The Truth About Teens and STDs

Everyone who chooses to have sex is susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The topic isn't pleasant, but the alarming prevalence of these diseases proves it's a subject that must be addressed, especially with teens. Of the 15 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases each year in the U.S., more than two-thirds will occur in people younger than 25. Even though adolescents make up only 10 percent of the population, they contract up to 25 percent of all STDs.

Experts call it an "STD epidemic." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls it a "multiple epidemic" because there are at least 25 different STDs (nearly 50 diseases if you account for the variant strains of the same disease) affecting young people today. Teens who become sexually active at a young age, who have sexual contact of any kind with many different partners, and who engage in unprotected sex (without a condom) greatly increase their chance of becoming infected with an STD.

What's All the Fuss About?
Deciding whether to engage in sexual relations is one of the most important decisions a person of any age can make. It is a decision that could affect the rest of your life, especially if you don't take proper precautions.

According to a 2001 CDC survey, more than half of sexually active teens (51 percent) say they used a condom the last time they had sex. However, only about 25 percent of teenagers say they consistently use a condom. What's worse, teenage girls who have unprotected sex and engage in other risky sexual behavior underestimate their odds of getting a sexually transmitted disease. In one CDC study, about 89 percent of the 209 girls studied felt that they were at little to no risk of getting an STD.

Unfortunately, new research shows these girls are sorely mistaken. The CDC recently revealed that 1 in 4 teen girls (and nearly half of black teen girls) have a sexually transmitted disease. In its groundbreaking study, the CDC determined the most common STD, human papillomavirus (HPV), affected 18 percent of girls studied, and the second most common, chlamydia, affected 4 percent.

CDC researcher Dr. Sara Forhan analyzed data on 838 girls aged 14 to 19 who took part in a 2003-2004 government health survey. Teens were tested for four infections: human papillomavirus; chlamydia; trichomoniasis (which affected 2.5 percent of girls studied); and genital herpes (which affected 2 percent). Even more frightening, 15 percent of the infected teens had more than one of the diseases. According to Dr. John Douglas, director of the CDC's division of STD prevention, the data are likely representative of today's STD rates.

By some accounts, almost one in five young women will contract an STD within one year of losing her virginity. And STDs don't always come with obvious symptoms. Teens can carry the infection for years without knowing it, putting them at risk for pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other serious conditions. HPV, for example, can cause cervical cancer and genital warts, but often has no symptoms at all. Scientists recently released a vaccine targeting four HPV strains, and the CDC recommends the three-dose HPV vaccine for girls aged 11-12 years and catch-up shots for females aged 13 to 26.

Similarly, chlamydia can cause an abnormal discharge and painful urination, but often has no symptoms. Experts estimate 2.8 million new chlamydia cases each year. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under age 25. Signs of trichomoniasis are similar to those of chlamydia, and both diseases can be treated with antibiotics. Those diagnosed with genital herpes aren't so lucky. There is no cure for the blisters herpes causes, and it also is often symptomless.

Although many teens are in a hurry to have sex, studies suggest teenagers who are sexually active are significantly less likely to be happy, more likely to feel depressed, and more likely to attempt suicide as compared to teens who are not sexually active. A quarter (25.3 percent) of teenage girls who are sexually active report that they are depressed all, most, or a lot of the time as compared to only 7.7 percent of teenage girls who are not sexually active. And 8.3 percent of teenage boys who are sexually active report being depressed all, most, or a lot of the time as compared to only 3.4 percent of teenage boys who are not sexually active (National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health, Wave II, 1996).

Sexually active teens often regret rushing into early sexual activity. A poll by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy asked the question, "If you have had sexual intercourse, do you wish you had waited longer?" Among sexually active teens, nearly two-thirds said they wished they had waited.

Knowledge Is Power
So, why do teens continue to have unprotected sex despite these disturbing statistics? Experts blame unsatisfactory sex education on contraceptives and ways to prevent STDs, too strong a focus on abstinence-only as a preventative measure, and the fact that teens think they are invincible. There is also a worrisome trend that girls only view sex as intercourse, even though diseases can spread through other oral sex and other means as well.

If schools aren't providing adequate education, one would assume doctors and clinics could help. But another CDC study showed that only 40 percent of female patients who go to a doctor for emergency contraception, such as the "morning after pill," also receive advice and testing for STDs. Experts emphasize that people who are considering having sex should get regular gynecological or male genital examinations. This gives doctors a chance to check for STDs while they're still in their earliest, most treatable stage and allows doctors to teach people about STDs. If a doctor doesn't offer useful information, don't be ashamed to ask questions.

The lack of accurate information surrounding the causes and consequences of STDs results in a lot of misunderstandings and myths, particularly among teens. Some sexually active teens think the withdrawal method will protect them, or that douching with Coca-Cola will kill STD germs. With almost half of all high school students having sex, teens need a stronger message on the way STDs spread and how to protect themselves.

As recent studies suggest, the sex education teens receive in school and from doctors may not be as comprehensive as this generation needs. Since girls become sexually active younger these days, parents need to step in and educate their children about condoms, birth control, and the emotional consequences of sex. Teens need to be reminded about the dangers of STDs not once, but many times over the course of their development. No matter how difficult it is to talk about safe sex, it's worth it. Over three million teenage girls are now battling STDs. Don't let your daughter be one of them.