The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recently came out with a study showing that there has been a rise in Sexually Transmitted Diseases in teen boys and girls. Study also shows a lack of training in birth control and a disappointing rise in teen pregnancies. Some of the main points to this study are listed below:
Birth control:
- A third of teens polled reported lack of understanding around birth control instruction and methods by age 18.
Teen pregnancy data:
- From 1991 - 2005 there were substantial declines in rates of teen pregnancies.
- In 2006 - 2007 there was an increase in teen pregnancies.
- There were a record breaking 16,000 cases of teen pregnancy from girls 10-14 years of age.
- The birthrate for Arizona teens was sixth highest in the nation at 34.4 / 1,000 population in the age range of 15-17. From age 18-19 Arizona was the fourth highest at 108.7 per 1,000
Teen Sexually Transmitted Disease Data:
- In recent years there has been a rise in Syphilis cases has been reported in teens age 15 - 24. Syphilis is a STD that can start out as one sore. This heals and you can then get a reddish brown rash on your feet or hands. Later stages can result in major illness and even terrible side effects to pregancy. Treatment for this disease is usually a shot or a course of antibiotics if caught early.
- AID's cases has increased in young men(age 15-24) from 1997 - 2006. The majority of those diagnosed were from age 20-24.
- According to AZTV7.com; "close to one million young people aged 10 to 24 were reported to have chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis."
Our own Sex Education Examiner recently published an article geared to our younger readers asking 
that we all get out and get tested. This is an article deserving of all of our attention. Getting tested can help prevent the spread of more diseases and offer easier treatment options the earlier these diseases are detected.
Factors that may be contributing to these trends are:
- The push for teaching abstinence in schools. According to an Associated press article; "The increased federal funding for abstinence only education in our schools has not given students the guidance needed to use condoms and other birth control." This correlates to the fact that teen pregancies has risen across the country.
- According to the same article above; " Some conservative organizations have argued that contraceptive-focused sex education is still common and that the new teen birth numbers are failing."
- Another factor that is brought up is the issue of the media portrayal of celebrity pregnancies. Celebrities are more commonly role models to most adolescents.
- Another factor is the rising cost of birth control and the low pay rates for adolescents.
The problem is not just with our teens, according to Avert and organization dedicated to treatment and spread of AIDs and HIV treatment and education Sexually Transmitted diseases, these trends are rising in our entire population.
Perhaps, as a Nation, we should all re-educate ourselves to the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and educate our teens early on the risk of sex; unprotected or not. What are your thoughts on this story. Please feel free to comment below. If you have any questions, concerns or stories you would like to share you can email me.
As always thank you for reading and participating in my column, If you liked this story you might want to check out these topics:
Science stories
Psychology of relationships
Photo credit to google images
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