Sexually Transmitted Infections And Young Adults

Studies show that the national average for an adolescent’s first sexual intercourse encounter is seventeen years old. Despite this number being very close to the average age in other industrialized countries, the United States holds a higher percentage of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) contraction than those countries (Harper et al, 2010, p. 125). It’s becoming evident that while a majority of the nation’s youth is sexually active, they are not doing so with the appropriate knowledge to keep themselves and others healthy.

Over one million cases of Chlamydia were reported to the CDC in 2013. Despite this large number of reports it actually was a decrease by 1.5% since 2012 (CDC, 2014). Epidemiology statistics showed an increase in reported syphilis, including congenital. Other sexually transmitted diseases can pose higher risks for acquiring HIV. According to new studies, HIV is growing faster in populations that are over 50 versus 40 years and younger (BenRose, 2014). Factors may play a role in this such as higher divorce rates, new medications, and safe sex measures. Therefore, it is important for the healthcare provider screen for sexual activity and any change in sexual partners to provide routine testing when necessary and education on preventive

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to compromise the health of thousands of Americans daily, predominantly adolescents. According to the World Health Organization (2013), approximately one million Americans acquire an STD every day. Although the percentage of adolescents who have had sexual intercourse has declined since the 1990’s, those who have had sex are less likely to use any form of contraception, thus placing them at greater risk of acquiring an STD (Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 2015). Of the many STDs that are prevalent in the United States, chlamydia is one of the most commonly reported STDs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011). Undiagnosed or untreated chlamydia can cause many health problems including cervicitis, urethritis, and can advance to severe health issues such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy (CDC, 2011).

Over 15 million STD’s are contracted in the U.S. each year (Koumans et al., 2005). Over one one-fifth of these cases involve two of the most commonly known STDs: chlamydia and gonorrhea (Koumans et al., 2005) Unfortunately, most of the individuals who get infected with these diseases fall into the age range of 15-24 years old (Koumans et al., 2005). According to Wyatt & Oswalt (2014), almost half of all STD’s contracted each year are by young people ages 15-24 years old. Moreover, the data shows that, “45% of herpes infections, 70% of gonorrhea infections, 63% of chlamydia infections, and 49% of HPV infections occur among youth between the ages of 15-24 years” (Wyatt & Oswalt, 2014). Given that many college students are between the ages of 18-24 years, it is important that schools focus on educating students about the risk of

Numerous sexual partners enables the chances of contracting an STI, such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, or Syphilis, to increase; that being said, statistics indicate that one in every five teens has had four or more sexual partners. Teens of the ages 15 through 19 are among the highest rates of the population infected with the previously mentioned sexually transmitted diseases. Teens engaging in sexual activity are often exposed to diseases without full understanding of the ease that these infections can be transmitted; students need to be exposed to the severe consequences in order to promote more cautious future decisions, like the amount of sexual encounters. Many young males and females never acquire information on the numerous sexually transmitted infections that they could catch and distribute nor how to prevent or treat such diseases. The statistics of high school students that document receiving counseling on STDs and STD testing at a routine checkup with their doctor meets low expectations, recording at 42.8 percent for females and only 26.4 percent for males. The high rates of infected teens could be directly related to the lack of knowledge they receive on the possible diseases that can be distributed through sex. Without proper knowledge on sexually transmitted diseases, the

Young people are at greater risk of getting an STD for several reasons: Young women’s bodies are biologically more susceptible to STDs. Some young people do not get the recommended STD tests. Many young people are hesitant to talk openly and honestly with a doctor or nurse about their sex lives. Not having insurance or transportation can make it more difficult for young people to access STD testing. Some young people have more than one sex partner.

The reason why STD's are so high among the youth is that some of the tactics don’t work as well as we would like. A big contributor is the scare tactic, where a parent or educator shows you the worst-case scenario of an

Therefore, Australian adolescents are at serious risk as there are approximately 25% of young people reported sexually active by 15 years-old, with numbers increasing to 50% by Year 12; only 40% practice safe sex and use a condom (ACYS, 2014).Therefore, they are at greater risk of contracting STIs as a consequence of inexperience and lack of knowledge concerning risks with unprotected sex and access to contraception, social pressure, frequency of partner change, substance use and unwillingness to talk with parents or their general practitioner (DoHA, 2005). Hence, the success of lowering the prevalence of STIs among adolescents relies heavily on the knowledge about reproductive matters and access to and use of effective

Sexually transmitted infections are infections spread through sexual contact, affecting one’s reproductive organs or causing broader infection within the body. These venereal diseases range in severity and areas of foci, having the ability to cause anything from mild irritation to fatalities in carriers and newborns. Women possess a particular susceptibility to STI acquisition as women have a higher biological vulnerability for STIs, and less power over sexual situations than men (Branković, 2013). Therefore, it is important to aggressively study women as a demographic of interest in regards to STIs and sexual health issues. This paper demonstrates how STI acquisition has detrimental affects on woman at all stages of life. Areas of

After reading Meeker’s (2004) book and reflection upon Meeker’s psychologically, spiritually, and medically concepts regarding the sexual health of our teenagers, I found Meeker’s concepts and information regarding teenagers sexual health to be, important, concrete, and truthful, which in turns is very resourceful in helping any authority figures who reads this book to be able to understand the severe realities that are teens are facing. As I read Meeker’s (2007) concepts regarding the silent epidemic of Sexually Transmitted diseases among our teenagers, one of the first thing that I wanted to learn more about current statistical rates of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in teenagers. According to Meeker (2007), our teenagers made up about

occur more frequently in the teenagers than in older populations, and half of new HIV

The research literature suggests that there is a limited amount of information regarding STI’s in relation to infertility later in life amongst adolescents and young adults. There was a clear explanation of the purpose of the study. The study states that STI’s such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are often symptomless and detrimental to our health (e.g. causing infertility issues). Since young people are amongst the highest risk group for STI’s, researchers wanted to assess the current knowledge of adolescents and young adults about STI’s in relation to infertility. Goundry, Finlay, and Llewellyn (2013) states, “this study aimed to identify young people’s knowledge and beliefs about the link between untreated STI’s and infertility.”

The age group that do not have enough information for Sexually Transmitted Infections are the age group from 14 to 19. I believe this age group needs to know more about Sexually Transmitted Infections or STI because they are in the age of puberty and sexual development where hormones and sexual behavior tend to take over. The age where most teens begin sexual interaction and participate in sexual acts. The reason on why I chose this age group is because teens usually are naive and unaware of the consequences that can happen when they are unprotected and not practicing safe sex. This age group also have classes on this matter, in school programs provide information on STIs and STDs but do not put enough effort and material into the subject. Most schools require permission slips to be signed by parents to have this subject taught to their children and most parents do not sign them because they don’t want their children learning about these types of sexual infections and diseases. This leads to teens missing out on valuable information on

Sexually Transmitted Diseases are one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. These diseases are primarily known as “Venereal Diseases”. An estimated range of 333 millions new cases having curable sexually transmitted diseases are found among adults every year. The United State is ranking high by transmitting sexually transmitted diseases (STD), which is increasingly high than other nations by 100 times. More than 70,000 people in US are suffering from gonorrheal infections every year. According to the Disease Control and Prevention Centre, Young and Adult African – American females are infected a large. Excessive strides have been taken to reduce STDs in the last century towards treating and controlling.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) now referred to as sexual transmitted infections (STI) because some people can be infected and infecting others but never show signs of the disease. Of the estimated 12 million new cases of STD/STIs, women are diagnosed with two-thirds of those cases each year in America. Contrary to popular belief, oftentimes, women are exposed to STD/STIs after just one contact with an infected partner. STD/STIs are of particular anguish among women because of the severe and life-threatening difficulties during pregnancy (Ford & Shimers – Bowers, 2009). STIs have become a significant public health problem, especially among minorities. STIs are highly prevalent among African American and Hispanic women