Posted on 01/05/2006 6:54:35 AM PST by Millee
Most sexually active teenage girls know relatively little about sexually transmitted diseases until it is too late, according to new research.
In a survey of 300 adolescent girls in the Pittsburgh area, Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that girls who reported having been diagnosed with an STD knew more about that particular disease than other girls, but did not know more about the other diseases.
The findings are published in the January edition of the Journal of Adolescent Health.
On average, with the exception of HIV/AIDS, the teens did not know many basic facts about STDs, said Julie Downs, lead author of the study.
"Our schools have decided to focus on AIDS, and that has come at a cost," she said. "Teens just aren't being taught about these other diseases, and so they may come away with a false sense of confidence."
The study's findings are troubling because teenagers who know little about STDs are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior and to delay the treatment of STDs, the researchers said.
And the consequences can be severe. Genital herpes, for example, cannot be cured. Genital warts can render a woman more susceptible to cervical cancer, and chlamydia can lead to infertility.
I know I'm a little punchy from lack of sleep, but that made me laugh.
The pill doesn't prevent STDs. Maybe you need a sex ed refresher course.
" Funny, we have been teaching them all about condoms for years and they STILL get pregnant and STILL get STD's. "
We've been teaching abstinence for longer than that and teenagers still have sex.
Great post.
I personally was never taught abstinence in school so I can't concur. I was taught the birth control method.
"But she knew how to get pregnant when she did it. She made a decision to ignore the risk and do it anyway. Why? She wasn't taught to say "No"."
Sure she was. This is mlcnnn's daughter, remember. Lots of kids who are taught to say "no" have sex anyhow. Sorry, but teenagers have minds of their own and often do things they have been taught not to do.
"That's right. Educating them on the safe ways to do terrorism is rEduculous. Better to teach them not to do it."
Best is to show them the futility/consequences of terrorism, rather than hoping they don't become one.
I think any school with a health clinic will gladly hand out condoms. I would be interested to know of those that refuse.
So why teach them about "Safe Sex"?
No way!!!! That was not a good time in America. People used to be abused (many wives), alcoholism, kids getting sexually abused, etc. Why are you saying this nonsense?
I always thought that "Safe Sex" was when both I and the girl were locked in seperate bank vaults.
What is your point? Child support is based on income so if it's mimimum wage, it is based on that.
That's called "abstinence".
"Safe Sex" is teaching them how to have sex safely. Kinda like teaching how to blow up a building without getting hurt.
"There is a simple way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs but you seem opposed. I wonder why."
No, I'm not opposed to teaching that abstinence is desirable and the only way to absolutely avoid pregnancy and STDs. I think that's a very important thing to teach.
I'm also in favor of teaching other things that will help kids avoid pregnancy and STDs. I'm in favor of teaching anything that will help kids avoid those things.
When you come up with a way to actually PREVENT teens from having sex, then I'll go along with teaching just that. I'll be waiting....
Or when her dad was near her on the swing set.
Haven't kids always had sex going back forever? What was different say in my parents' time than now?
So!!! They still have a very low rate of teenage births. I would think that would be a goal of America. Are you for this goal?
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