9 Health Hazards Hidden in College Dorms

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The hazard: STDs

College brings the freedom to roam from dorm to dorm—and even from bed to bed. So it’s important to practice safe sex. As many as 25% of U.S. college students are said to be infected with a sexually transmitted disease. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is believed to be the most common STD on campus, followed by chlamydia.

Contrary to what some people think, you cannot contract an STD from a toilet seat or bed sheets. “That’s just not a possibility,” the University of Arizona's LeCorgne says. Most STDs, like HPV and chlamydia, are passed through sexual contact.

The solution: LeCorgne emphasizes the importance of using condoms to prevent not only pregnancy but also STDs. “You can’t think you're bullet-proof if you’re on the Pill,” she says. “The Pill doesn’t help against STDs."