One in two youths (15-24) will catch an STD

Argus Leader ^ | 3/01/04 | Kevin Dobbs

[Libloather]

People age 15 to 24 account for far more cases of sexually transmitted diseases than any other age group, driving a multi-billion dollar medical problem, new studies by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

Those young Americans - half of whom will get an STD before age 25 - accounted for 9.1 million of the 18.9 million new cases reported in 2000, even though they make up only a quarter of the sexually active population.

[Libloather]

The university's report also urged sex education classes to teach students how to use condoms properly.

That won't work if 41% don't even use 'em...

[nmh]

"A separate report by the University of North Carolina, however, says parents and public health agencies must teach both abstinence and birth control to curb the spread of diseases. The report was based on the work of a group of health experts with input from a youth panel."

I wish these idiots would stop assuming that they'll have sex anyway. If they saw these numbers, and this is the tip of the iceberg, would stop the reasonable ones. As for the others, well... if it isn't an STD it will be something else that does them in.

[SouthCarolinaKit]

Not too surprising since they are told that avoiding sex is beyond their capabilities. Condoms do NOT protect them, abstinence does. How did all the generations before the 60's manage not to get stp's? They abstained and since it was known to be expected of them, they did it.

[Mo1]

Gee .. looks like all those sex ed classes the Liberals have been pushing all these years in public schools did a bang up job ... /sarcasm>

Just one more reason I don't send my kids to public school

[John Will]

Science and Engineering majors are thankfully left out of the STD problem.

[3catsanadog]

I wish these idiots would stop assuming that they'll have sex anyway

Yes, indeed. Adults need to stop throwing up their hands and assuming that nothing can be done because kids have sex anyways. And safe sex with condoms has been shouted from the rooftops, TV commercials and sex education classes since 1981 (when AIDS became known) and most people choose not to use them. I want to scream when I hear people hang on to that idea with dear life - like if they keep saying it, maybe in 2050, a few more will catch on.

[dk/coro]

Right ON. I went to "Culver" on a scholarship in 1945 -- slept with an M-1 for a year; and would have been summarily dismissed for even having a sip of beer. Our sexual activity consisted of talking about Jane Russell in the movie "Outlaw" -- a very big deal !!

My exciting decision of the year was whether to study Greek or Latin. I chose the cowardly route -- Latin. We had to take one or the other. No titillation here, I fear. *S*

Relative to sexually transmitted diseases -- we cadets were shown WW-II military films on the effects of syphilis immediately before we went home for Christmas Vacation. We thought that was a bit peculiar, but it beat close order drill in the Indiana winters...so no complaints there.

Of course, I didn't have a car, so my mom took me to pick up my girl to go to the movies, Thus, exposure to sypilis -- or anything else -- was a non-starter. Movies were but 23 Cents, though, so it was a pretty cheap date...and I got to hold hands. Lucky me.

Oh yes, I worked in the hardware store in "downtown" Wapakoneta for 25 cents an hour in the summers, so I was about the richest kid in town.

Neil Armstrong used to come into the store from time to time with his dad. He was the only kid in town that could build a model airplane that could actually fly...but he didn't have a gitlfriend as cute as mine, though. So, there!!

Different world, I guess. Shame.

[hocndoc]

The younger the girl, the less mature the cervical and vaginal tissues are - making her more susceptible to catching disease and, especially the more likely she is to have long-term problems from human papilloma which is the only reason for those annual pap smears and which is the cause of 99%+ of cervical cancer. It's also logical to think that the younger and less mature the teen, the more likely to have multiple partners - who probably also have multiple partners, increasing the risk of STD and long term health consequences.

It is important to note that teens do not use condoms consistently. But, a better way to look at the risk of condom as prevention is to note that they fail (break, slip) 11% of the time. Each time they are used properly, there is an 11% chance of pregnancy, STD. Eventually, the cumulative risk gets closer and closer to 100%

I've already seen way to many young women who are concerned about their ability to get pregnant due to a history of Pelvic inflamatory disease.

What I'm waiting for are the CDC recommendations for annual pap smears *of the mouth and throat* for men and women, due to the increased casual oral sex that's being reported. (Yep, the teens don't consider oral sex "sex")

[AGreatPer]

"They abstained and since it was known to be expected of them, they did it."

Don't believe it. They just hid it better. Are you that nieve?

[AGreatPer]

"Wapakoneta"

Do they still make Fisher Cheese there? It was the best I ever tasted. I haven't seen that brand for years.