When a university student develops a genital or reproductive health condition, we must stop automatically assuming it resulted from “risky” or inappropriate sexual behavior.
A health condition is not a character judgment. And a student should not have to face shame or suspicion before they can access care.
Some common reproductive health conditions are not usually classified as sexually transmitted infections.
Candidiasis, commonly known as a yeast infection, is usually caused by an overgrowth of yeast that may already be present in the body. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) occurs when the balance of bacteria in the vagina changes. These conditions are not usually transmitted through sex, although BV is associated with certain sexual behaviors and can also occur in people who have never had sex.
Some forms of prostatitis are caused by bacterial infections, including infections that may involve the urinary tract. Other cases have different causes. The term prostatitis refers to inflammation of the prostate; it does not automatically mean a sexually transmitted infection.
The important point is that a symptom or diagnosis should not be used as evidence of someone’s sexual behavior.
When people respond to reproductive-health concerns with blame, students may become reluctant to ask questions or visit a healthcare provider.
Yet symptoms such as irritation, unusual discharge, discomfort, or pain can have different causes. Symptoms alone may not be enough to identify the condition. A healthcare professional can assess the situation and recommend appropriate testing or treatment.
Students deserve access to accurate information and confidential care—not gossip, judgment, or assumptions.
Health does not exist separately from the environment in which students live.
Students need:
These are not luxuries. They are essential parts of a healthy learning environment.
Impact Project calls on Nigerian policymakers and university leaders to make student living conditions safer and healthier, strengthen access to confidential healthcare, and support accurate, stigma-free reproductive-health education.
Before we blame a student, let us ask whether the conditions in which that student lives—and the services available to them—are helping protect their health.
Impact Project stands for practical, dignity-centered solutions that support student wellbeing.
