Private MD News

STDs on the rise among young people

Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually active teenagers may want to consider seeking an STD test, as a new survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the age group has more sexually transmitted diseases than any other in the United States.

The CDC estimates that there are 19 million new STD infections each year, and that almost half of those cases are among young people between the ages of 15 and 24.

Many of the problems for teens start early. The survey found that, among sexually active teens, who began having sex at age 15 or younger, 56 percent of girls and 58 percent of boys reported having had sex with four or more partners.

The report stated that these issues have costs that the healthcare industry must bear, which raises costs for everyone.

"Monitoring sexual activity and contraceptive use among teenagers is important due to the health and social costs of pregnancy, childbearing, and STDs among the teenaged population," the report said. "Concern remains high over the threat of HIV, and of other sexually transmitted diseases among young people."