Teenage Sex & STD's - Post 6
Submitted by Ashley Robinson on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 03:35.
The most common STDs found in Philadelphia teens are gonorrhea and chlamydia. Children as young as 12 have been tested positive for either one or both of these diseases. The rate of chlamydia and gonorrhea among 15-24 year oldsin Philadelphia is well above the national average.
At least one in four girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease. The article states that, "A virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls aged 14 to 19, while the highest overall prevalence is among black girls -- nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD."
For many, the numbers most likely seem "overwhelming because you're talking about nearly half of the sexually experienced teens at any one time having evidence of an STD," said Dr. Margaret Blythe.
Many teens do not know that vaginal intercourse is not the only way to spread STDs. STDs can be spread the oral intercourse as well. Some teens that have been tested say they haven't had vaginal intercourse, only oral, but they do not realize that they are still at risk of STDs.
