CDC study says at least 1 in 4 teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease; HPV most common

CDC study says at least 1 in 4 teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease; HPV most common
By Lindsey Tanner
AP Medical Writer
CHICAGO -- At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens, according to the first study of its kind in this age group.

A virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls aged 14 to 19, while the highest overall prevalence is among black girls — nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Among girls who admitted ever having sex, the rate was 40 percent. While some teens define sex as only intercourse, other types of intimate behavior including oral sex can spread some infections.

For many, the numbers likely seem "overwhelming because you're talking about nearly half of the sexually experienced teens at any one time having evidence of an STD," said Dr. Margaret Blythe, an adolescent medicine specialist at Indiana University School of Medicine and head of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on adolescence.

But the study highlights what many doctors who treat teens see every day, Blythe said.

Dr. John Douglas, director of the CDC's division of STD prevention, said the results are the first to examine the combined national prevalence of common sexually transmitted diseases among adolescent girls. He said they likely reflect current prevalence rates.

"High STD rates among young women, particularly African-American young women, are clear signs that we must continue developing ways to reach those most at risk," Douglas said.

The CDC's Dr. Kevin Fenton said given that STDs can cause infertility and cervical cancer in women, "screening, vaccination and other prevention strategies for sexually active women are among our highest public health priorities."

The study by CDC researcher Dr. Sara Forhan is an analysis of nationally representative data on 838 girls who participated in a 2003-04 government health survey.

The results were prepared for release Tuesday at a CDC conference in Chicago on preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

Four common diseases were examined — human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer and affected 18 percent of girls studied; chlamydia, which affected 4 percent; trichomoniasis, 2.5 percent; and herpes simplex virus, 2 percent.

Blythe said the results are similar to previous studies examining rates of those diseases individually.

HPV can cause genital warts but often has no symptoms. A vaccine targeting several HPV strains recently became available. Douglas said it likely has not yet had much impact on HPV prevalence rates in teen girls.

Chlamydia and trichomoniasis can be treated with antibiotics. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under age 25. It also recommends the three-dose HPV vaccine for girls aged 11-12 years, and catch-up shots for females aged 13 to 26.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has similar recommendations.

Douglas said screening tests are underused in part because many teens don't think they're at risk, but also, some doctors mistakenly think, "'Sexually transmitted diseases don't happen to the kinds of patients I see.'"

Blythe said some doctors also are reluctant to discuss STDs with teen patients or offer screening because of confidentiality concerns, knowing parents would have to be told of the results.

The American Academy of Pediatrics supports confidential teen screening, she said.

On the Net:

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov

American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

Canuck wrote:When all the shows aimed at teens revolves around sex no wonder the kids have such a high rate of STDs.

They need to educate more people on the issue. Teach them about the consequences of their actions. Teach them about taking responsibiltiy for their actions.

Canuck wrote:That responsibility also lies with the family being involved with their children.

floridafun wrote:hmmm 1 in 4 girls makes me suppose its also 1 in 4 boys (unless the girls have diseased fingers) so its more like 2 of every 4 teens?

Markwes wrote:

floridafun wrote:hmmm 1 in 4 girls makes me suppose its also 1 in 4 boys (unless the girls have diseased fingers) so its more like 2 of every 4 teens?

No, girls are more likely to be infected if you think about the physics of it all. Plus if it was 1 out of 4 boys wouldn't it still be 1 out of 4 teens overall?

LTRT2 wrote:

Canuck wrote:That responsibility also lies with the family being involved with their children.

So true, but have ya been to a mall lately. The parents are m.i.a. and if there are any it's the early 30's mom with her 13-14 yr old daughter and they both look like sluts.

Shouldbeworking wrote:I think that condoms should be passed out to students or at least offered to them with a "no questions asked" policy and more parents should by them and hand them over to their kids not encouraging them to have sex but if the opportunity is there to take precaution. You can encourage abstinence but also teach about safe sex at the same time. Is that possible?