Sexually Transmitted Diseases: How Ya Gonna Tell Her?

 

Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are a group of infections that can be caused by any type of sexual contact. Did you know that it is not necessary to have actual intercourse in order to spread an STD? Anyone that has ANY form of sex is at risk for contracting STDs, and that means you if you are sexually active.

 

 

 

I‘m a Teen. Am I at risk for a sexually transmitted diseases? 

STDs are very common among teenagers. Every year more than 4 million teens are diagnosed with an STD. That equates to about one of every four teenagers! About 25 percent of all STDs occur in teenagers. If you are sexually active, particularly if you engage in unprotected sex, you are at risk for contracting an STD.

The teenagers most at risk for contracting an STD are those:

• That have unprotected sex.

   

• That have sex with more than one partner. 

   

• That have sex with someone that has an STD or has had an STD.

   

What are the consequences? Learn more and be safe.

New Study Confirms the Benefits of Condom Use For Women

Recent evidence suggests women should pay more attention to their intercourse habits including their use of condoms. 

Though evidence in the past suggests the efficacy of condoms at preventing STDs is uncertain, new study suggests women who consistently use condoms are less at risk for contracting human papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer and genital warts in women. The study suggests that women who engage in intercourse with male partners who always use condoms demonstrated a decreased infection rate than women whose partners only used condoms part of the time.

This study, conducted among students attending the University of Washington suggests that women may reduce their risk of contractive HPV by as much as 50% with regular use of condoms.

While small, the study provides new hope for women who are at risk for HPV transmission. Read more