Young Girls Highest Risk of STDs

Young girls and women between the ages of 15 to 24 years of age are still the group that has the highest risk of STDs and continue to record new cases of sexually transmitted diseases that includes Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.  Both of these sexually transmitted diseases can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics with early detection through testing and treatment.  For many young women, these and other STDs go untested.  Symptoms similar to those associated with a bladder infection could be the first signs of an untested and untreated sexually transmitted disease.

Contraceptives

Sexually active young women also have to deal with contraceptives that do not work or have been tampered with as a Womencontrol measure.  Condoms break or tear during sex with the fear of more than an unwanted pregnancy can occur.  The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) report that OB/GYN physicians are familiar with contraceptive sabotage where the women and teens have been coerced to having unprotected sexual relations with their sexual partners.  These times where sex has been less protected exposes both partners to not only sexually transmitted diseases and infections, but to unwanted pregnancies.

Domestic Violence

As a part of domestic violence prevention, doctors and other health care practitioners are asking questions about abuse and contraceptive sabotage with patients that are of sexual age.  These questions along with annual STD testing is hoped to assist in decreasing new cases of STDs among the young women of the 15-24 age group.

Education for Youth

Asking questions along with better communications is only the beginning.  Better education and increased screening is the most effective steps to decrease the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.  Reminding young girls of the reality that they are at the highest risk of STDs can ensure many choose to protect themselves.  Educational information and counselors are available to answer questions at a STD testing center.  These testing centers are available to answer the questions, share information and to test for sexually transmitted diseases so that proper treatment can begin.  Sexually active young girls and women can go for screening that is confidential  as are the results in order to make healthy choices now that can affect their future sexual health and reproductive health later on.

Complications of Untreated STDs

So many sexually transmitted diseases when young girls and women are exposed and left untreated can lead to other health issues that can leave these females infertile and unable to have families when the time is desired.  Chlamydia when left untreated can develop into pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which is not easily cured and can lead to fertility issues in over 20 percent of the documented cases.  Gonorrhea can also lead to PID when left untreated as well as increases the risk of contracting HIV.  Joint and heart tissue can be damaged from the infections associated with gonorrhea when there has not been early detection and proper treatment.

Young women and girls should seek out health care professionals after unprotected sex.  Some symptoms may not show for several weeks.  Any signs of a bladder infection or even flu like symptoms should have medical attention to rule out possible sexually transmitted diseases.  Painful urination, unusual discharge and even change in menstrual flow should be check out by a health care professional.  Early detection is the best defense for young women and girls that have been exposed to compromised condoms or other contraceptive issues.  Make the choice to protect your health by seeking a STD testing center to maintain health for the future.

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