Sexually Transmitted Disease Rates Are High

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported high rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among US teenagers.

The report found 1 out of 4 teenage girls is STDs infected: 18% human papilloma virus (HPV), 4% chlamydia, 2.5 % trichomoniasis, and 2% herpes simplex virus. HPV is the most dangerous infection leading to cervical cancer, and unfortunately it has the highest rate.

The situation is the worst in Philadelphia with 1790 boys and 5198 girls reported chlamydia infection, 505 boys and 1003 girls reported gonorrhea infection.

Teenagers with sexually transmitted diseases are very problematic, because they are unaware of infections they have, besides, they are having unsafe sex with different partners easily spreading infections.

Health officials are conducting numerous activities to protect teenagers from sexually transmitted diseases. They offer free, confidential testing and treatment programs, offering educational materials in family planning clinics, recreational centers. However, the rates still remain high.

The key to protecting from STDs is sexual education. Teenagers must understand the importance of safe sex and seriousness of diseases that may lead to even more difficult conditions, such as cancer. Teenagers must be encouraged to start sexually active life when they become older. Those educating teens must help them with advice and encourage healthy lifestyle.

Young women and teenage girls must get HPV vaccine to be protected against infection. Teenagers must understand the importance of getting proper treatment if they have any of sexually transmitted diseases, because early detection and treatment are very important. Some states already offer treatment for teenagers without parent notification.

In other words, health officials are doing the most to protect teenagers from sexually transmitted diseases, but the key issue is that teens must acknowledge the important of healthy lifestyle and particularly sexual health.