STD PREVENTION Essay, Research Paper

Abstinence And STD Prevention

Today?s world is full of worries and problems which did not affect teens a generation

ago. New problems keep appearing in today?s world, such as STDs, increased pregnancy

rates, and other factors facing teens who choose to have sex. Emotionally and physically

teens and getting less developed before having sex and are not prepared for the serious

problems which come along with their decision to have sex. No longer is it a matter

which will just go away if we ignore it, but teen health and the health of our society

depend on choices which today?s teens make regarding sex. With so many diseases and

problems facing today?s world, abstinence is the only way to protect ourselves.

Abstinence is a safe choice in preventing the possibility of pregnancy. One-tenth of

young women between the ages of 15 and 19 get pregnant every year, 83 percent of these

pregnancies are unwanted or unplanned. Half of the unmarried teens who get pregnant do

so within six months of their first sexual experience. In fact, between 1986 and 1990, teen

childbearing increased by 16 percent. What?s worse, pregnant teenagers often don?t see a

doctor until the time of delivery.

Another serious problem surrounding teen sexual intercourse is the

probability of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Each year, three million

teens are infected with STDs. Among 14- to 20-year-olds, chlamydia is the most

common. It has no obvious symptoms, and can cause infertility if left untreated.

Another common disease is herpes, which causes sores and painful swelling of the

genitals. Its symptoms can be managed, but not cured. Fifteen percent of all teenage

girls carry the virus that causes genital warts, another common STD. Gonorrhea, not

uncommon in teens, is known to cause pelvic pain, discharge, and painful urination. It

may leave its victims sterile. Perhaps even more serious is the disease Syphilis, which

killed famous mobster Al Capone. It causes sores, rashes, brain and organ damage, and

death. It can also harm an unborn child. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

is a growing danger, and is by far the most serious sexually transmitted disease.

AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. Cases among

teens have grown 62 percent in the past two years, and the number of teens with AIDS

doubles every 14 months. A fifth of all AIDS victims in this country today are in their

twenties, and since the disease takes two to ten years to develop, those victims contracted

it in their teenage years. Even scarier is that, according to a study of 19 universities, one

in 500 college students may carry the AIDS virus. With these frightening statistics, it’s

easy to see why many teens are choosing not to have sex. Many bold teenagers think

they can totally avoid pregnancy and STDs by using various forms of contraceptives.

However, while it does lessen the chances of disease and unwanted pregnancy, birth

control is not always dependable.

Although sex my bring appeal to our generation, the best way to prevent teen

pregnancy and STD?s is by practicing abstinence. Hopefully before any more people are

infected by some of these deadly diseases, kids will get the idea that being safe and

practicing abstinence is the best way to go.