Sexually transmitted diseases are transmitted through
unprotected sexual intercourse and are highly infectious
diseases. Unprotected sexual contact risks the lives of
the young by afflicting with sexually transmitted
diseases such as HIV infection and even unwanted
pregnancy. Every year, nearly nineteen million cases of
sexually transmitted diseases are reported in the United
States alone and out of these, half of the cases involve
people from the age group of fifteen years to twenty
four years.
The best way to make sure the adolescent doesn’t
contract sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain
from all types of sexual activities. In spite of this,
if the adolescent becomes sexually active, he/she must
be advised by the parents to take precautionary measures
to reduce the risk of getting a sexually transmitted
disease. The best precautionary measure is to use a
condom every time the adolescent has sexual intercourse.
Only when other sexually transmitted diseases are
prevented and controlled, HIV infections can be
prevented.
It is best when the adolescent delays and abstains from
sexual relationships, because the younger the person,
the more susceptible he/she is to get a sexually
transmitted disease. Having sexual contact during
menstruation is also risky. It is good to avoid anal
intercourse and if it is performed condom is a must,
even when having oral sex. Every person should get STD
checkups as frequently as possible, irrespective of
being sexually active or not, after they turn into
adolescents. Precaution must also be taken when getting
injected by an intravenous drug, that the needle used to
inject must be sterile. The adolescent must be educated
about the symptoms and risks of sexually transmitted
diseases.
Adolescents must be thoroughly informed even if they say
they know it all. They must be asked to indulge in only
safe sex, if doing so. Parents should talk honestly and
calmly about safe sex and must answer all their child’s
queries. Topics such as STDs, birth control methods,
having sex because of peer pressure, and date rape must
be discussed in detail. Most people think that kissing
is safe, but it can spread the sexually transmitted
disease, herpes and many other diseases. Condoms do not
provide hundred percent protections for genital warts,
AIDs and genital warts. Females shouldn’t douche as it
can make the infection go deeper into the reproductive
tract and can also wash off spermicidal protection. At a
time, sexual intercourse must be provided with only one
partner, who isn’t involved with any other sexual
partner.
The sexually transmitted diseases are Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS, Human Papillomaviruses or
HPVs, chlamydial infections, pelvic inflammatory disease
or PID, Gonorrhea, Genital Herpes, syphilis, and genital
warts. The symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases
take time to surface. Some of them are also symptom less
and even these diseases can be contagious. Especially in
the case of female, the symptoms of sexually transmitted
diseases can be confused with the symptoms of other
diseases. But females get severe symptoms and get it
more frequently. Sexually transmitted diseases can harm
the fallopian tubes and uterus. It can even lead to
inflammatory disease, which in turn can cause ectopic
pregnancy or infertility. Cervical cancer, in females,
can be associated to sexually transmitted diseases. If a
female gets a sexually transmitted disease during her
pregnancy, the disease can pass onto her child.
Sometimes the newborn’s infections can be treated
successfully, but at other times, the child can be
disabled for life or die.
If an adolescent is diagnosed with sexually transmitted
diseases, his or her treatment must start immediately.
The early the sexually transmitted diseases are
diagnosed, the easier it is to treat them successfully.
The other sexual partner must be informed so that they
can get themselves diagnosed and can undergo treatment.
The adolescent must be instructed to stay away from
sexual activity while the treatment is going on. The
checkup must be followed after the treatment. Tests such
as pelvic examination, Pap test, and test for STDs
should be taken periodically.
Sexually transmitted diseases can affect people of all
economic levels and backgrounds. Half of the cases of
sexually transmitted diseases involve young people below
the age of twenty five. The more sexually active the
person is the more risk he/she is. And multiple sex
partners at a given time are very dangerous too and must
be strictly abstained from.
