patients with COPD, who had no symptoms of the disease.
Some came into Watkins for a gynecological checkup, usually to get a prescription for contraceptives, and chlamydia was diagnosed during their exams, he said. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics.
"Prevention of this disease involves the use of condoms and spermicides." Buck said. Chlamydia is spread both by semen and through
mucous membranes
He said that among college students, one in 10 pap smears were abnormal, and 50 percent of those were because of diseases like staphylococcus or other diseases, including non-STD infections and cervical cancer.
Watkins and the Med Center offer special programs for women who have never had a gynecological examination. In addition, the Med Center has a pediatric and adolescent gynecological program.
Strickland said two out of three women who experienced menstrual problems developed those disorders before age 20.
One disease proven to develop early is endometriosis, or blockages in the Fallopian tubes that can lead to infertility. Endometriosis is a common cause of pelvic pain among teenagers, Strickland said.
Gynecological exams at Watkins and the Med Center focus on prevention. In addition to receiving treatment, women are taught to examine their breasts and are given advice on contraception and how to avoid STDs.
DAILY KANSAN CLASSIFIED GET RESULTS
Congratulations to this year's H.O.P.E.Award Finalists
Zamir Bavel Professor of Computer Science
Beverly Davenport Sypher Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Pete Rowland Associate Professor of Political Science
Robert Rowland
Associate Professor of Communications Studies
Craig Martin
Associate Professor of Botany
Seniors vote November 14 & 15 from 9:00-5:00. Vote at Strong or Summerfield. You must have your KU I.D. to vote.
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