There are many rumors about Sexually Transmitted Disease rates. I found some facts that may help you open your eyes and realize that anybody can get an STD. As an adolescent, we must try our best to keep ourselves aware of what we are exposed to—some STDs like Herpes, HIV, HPV, & Hepatitis never go away. Young people ages 15-24 are also infected with half of all new STD infections that happen every year in the United States. This is really crazy because we only make up a quarter of the total population!
There are about 20 million new cases of STDs each year in the United States. HPV and Chlamydia are the most common and may often have long term consequences. Luckily, there is a vaccine for HPV that can help you from catching some of the serious strains. Although there is no vaccine for Chlamydia, there is a simple test and an even easier cure if you are infected.
Some STDs have been causing more infections than normal. For the first time since 2006, there has been an increase in new cases of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, & Syphilis. Many youth don’t know they have these infections because they often don’t have symptoms. In other words, you have the infection in your body but you don’t feel sick or see anything unusual! Getting tested is the only way to know for sure if you have an STD. And of course, if you are going to have sex, use condoms every time!
Paola
Teen Health Educator
Sophomore / CHS
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