Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are passed from one person to another through vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse, or other intimate contact. There are over 30 of them. STDs are serious, sometimes painful, and can cause a lot of damage.

Some infect your sexual and reproductive organs. Others (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis) cause general body infections. Some diseases including chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis can generally be cured quite easily if they are detected and treated early. On the other hand, viral infections–such as HPV (human papilloma virus), genital herpes, hepatitis B and HIV–cannot be cured and can be transmitted to sexual partners even years after initial infection.

Every year, 3 million teenagers acquire an STD. Adolescents, thus, account for a quarter of the 12 million new sexually transmitted infections that occur annually in the United States. It is estimated that 25% of sexually experienced adolescents become infected each year.

I would like to point out that, as in the case of unintended pregnancies, abstinence from intercourse is the only 100% effective and safe method of preventing STDs. It is also important to know that STDs are not spread by low-risk sexual activities such as hugging, kissing, petting (fully clothed), and self stimulation. I would like to emphasize that many people with STDs don’t even know they have them, and any teen who is sexually active may carry one or more sexually transmitted disease.

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Topics Covered: Sex Ed. 101