Lesson 3: Preventing STDs

Empower yourself with STD prevention knowledge. Understand risks, causes, and how to protect yourself and others. Essential for teen sexual health.

As you watch the video, record the answers to the following questions. How can you tell if a person has a sexually transmitted disease (STD)? Why are most teenagers not concerned about getting an STD? Why should sexually active teenagers be concerned about getting an STD? As you watch the presentation, use the word bank to fill in the missing words. There are more than 25sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).STDs can be transmitted or contracted through oral, vaginal or anal sex.Every year approximately 10million cases of STDs occur among young people aged 15-24...that’s 27,397each day, 1,141each hour and one every 3seconds.Many STDs have nosymptoms, so either partner could have the STD and not know it.Having certain untreated STDs can increasea person’s risk of getting or transmitting HIV- the virus that causes AIDS.Sexually active teenagers and young adults are more likely than other age groups to have multiple sex partners.The cervix of adolescent females is more at risk for infection from some STDs than the cervix of older females. Chlamydia Chlamydia is a common bacterial STD with 3 million cases in the U.S. each year, including 1.9 million cases among young people aged 15-24.While the disease can be cured with antibiotics, if left untreated, it can have serious consequences, particularly for women.Up to20% of women with untreated chlamydia develop PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and 40%of those women will become infertile. In men, the infection can cause pain and fever. Gonorrhea Gonorrhea is another bacterial STD, with 820,000 cases each year in the U.S.Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics, but remains a major cause of PID and subsequent infertility and tubal pregnancies (outside the uterus).It is becoming difficultto treat gonorrhea, as drug-resistant strains are increasing.Untreated gonorrhea can cause serious and permanent health problems in men and women. Syphilis Syphilis is another bacterial STD, with 55,400 cases each year in the U.S.Syphilis is passed via direct contact from a syphilis sore, called a chancre.The primary stage of syphilis is usually marked by the appearance of a sore , which usually heals in 3 to 6 weeks, regardless of whether you seek treatment. Even if the sore goes away, it’s important to seek treatment, otherwise the disease will continue to advance.Syphilis can be cured with antibiotics. However, treatment might not undo any damage that the infection has already done.Untreated syphilis can cause serious problems later in life for males and females, including heart trouble, mental problems, birth defects in babies, and death. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common viral STD with 14 million cases each year in the U.S., including 7 million cases among 15-24 year olds. There are 40 types of HPV that can affect the genital area. Some “low-risk” types cause genital warts, which can be treated and cured. Other “high-risk” types can cause cervical, penile and anal cancer.There is no medical cure for HPV. Most mild infections can be destroyed by the body’s immune system over time. If a “high-risk” HPV infection is not cleared by the immune system, it can remain present for many years and turn abnormal cells into cancer over time. Over 90% of all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection. Every year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 4,000 women die from the disease in the U.S.A vaccine for HPV is available for both females and males. This vaccine protects against the strains of HPV that are the most common causes of cervical cancer and genital warts. While the vaccine is expected to reduce rates of cervical cancer, it does not provide complete protection. Sexually active females are still at risk and should get regular Pap tests, which are important for detecting cervical cancer early when it can be treated most effectively. Genital Herpes Genital herpes is a common viral STD with over 24 millionpeople currently infected and 350,000new cases each year among 15-24 olds.Over 80% of people who tested positive for genital herpes did not know they had it.There is no cure for genital herpes. Once infected, you have genital herpes for life.Some people with genital herpes have symptoms, but most don’t. Typical symptoms of genital herpes are painful, recurring blisters or sores on or around the genitals or rectum. Medications can help with outbreaks. With or without symptoms (blisters genital herpes can be transmitted by skin-to-skinsexual contact between sex partners.Genital herpes can be diagnosed by visualinspection if blisters or sores are present. It can be difficult to detect otherwise; blood tests are helpful, but the results are not always clear-cut. What about “Safe” or “Safer” Sex “Safe” or “safer” sex means using a male condom when having sex. To be most effective against pregnancy and STDs, condoms must be used consistently, every single time, and correctly , put on after erection but before genital contact, leave no trapped air, be withdrawn while still erect, and held onto during withdrawal.Studies show that a large proportion of condom users do not use them consistently. Even among adults who knew their partner have HIV, less than half used condoms consistently. How well do condoms work for birth control? Typical couples who use condoms for birth control experience a first-year failure rate of 13%in preventing pregnancies.Condoms are made of rubber, so they can break, slip off, be affected by heat and cold, and deteriorate over time. Studies show that slippage or breakage occurs 1-4% of the time. How well do condoms reduce the risk of contracting STDs? Condoms are most effective against HIV, reducing the risk by 85percent versus not using a condom at all.Condoms are moderatelyeffective in reducing the risk of STDs spread by body fluids, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.Condoms are less effective in reducing the risk of STDs spread by skin-to-skinsexual contact (e.g. HPV, herpes, syphilis). Condoms offer no protection if the infection is located outside the area covered by the condom. According to the CDC, condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection against any STD. Is “safe” or “safer” sex safe enough? No Only abstinence provides 100% protection against contracting an STD Discussion Questions: Why do some people avoid telling their partners they have an STD? If you had a sexually transmitted disease, would you tell someone:You were just starting to date? Why or why not? Before you became sexually involved? Why or why not? Before you were married? Why or why not? Personal Application:What would happen if both partners committed to practicing honesty in their relationship?