PSA: Do **NOT** have sex with U.S teen girls!

STDs prey on U.S. teenage girls

LINDSEY TANNER

The Associated Press

March 11, 2008 at 12:40 PM EDT

CHICAGO — At least one in four teenage girls in the United States – more than three million teenagers – has a sexually transmitted disease the first study of its kind in this age group indicates.

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. That rate compared with 20 per cent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Among girls who admitted ever having sex, the rate was 40 per cent. While some teens define sex as only intercourse, other types of intimate behaviour including oral sex can spread some infections.

For many, the numbers 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, an adolescent medicine specialist at Indiana University School of Medicine and head of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on adolescence.

But the study highlights what many doctors who treat teens see every day, Dr. Blythe said.

Dr. John Douglas, director of the CDC's division of STD prevention, said the results are the first to examine the combined national prevalence of common sexually transmitted diseases among adolescent girls. He said they likely reflect current prevalence rates.

“High STD rates among young women, particularly African-American young women, are clear signs that we must continue developing ways to reach those most at risk,” Dr. Douglas said.

Given that STDs can cause infertility and cervical cancer in women, the CDC's Dr. Kevin Fenton said, “screening, vaccination and other prevention strategies for sexually active women are among our highest public-health priorities.”

The study by CDC researcher Dr. Sara Forhan is an analysis of nationally representative data on 838 girls who participated in a 2003-04 government health survey.

The results were prepared for release Tuesday at a CDC conference in Chicago on preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

Four common diseases were examined – human papillomavirus, (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer and affected 18 per cent of girls studied; chlamydia, which affected 4 per cent; trichomoniasis, 2.5 per cent; and herpes simplex virus, 2 per cent.

Dr. Blythe said the results are similar to previous studies examining rates of those diseases individually.

HPV can cause genital warts but often has no symptoms. A vaccine targeting several HPV strains recently became available. Dr. Douglas said it probably has not yet had much impact on HPV prevalence rates in teen girls.

Chlamydia and trichomoniasis can be treated with antibiotics. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under age 25. It also recommends the three-dose HPV vaccine for girls aged 11-12 years, and catch-up shots for females aged 13 to 26.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has similar recommendations.

Dr. Douglas said screening tests are underused, in part because many teens do not think they are at risk, but also because, some doctors mistakenly think, “'Sexually transmitted diseases don't happen to the kinds of patients I see.'”

Dr. Blythe said some doctors also are reluctant to discuss STDs with teen patients or offer screening because of confidentiality concerns, knowing parents would have to be told of the results.

The American Academy of Pediatrics supports confidential teen screening, she said.

He, he... yep read that...

25% chance of you getting sick because of that!

I wish 649 lottery chances were that big too!

I am a 36 year old male virgin, and luckily have not had the chance of meeting a US girl. Heck, I have not had a chance of meeting anyone yet. I tend to spend my time in front of the computer most of the time, and plan to expand my activities now that I have my unrestricted gun license. Wish me well!

PS. Even doing a 69 on a US girl is scary! No thanks! I'll take a 649 lottery ticket anytime!

Originally Posted by George W. Bush

He, he... yep read that...

25% chance of you getting sick because of that!

I wish 649 lottery chances were that big too!

I am a 36 year old male virgin, and luckily have not had the chance of meeting a US girl. Heck, I have not had a chance of meeting anyone yet. I tend to spend my time in front of the computer most of the time, and plan to expand my activities now that I have my unrestricted gun license. Wish me well!

PS. Even doing a 69 on a US girl is scary! No thanks! I'll take a 649 lottery ticket anytime!

36 year old virgin with a gun? i hope you don't live in your moms basement, cause then youd fit the exact profile of a serial killer.

The first 2 posts in this thread are equally scary!

i wouldn't take this guy too seriously. he's obviously doing it as a joke or to mock GWB or something. anyways, in the end its kinda funny.

Originally Posted by ricoboxing

36 year old virgin with a gun? i hope you don't live in your moms basement, cause then youd fit the exact profile of a serial killer.

LOL

Originally Posted by ricoboxing

36 year old virgin with a gun? i hope you don't live in your moms basement, cause then youd fit the exact profile of a serial killer.

+1 LOL

Let's not get too high and mighty. The numbers of young Canadian girls with a sexually transmissible disease might be similar.

Originally Posted by gordholio

Let's not get too high and mighty. The numbers of young Canadian girls with a sexually transmissible disease might be similar.

How dare you compare our girls to the trash down south

been to malls lately?

Originally Posted by Kommander_KornFlakes

How dare you compare our girls to the trash down south

Society is becoming looser in general all around the major countries of the world. I think the trend is in Canada as well and we have more young people with sexually transmissible diseases.

Originally Posted by Kommander_KornFlakes

How dare you compare our girls to the trash down south

Other than the fact that poverty is a little more rampant down in the US, both countries are basically the same, meaning the people are basically the same.

Sure, some values are different between the two countries, but sex isn't one of those values. If anything, there's less pre-marital sex in the US due to how religious they are in the southern states.

I have no doubt that the STD numbers would be pretty close to the same in Canada.

Originally Posted by branat

been to malls lately?

Ya seriously... with March Break unleashed, the teens are like seagulls at the malls. Annoying, obnoxious, and they are broke!

Want to stop being so damn racist to Americans? Some people on this board are citizens. I find your US bashing is getting pretty old.

Originally Posted by Kommander_KornFlakes

How dare you compare our girls to the trash down south

the numbers are similar in canada
herpes is really popular