- According to the American Social Health Association (ASHA), one in every two individuals will have an STD in their lifetime, usually before the age of 25. STDs are incredibly common but the risk of catching an STD can be reduced or prevented with safe sex. The risk of complications from STDs and further contamination of other individuals can also be reduced or prevented by routine testing.
- Approximately half of all new HIV cases occur in teenagers, according to ASHA. HIV is transmitted through unprotected oral, anal or genital sex with an infected individual and is incurable. HIV may later develop into AIDS, which has killed 25 million people since 1981. Syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia infections, although curable, are also high on the list for teenage STDs. HPV is a recent common affliction in sexually active teens as well. Without treatment, these STDs can lead to cancer and infertility.
- According to Planned Parenthood, abstinence-only education fails to teach teens safe sex and routine testing techniques. Nearly half of all high school students have had sexual intercourse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and yet less than half have had discussions in school or with their doctor about the risks of STDs, according to the ASHA.
- According to the American Psychological Association (APA), comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex techniques both delays the onset of first intercourse and lowers the chance of teens having unsafe sex.
- Many teens are afraid to go to health clinics or be tested for STDs if they are underage, because they believe the clinic is required to notify their parents. However, clinics are only allowed to inform a teen's parents of their health records if the teen herself tells the clinic to do so. The teen can verify the confidentiality policy with the clinic upon arrival to an appointment.
