The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among teens in the United States emphasizes the importance of testing

“Despite national guidelines, sexually active high school students have a relatively low prevalence of being tested for STI over the past year,” said Sanjana Pampati, a research co-author of the CDC’s Adolescence and School Health Division. Said.

Survey data from the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey was collected in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic may have further disrupted access to and use of the STI test service, Pampati said. ..

Of the 20% reported tested, 26% were girls and 14% were boys.

According to the CDC, an estimated 30% of teens are sexually active.The most common STI is Human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, HIV When syphilis..

“More sexually active girls reported tests, especially at older ages, with more sex partners, and even boys who reported greater sexual risk behavior, such as using drugs or alcohol before sex. Reported that he had taken the STI test the previous year, “Pampati said.

Her team estimates that each year 15-24 years old accounts for half of all new STIs in the United States, and one in four teenage girls with sexually transmitted diseases has STIs. However, according to Pampati, many doctors do not ask patients about sexual activity or emphasize the importance of annual sexually transmitted disease screening.

“To address this public health issue requires coordinated efforts from multiple levels to improve access to adolescent sexually transmitted disease testing,” she said.

Pampati suggested that doctors, clinics and parents all have a role to play in ensuring that more teens are screened for sexually transmitted diseases each year. For example, doctors working with teenage doctors can perform regular STI screenings in line with national testing guidelines, such as obtaining a patient’s sexual history.

“Clinics and parents can ensure that adolescents spend private time with their doctors during preventive care visits,” she added.

Educating young people about the need for STI testing to use the service and the right to self-agreement for confidential services may also help connect young people to testing services, Pampati said.

“Schools can teach young people about the importance of STI testing and connect young people to testing and other medical services,” she suggested. “In addition, it is important to address barriers that are known to prevent adolescents from seeking STI inspection services such as cost, transportation and stigmas.”

The findings were reviewed by Dr. David Rosenthal, Health Director of the Cohen Pediatric Medical Center in New York City for Young Adults, Youth and Pediatric HIV Centers.

“This report emphasizes what we’ve actually seen for a long time,” he said.

Screening is essential because many sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, are found in adolescence, according to Rosenthal.

“I always tell young people that knowledge is power and that if you know your status you can cure something. If you don’t know what’s going on, you can’t manage your health.” He said.

Rosenthal said there are many very simple treatments for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis.

But if he doesn’t know that you have a sexually transmitted disease, he runs the risk of a serious illness, and in young women, Pelvic inflammatory disease.. And, of course, these infections can also be transmitted to others.

“What I see is that by knowing your status, you care not only about your health, but also about the health of your loved ones,” Rosenthal said.

To prevent sexually transmitted diseases, Rosenthal recommends the use of condoms.

“It’s very effective in reducing both pregnancy, HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases, but we understand that it may not happen,” he said. “In that case, it’s very important to be able to go see your provider and get an STI test.”

Rosenthal added that people have sex in different ways.

“So when you go to your doctor, it’s really important that you don’t just pee and look for sexually transmitted diseases,” he said. “If you have anal or oral sex, you should also have a gonorrhea and chlamydia swab and a blood test to look for HIV and syphilis.”

He recommends screening at least once a year.

“If you’re in a dangerous situation, if your condom breaks, or if you don’t know who’s in your condition, it’s always okay to have additional tests,” Rosenthal said.

He said many teens are reluctant to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. It’s a combination of not wanting to talk to the doctor about sex, not seeing the doctor at all, or the doctor not asking the patient if he is sexually active, he said.

“There was a great quote from the Institute of Medicine that it’s easier to be sexually active than to talk about sex. I think that’s true,” Rosenthal said.

He said that all candid doctor-patient conversations are part of ensuring that people take ownership and responsibility for their sexual health. He added that it is important for patients to know that their healthcare provider understands not only their sexual health and activity, but also their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Findings published online in the journal on Monday Pediatrics..

For more information

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sexually transmitted diseases..

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