Improving Teen Health
Improving Teen Health: The Silent Epidemic
by Dr. Marylou Buyse, Chief Medical Director, SWHP
Protecting your children from infectious diseases such as the flu is a hot topic at the moment, but have you thought about protecting your child against a sexually transmitted disease or (STD)? This may be a difficult topic to think about, even more so to discuss with your teen. But the fact is, according to a 2008 Center for Disease Control (CDC) report, approximately 4 out of 10 teens between the age of 15 and 17 are sexually active and 1 in 4 will become infected with an STD by age 21. STDs are among the most common infectious diseases (spread from person to person). The United States has one of the highest infection rates in the world and the number of people reported to have an STD goes up each year. STDs are passed on through sexual contact and teens are at high risk. The good news is, they are easy to detect and treat.
Talking to your child(ren) about sexual health can give them all the facts needed to help them make an informed decision about being sexually active or not. According to the CDC study, many adolescents are not aware of the dangers of infections and other illnesses that can occur if an STD is not treated. They are embarrassed to tell their parents that they think they may have an STD and might need to be tested or get treatment. Many teens are too embarrassed to go to their primary care physician (PCP) for screening. Screening can be as simple as a blood or urine test in many cases.
Some of the most common types of STDs are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs), and Syphilis. More teenaged females get STDs than teenaged males. Females suffer more frequent and more severe symptoms from STDs. Some STDs can spread into the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes and cause an internal infection called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This may cause infertility or cause pregnancy complications, such as ectopic (tubal) pregnancy. Some STDs can be passed from a mother to her baby before or during birth and may cause health problems for the baby.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common STD in women. HPV can cause genital warts and cervical cancer and is found in at least 18% of young women. Chlamydia is found in 4% of young women and is especially high in African American females. The CDC found that 48% of African American teenaged girls have this STD, compared to 20% of white teenaged females. The CDC notes that most teens do not believe that they are at risk for STD infections, or show no symptoms of an STD infection, so do not get screened or tested.
Talking to your teen about getting a Chlamydia or other STD screening or test may be embarrassing for you both, but it is important. The CDC recommends adolescent girls get Chlamydia screenings yearly. Screening can be done during an annual physical exam, often with a simple urine test. SWHP covers the screening, and recommends it be done for all girls from 15 years to their 25th birthday even if they are not having any symptoms. You may also wish to consider having your daughter(s) vaccinated against HPV to help prevent cervical cancer.
Chlamydia screenings and HPV vaccinations are not something to worry about. Chlamydia screening is as easy as taking a urine sample. If you or your teen is interested in what is involved, discuss (or let your child discuss) it with your PCP. Keeping your child safe against sexually transmitted infections is as important as protecting them against other diseases. Don't wait to get started, schedule a check up with their doctor today.
Sources: Centers For Disease Control Sexually Transmitted Disease surveillance, 2008