It seems that it’s in fashion to contract a sexually transmitted disease here in the Southern Tier (see Page 1, and an April 28 article about a syphilis outbreak in Broome County). So when it comes time to get those pus-laden chancres checked out, with whose latex-gloved hands should we trust our wounded genitalia?

Being a smart health consumer will help you get the highest-quality service at the best price — no matter where you decide to go. There are a number of factors that college students in particular should consider when choosing a health care provider.

Binghamton University Health Services is the first (and only) option that comes to mind for many resident students. Whatever gripes people may have about the place, it serves hundreds of students per week, and its Newing location is the most convenient for those who live on campus.

The University health insurance policy — carried by some 2,050 of BU’s approximately 13,000 students — covers most basic STD testing and lab costs. But there may be fees that aren’t included in that policy, and students should ask up front about what everything is going to cost.

That’s the thing to keep in mind when dealing with Health Services, or any health care provider: don’t be afraid to ask questions. Yes, doctors and nurses are medical experts, but they’re also human beings. And it’s your body — and your money — you have a right to know exactly what’s being done with both.

But nobody else does without your permission, and that’s another thing to remember. Your parents might be paying for your health care (or your insurance, which pays for your health care), but legally, they don’t have any right to any of your health information.

That’s why if you’re uncomfortable with your parents knowing about your STD or pregnancy testing (which many students are), you need to make it clear that they’re not to receive the invoices or summaries of services provided. But that also means you’ll have to be responsible for footing the bill, since insurance companies usually have pretty solid rules about who gets the bill. This just underscores how important it is to know what your visit and any associated tests will cost: if the care is going to exceed your price range, it might be time to come clean with mom and dad.

For the other 10,000-plus students who are covered under their parents’ or their own insurance policies, Health Services may not be the best option. Many carriers won’t pay for lab work done by United Health Services, and then it’s going to be an all-cash operation — and the billing issues will be the same.

So, first things first: find out what your insurance policy is and what it covers. Talk to your parents (heaven forbid!) if you have to. Insurance is, by design, a complicated animal, but knowing the basics will make it easier to figure out where to go, and what’s likely to be covered. Also, find out if you’ll need a referral. Going to a doctor without one when your insurance company requires it is like shooting blanks — something you might end up doing anyway if you don’t get checked out.

Go to your insurance carrier’s Web site and find out which health care providers in the Tri-Cities area will accept your plan — most carriers should have an online “doctor locator” function. Find a doctor, see what you’ll be required to pay for the visit (the “co-pay”), and get a ride to the office: at worst, it’ll be a bus trip, and that’s no excuse for leaving a potentially debilitating STD, like syphilis, undiagnosed.

If you have issues finding a doctor’s office, you can always go to the Southern Tier AIDs Prevention Center (STAP), or Planned Parenthood, or any of the other community health-outreach centers in Greater Binghamton. Even if you don’t have trouble, these are places that specialize in diagnosing and treating STDs, so there’s no reason to doubt their experience in the field. These are all discreet places as well, and Planned Parenthood says it will never turn someone away because of inability to pay.

Finally, never forget: an ounce of latex prevention is worth a pound of medicinal cure. Use a damned condom! It may feel a little worse, but do you want a chancre? We didn’t think so. You can get free condoms at resident assistant offices, Health Services, the Rainbow Pride Union, STAP, Planned Parenthood and many other places, we’re sure. And if you’re in a crunch, they’re dirt-cheap in vending machines in the dorms, and you can even buy them in the University Bookstore.

And if there’s any reason to give a corporate giant like Barnes and Noble your business, wouldn’t keeping your genitalia sore-free be it?