Reality Check: Teens and STDs

It's not just a stereotype that teens have raging hormones, and everyone expects them to make mistakes while exploring their own sexual identities. But it's never too soon to inform them of the realities that go along with sex. According to SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), nearly half of the almost 19 million new STD infections each year occur in young people ages 15 to 24, and that's not all. Educate yourself on the realities of teens, sex and STDS with these statistics collected by SADD, and if you want more information, visit www.sadd.com.

- One in two sexually active youth will contract an STD by age 25. (2005 ASHA State of the Nation)

- Half of all new HIV infections occur among adolescents. (2005 ASHA State of the Nation)

- Forty percent (40%) of older adolescents surveyed by the Kaiser Family Foundation incorrectly believe that the contraceptive “pill” and “shot” protect against STDs and HIV.
(2005 ASHA State of the Nation)

- Nationwide, 87.9% of high school students had ever been taught about AIDS or HIV infection in school. (2005 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance)

- Some young people, including those who had abstinence education, consider oral and anal sex to be abstinent behaviors and do not realize these behaviors present risks of STD transmission. (2005 ASHA State of the Nation)

- Adolescents believed they are tested during routine medical examinations for major STDs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, hepatitis B, herpes, HPV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
(2005 ASHA State of the Nation)

- In 2004, an estimated 4,883 people ages 13-24 received a diagnosis of HIV infection or AIDS, representing about 13% of the people given a diagnosis that year.
(Centers for Disease Control)

- African-Americans were disproportionately affected by HIV infection, accounting for 55% of all HIV infections reported among young persons ages 13-24.
(Centers for Disease Control)

Comments

I6YmhQ dsgshshsh

Yea...I have a daughter who I found out was having a relationship with a 22 year old...and after that I thought it was all my fault...and some of it was especially because I wasn't looking out for my daughter (well that's what it felt like) I just felt like I was unable to protect her and after I talked to her and asked her what the hell were you thinking I just couldn't believe what I was hearing out of her mouth and the things this guy was telling her and really making her feel like he loved her. I couldn't believe how many scum bags are out there after that.....especially when they get involved with your family.......and my daughter was a virgin and gets straight A's in school, and he messed with my little girls head. I just wanted to make everyone aware of what really is out there, and just waiting for our kids.

HI trya thanks,for having that show aboutanswering and helping people who sick with there wishes. I wish I can help my brother who was in a hit and run accident but don't know agency that can help he is paralize.

Dear Tyra,
I am watching the episode on teen sex as i write this. I saw the teenage boy Gio on and heard his story and i disagree with the fact that you scolded him so much for what happened betweeen he and that girl who gave him oral sex. I personally think that as a teeneage boy, he has raging hormones and a man will not turn down sex... so it falls on the girls...

Being a product of the 80's I really believe that the most important thing that I teach
my children about sex is they must wear proctection at all times as i hear these children saying that 1 in 4 have stds. I must wonder why they are not looking after their body because it is the only one that they have

Tyra,
I just finished watching the show about teens and sex in school. This worries me. I want my kids to have the most information I can give them in order for them to make edcuated choices. I am a mother of 3. 13,11 & 7. I want to know what your mother told you and that train trip. I am very open with my children but I would love to share with them the things your mother shared with you.

Thanks

Tyra,

I just watched the part about the 14 year old girl, Malorie. I just wanted to thank you for beinging her on the show, It really makes me feel better about wearnig my purity ring, and saying no to all the guys that come to me. I think that she was deffiantly a wake up call to a lot of girls. I wish some of my sexually active friends could see it, they deffinatly would have a diffrent view on everything. That girl just deffiantly made me feel better about my choice.
It shows me that guys just in a way "use" you. My b/f broke up with me becasue I wouldnt have sex him. It just shows me that what Im thinking is deffinatly the right thing. Thanks for giving me the support I needed to know that Im doing the right thing!

Hi Tyra, i love your show...i am so glad you brought this to so manys attention. People are having sex younger and younger now a days and so many have diseases and dont even know it...all im saying is if your gonna have sex make sure you get tested on a regular basis...people these things can kill you!! Dont play with your life...be safe!
love everyone...love you Tyra!!

Tyra,

I just watched the part about the 14 year old girl, Malorie. I just wanted to thank you for beinging her on the show, It really makes me feel better about wearnig my purity ring, and saying no to all the guys that come to me. I think that she was deffiantly a wake up call to a lot of girls. I wish some of my sexually active friends could see it, they deffinatly would have a diffrent view on everything. That girl just deffiantly made me feel better about my choice.
It shows me that guys just in a way "use" you. My b/f broke up with me becasue I wouldnt have sex him. It just shows me that what Im thinking is deffinatly the right thing. Thanks for giving me the support I needed to know that Im doing the right thing!

I wish Tyra would shut up for a minute and give her guest a chance to respond when posed with a question. She brings on guest and steps on thier response the whole time and you dont even know what they were going to say!

I wish Tyra would shut up for a minute and give her guest a chance to respond when posed witha question. She bring on guest and steps on thier response the whole time and you dont ven know wht they were going to say!

Thank you so much for talking about this on your show! I think too many teenagers, boys and girls included, are sexually active. It is important to get the message to them that teen sex is not cool. If you're sooo in love with your steady, then it is worth it to wait a couple years until you get married.

Dear Tyra, I'm watching the monday show today- tues. Thank You for Putting this show together- It was so Educational for the young people - I really feel that the older students prey on the weaker younger students- By giving the younger students the knowledge of the sexual impulses that can be kept in check and that sometimes they are really just Being USED //Oral Sex is SEX and is also very dangerous. Schools need to have more adult supervision and be a safe haven for the students. Sexually dominant students should be expelled and/or sent to a more supervised school - so the younger students are not available to them.
I believe that the
"16 will get you 20 years" saying should still be part of our laws and legal system- Both boys and girls need to be protected - from the predators. thanks again. Open communication between family members is the most important gift that we can give our kids. Thanks again for being a great role model.

Hey,
I also find that many ppl around my age (19) think it is okay to have unprotected sex once you are steady with someone. I've been steady with my bf for 4 years and we still use condoms...of course I've had unprotected sex when i was younger and more naive but I made a conscious decision once i found I had no STDs or anything like that I would use condoms. It is not a trust issue at all if anything using condoms shows our love and respect of each other....peace yall

Tyra,

Is "LIKE" the only word you know. You sure are giving the teens today a bad impression when every other word that you use is "LIKE". Increase your vocabulary, go back to school.

Dear Tyra:

I recently lost my job and had time to watch your show for the first time. I am so glad I did today on sexual activity with among teens. I have a 13 year old gorgeous daughter and this is her first year in Junior High. Everything that was said today on your show I was amazed I had no idea! Wow I want to thank you; because I have been talking all wrong to my daughter. (" You are to young for boys etc.") It made me realize today that I was talking to her as my mother talked to me at that age. I feel horrible that I did not see what I was doing. I have just been so wrapped up in loosing my job and scraping by to make ends meet. I never took the time to listen to her. I plan to pick her up after school today and COMMUNICATE with her. Thank you so much and I think you are the greatest most beautiful talk show host! I cannot tell you how much your show meant to me to make my daughters life a better one; because if I did not see this show I honestly think my daughter would not make very good choices in her future. "GOD" BLESS.

Dear Tyra,

My name is Megan I am 19 and just graduated high school in 2007. The last 4 months of high school I became pregnant. It was difficult for me because I had no one in my family that had been in this situation. The father dropped out the last three months and was never around during the pregnancy or the birth, still to this day he isn't around! I love being a mother, but without a man around I feel lonely and kind of lost in a way! I am currently unemployed but I am attending a local college. Which is something I never had planned to do. I don't encourage teen sex but for me at a young age I feel like I have accomplished a lot in the last year! From having a baby, graduating, starting college,etc. My daughter is now 6 months old and she has changed my life in an incredible way! What I really want to point out to teenagers is having that respect for their parents! I try to get my word out there but its like I'm talking to myself! I just wish there was a way that I could get through to teenagers that they have to have respect for their parents! Because one day they will be a parent and wont realize what its like until then. I just want everyone out there to understand earlier in their life then at the last minute!

Dear Tyra

I am 17 and currently in my last year of highschool, i live in SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg and sex plays a huge role in my life and my friends. i am a leader of my group and i wrote a book about all my experiences and i discourage my friends in what they do though many of them strongly disagree with my beliefs i started a system where teens can acctually log on a site and talk about experiences. i noticed that many teen dont only get STDs but ESTDs (emotional sexually transmitted disease) sound silly but its true. they get all hooked up about a guy and think to keep him they need to sleep with him and it does not have to be that way. Many older guys give love for sex and girls give sex for love. They do not talk to thier parents about it because they fear thier parents might make it seem that they are sleezy. That is where most kids get HIV and AIDS. in SOUTH AFRICA we have a law that kids under the age of 16 it is illegal to participate in any type of sexual activity and we only allowed to be 2 years younger or older than our partners. so from 16 and older if they are found with someone that is younger than 16 or 3 or more years younger than them it is concidered to be a criminal offence. A few of my friends from facebook has set up a petition about the kissing law. My word to parents is to talk to thier children dont judge them love them and let them get tested before it goes too far.

Post a comment