CDC Studies Findings: 1 In 4 US Teen Girls Have An STD

March 12, 2008

(Long Island, N.Y.) A new study conducted by Centers of Disease and Prevention in Atlanta found that one in every four teenage girls in America protract and are carriers of a sexually transmitted disease.

The study was commenced after researchers enrolled 838 American teens across the nation ranging from 14 to 19 years of age. Results show that over 26 percent of the total number of respondents has an STD translating to over three million teenage girls nationwide if the study represents the whole geographies of the US. Only half of the total number who was polled admitted to having sex and of that 50 percent figure who admitted sexual activity, a startling 60 percent of them have an STD.

Dr. Elizabeth Alderman who serves as an adolescent medicine specialist at Montefiore Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital in New York said, “This is pretty shocking, To talk about abstinence is not a bad thing, but teen girls — and boys too — need to be informed about how to protect themselves if they do have sex.”

Sexually Transmitted Disease or STD is described as an infection that has a considerable probability of transmission between humans or animals by means of sexual contact which includes vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. STD can easily be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the penis, vulva, and through the mouth. The visible membrane covering the head of the penis is a mucous membrane, though it produces no mucus. Health officials have long advised the use of condoms when performing sexual activities to reduce risk of incurring the disease.

“Those numbers are certainly alarming, this figures reflect the sad state of sex education in our country. Sexuality is still a very taboo subject in our society. Teens tell us that they can’t make decisions in the dark and that adults aren’t properly preparing them to make responsible decisions.” said sex education expert Nora Gelperin.

Posted by News LI Editor · Edited by Brianna - Filed Under Health