• Marriage
  • Benefits for Children and Youth
  • Benefits for Communities
  • Benefits For Men
  • Benefits For Women
  • Why Wait?
• Pregnancy
  • Are You Ready To Be A Teen Parent?
  • Pregnancy Myths/Facts
• STDs
  • Girls v. Boys
  • Am I At Risk?
  • Chlamydia
  • Genital Herpes
  • Gonorrhea
  • HIV/AIDS
  • HPV
  • Trichomoniasis
  • Syphilis

STDs

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are commonly transmitted between two sexually active partners. Medically, there is a difference between the terms STI and STD, but many people use them interchangeably. STI indicates that a person has a virus or bacteria in his/her system. This infection may develop symptoms and turn into something more serious and/or lasting, or it may be cured or disappear on its own. The term STD refers to pathology, after a disease process has been established. STDs can be passed through all forms of sexual activity including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. Some can also be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.

Having sex with someone who has an STD is always risky; however, it is not always possible to tell when someone is infected. The person may look healthy but have no outward symptoms. Often people themselves are unaware that they have an infection. That’s why it’s so important for sexually active persons to be regularly tested. Doctors recommend every 6 to 12 months. Some STDs are bacterial, curable diseases. However, there are more that are incurable, viral diseases. If left untreated, STDs can cause serious complications and lifelong consequences for both males and females.

STDs are a major concern in the nation today. In fact, doctors say there’s an STD epidemic among teenagers.

1 out of 4 sexually active teenagers contracts an STD each year he/she is sexually active.
Today there are over 20 STDs, over half of which are viral.
HPV (human papillomavirus) is the most common viral STD and causes 99.7% of all cases of cervical cancer.
1 out of 5 Americans over the age of 12 has genital herpes.

The only 100% effective method of preventing STDs is avoiding sexual activity.

For those who have not made this choice, it is important to be proactive. Sexually active teens should keep open lines of communication with their parents and/or trusted adults. Testing should be done on a regular basis and an STD, or suspicion of one, should not be ignored.

There are several types of STDs:
Bacterial diseases are those that can be cured and treated with antibiotics.
Viral diseases are those whose symptoms may be treated, but that are incurable.
Parasitic diseases are those caused by microscopic parasites, often treatable with proper medication.