Local Sex Stats

  Safe sex is important, not only for individual health, but for the health of the community. As love spreads in the air this Valentine’s Day season, here is a reminder of why it’s best to stay protected.

The Community Health Assessment for 2017-2021 is a comprehensive report from the Benton County Health Department which recounts public health data and demographics from the area, including information and statistics on sexually transmitted infections. Though there are not yet statistics on STIs in the region past 2016, Benton County set goals with Linn and Lincoln county in 2018 that aim to prevent STIs and improve the community’s sexual health. These include: “Achieve zero percent growth in infection rates for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis,” “end new locally acquired HIV transmissions,” and “increase the proportion of community members protected by vaccinations.”

The assessment reports that chlamydia and gonorrhea were the most common STIs in Benton County in 2016. Interestingly, chlamydia was found to be twice as high in women than in men. However, the report attributes this to current guidelines which “recommend chlamydia screening in women who are not symptomatic, but do not recommend the same screening for men without symptoms.”

Benton County’s rate of chlamydia was higher than the Linn-Benton-Lincoln (LBL) region as of the latest statistics – with 477 cases reported in Benton County per 100,000 people, compared to 402 cases per 100,000 reported in the LBL region over the same year.

Gonorrhea, the second most common STI in Benton County, was also more common in women than in men. The assessment reported, “Gonorrhea infection rates in the region have consistently stayed below the state rate, but rates have recently spiked.” The rate increased from 32 cases per every 100,000 people in 2015 to 54.1 in 2016.

“The key risk factor for sexually transmitted infections is age,” said the assessment. Within the LBL region, citizens between the ages of 15 and 24 contracted chlamydia “at a rate 4.3 times higher than the infection rate among all ages.” The same can be said for gonorrhea, in which the same age range had an infection rate 2.7 times higher than the infection rate of all ages.

The assessment reported on two other, less common STIs, syphilis and HIV/AIDS. The number of reported cases of syphilis spiked in 2015, but returned to a steadier state in 2016, with 5.6 cases per 100,000 people.

“HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) remains an important public health problem in Oregon,” said the report. The diagnosis is most common among males aged 35 to 39. Generally in Benton County, there have been 3.5 cases per 100,000 people per year. Though HIV/AIDS is still treated as a serious condition, the number of deaths associated with it have decreased in Oregon and around the world, thanks to medical and therapeutic advancements.

Safe Sex Resources 
Condoms are 98 percent effective at protecting against most STIs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea. Free condoms and lubricants can be found at Student Health Services at Oregon State University in the Plageman Building, Room 337. There are other “condom hot spots” on campus, such as at on-campus cultural centers.

In Salem and Eugene, Planned Parenthood distributes free condoms and other low-cost contraceptives. Here in Corvallis, volunteers from the Valley Aids Information Network distribute over 3,000 condoms per month to local bars, restaurants, and dispensaries. VAIN expects to double their amount dispensed for wider accessibility this summer.

It important to note that condoms don’t protect against all STIs, such as herpes, genital warts, and syphilis, which can be spread from skin-to-skin contact.

According to the Benton County Health Assessment, “Testing for STIs is a very effective mechanism for preventing the spread of STIs.” Examples of available STI screening locations in Corvallis are: your doctor or health clinic (cost depends on insurance), Oregon State University Student Health Services (small fee), First Christian Church (free), the Oregon State University Pride Center (free), and the Westminster House (free).