Download Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually
Transmitted
Diseases
STDs & Teens: A Reality Check
Why teens are at high risk?
Teens and young adults are more
likely to:
• Have multiple partners,
• Engage in unprotected sex.
Young women are:
• More likely to choose older
partners,
• Biologically more susceptible to
Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and HIV.
STD and Teens: Statistics
• 12 million new cases each year
• 3 million are among teenagers
• 13% of youth 13 – 19 contract an
STD each year
Chlamydia
• Found in 20 – 40% of teens (most
common)
• Caused by bacteria.
• Silent Disease: 65-80% of
females and 20-30% of males
show no symptoms.
• May cause sterility.
Gonorrhea
• Highly contagious bacterial
infection.
• Also known as the “drip” or “clap”.
• May cause sterility, arthritis and
heart trouble.
Herpes
• Viral infection.
• Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV1) – a.k.a.
“cold sores”.
• Herpes Simplex 2 (HSV2) –
genital herpes.
• Deadly to newborns and infants.
Herpes (continued)
• Rate of new infections highest in
late teens and early twenties.
• 15 – 20% of teens are infected
with herpes.
• Chances of infection increase
with age.
HPV
• No cure – viral.
• 28 – 46% of women under 25 are
infected with HPV.
• May cause cervical cancer.
• Genital warts affect 1/3 of all
sexually active teens.
Syphilis
• Highly contagious bacteria.
• Can affect all parts of the body.
• Three stages – may lead to
death.
• Rates among teens are low.
Safe Sex
Sex = oral, anal and/or vaginal
• Abstinence.
• Male Condom.
• Female Condom.
• Oral Barriers (Dental Dam).