Sexually Active
According to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, an estimated 9 million young people (ages 15-24) each year contract such sexually transmitted diseases as chlamydia, (HPV) human papillomavirus, genital herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDS. This accounts for nearly half the cases diagnosed in the United States annually.
It is important to note that many of these infections can be present in the body without you experiencing any signs or symptoms, therefore if you have ever been sexually active, you should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Each individual sexual encounter is a potential exposure to a sexually transmitted disease.
Physical Affects of Sexual Activity Other than Pregnancy.
It is estimated that over 65 million people are now infected with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and 19 million new infections occur each year. (Weinstock H,et al. Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth; incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 2004) Some of these are bacterial and can be treated with antibiotics if detected early, but since there often no symptoms, many people dont even know they have an STD. Others are viral and only the symptoms can be treated. The virus remains in the body for life.
Condoms and contraceptives are being pushed in our society to help reduce the teen pregnancy rate, but the sky-rocketing numbers of STD infections belie the fact that the myth of Safe Sex isnt giving real physical safety. The easy availability of contraceptives gives our sexually-over-stimulated society a false sense of security. They believe that not getting pregnant is what is most important. Many are now paying the price physically and emotionally.
Facts
- FACT: Contraceptives offer NO protection for STDs.
- FACT: Typical use of condoms carries a 14% failure rate for pregnancy alone (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health found at: http: www.fda.gov/cdrh/ode/contrlab.html, accessed 8-30-06)
- FACT: For a condom to have any effectiveness, they must be used Consistently (absolutely every time there is sexual activity) and Correctly (Following a 6-step procedure to be sure it is on right.) (HIV:http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm)
- FACT: More than 65 million people in the U.S. have an incurable Sexually Transmitted Disease (http://www.cdcnpin.org/stdawareness/docs/STD_TrendsFactSheet.pdf,accessed2-17-2010)
- FACT: 19 Million new infections occur each year. Half occur in persons under the age of 25. ((http://www.cdcnpin.org/stdawareness/docs/STD_TrendsFactSheet.pdf,accessed2-17-2010)
- FACT: 50 to 80% of people infected with STDs do not know it because they have no signs or symptoms.
- FACT: Condoms cant fully protect you from even a single STD of which there are over 25 different types. (National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases. 2001. Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention. June 12-13, 2000. Hyatt Dulles Airport,.Herndon,Virginia, (a review of 138 scientific studies concerning condom effectiveness published July 20, 2001).)
- FACT: If you become infected with certain common STDs, it can increase your chance of contracting HIV/AIDS by up to 5 times. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Trends in Reportable Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States, 2004 found at http://222.cdcgov/STD/stats04/trends2004.htm,accessed5-11-09)
- FACT: You can be infected with any STD even when using condoms 100% of the time. Condoms only reduce or lower your risk even when used consistently and correctly.