One in four teens will contract a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and most won’t even know it. If 25 percent of Minnesota’s teenagers contracted a disease each year there would be an outcry for prevention programs. Well, one in four STDs occur in teenagers and it’s time to talk. STDs are a group of diseases and infections that are contracted through sexual contact with an infected person. Chlamydia and genital warts are the most common, but the term also includes gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, herpes and syphilis. Adolescents and young adults (ages 15 to 24 years) have the highest rates of infection for chlamydia and gonorrhea. They are the group most likely to transmit or contract STDs. Health problems associated with STDs range from bothersome sores to incurable diseases and cancer, and will persist unless treated. Some have no symptoms or are too minor to see. The only way to know if you have an STD is to be tested. Contracting and treating the disease does not mean that you will have lifelong immunity. The good news about STDs is that they are largely preventable. Most are curable or can be controlled to prevent serious complications. Abstaining from sexual activity provides 100-percent protection against STDs Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing transmission of HIV, and can reduce the risk of contracting other STDs. There are also vaccines available to prevent Hepatitis A and B infections. Recent studies confirm that parents have a lot of influence on their teens’ decisions regarding sex. Clear and open communication within a family is good for all members. It allows parents to instill their values and attitudes on their children, and empowers teens to make healthy decisions in life. There are confidential, affordable clinics that specialize in sexually transmitted infections. The Minnesota Family Planning and STD Hotline is a toll-free, confidential hotline that answers questions about prevention, testing and treatment of STDs. Call toll-free at (800) 78-FACTS or visit www.stdhotline.state.mn.us. For more information about STDs or how to talk to your children about sex, call Meeker County Public Health at (320) 693-5370.
