The only way to avoid STDs is to abstain from sexual activity until marriage.
After improving for years, the rates of sexually transmitted diseases have stopped dropping and in some cases increased, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported recently.
The annual rate of AIDS diagnoses among males aged 15 to 19 years has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, from 1.3 cases to 2.5 cases per 100,000 persons between 1997 and 2006, the CDC report said.
Gonorrhea, Syphilis Rates Increase
Similarly, after decreasing for years, gonorrhea and syphilis infection rates among adolescents and young adults have increased. Among males aged 15 to 19 years the gonorrhea rate increased from 250 to 275 cases per 100,000 between 2004 and 2006. The rate for syphilis among females aged 15 to 19 years increased from 1.5 to 2.2 cases per 100,000 from 2004 to 2006. Both rates followed decreases in previous years, the report said.
“It is disheartening that after years of improvement with respect to teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, we now see signs that progress is stalling and many of these trends are going in the wrong direction,” said Janet Collins, Ph.D., director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
About one million adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 years were reported to have chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis in 2006, the report said. Nearly a quarter of females aged 15-19 years, and 45 percent of those aged 20-24 years, had a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection during 2003-2004.
Approximately 100,000 females aged 10-24 years visited a hospital emergency department for a nonfatal sexual assault injury during 2004-2006, according to the CDC.
STD Symptoms Threatening
Over 65 million Americans are now affected with an incurable STD, according to the CDC. General symptoms can include unusual discharge from the penis or vagina, a burning feeling when urinating, growths, itching sores in the genital area, lower abdominal paid, dark urine, skin rashes or sores, yellow eye, fever, headache, nausea, joint inflammation and enlarged lymph nodes.
Bacterial STDs, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia can usually be cured with antibiotics. Even with treatment, any damage already caused is permanent. Viral STDs such as herpes, HIV/AIDS and human papillomavirus (HPV) are considered incurable, but can be treated. If infected, it is important to seek treatment immediately.
If untreated, STDs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to infertility, cervical cancer, chronic pelvic pain, tubal (ectopic) pregnancy, damage to major body organs, and death.
Abstinence Is Best
According to the CDC, the surest way to avoid pregnancy or any infection of a sexually transmitted disease is to practice sexual abstinence while single. Those who marry are best protected by selecting a partner who is not infected with an STD and remaining sexually faithful during marriage.
Women in Berwyn, Cicero, Stickney, N. Riverside and other nearby suburbs in the western Chicago, IL area who want to know more about sexually transmitted diseases should call WomanCare Services, at 708-795-6000. Or go to http://www.womancare.org.
