Teens & STD's

I'm a teenager, am I at risk for an STD?

You Bet!  One out of every four teenagers will get an STD, even though lots of teenagers think it could never happen to them. There are other STDs out there besides HIV, and they are growing in large numbers among teens. They include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes genital warts and abnormal Pap smears and in some cases cervical cancer.

Can I get an STD from a public restroom?

More than likely Not. Most STDs are only transmitted during sexual skin-to-skin contact or through body fluid exchange. Crabs, or pubic lice, may be transmitted through sexual contact, sleeping in infected bedding, sharing infected clothing and possibly through sitting on an infested toilet seat. However, lice cannot survive away from the human body for longer than 24 hours. So contracting pubic lice from a toilet seat is possible, but it's highly unlikely.

Can I get HIV or another STD from getting a tattoo or through body piercing?

There can be a risk for HIV or another blood-borne infection (like Hepatitis B or C) if the instruments used for piercing or tattooing either are not sterilized or disinfected properly between uses. Any instrument used to pierce or cut the skin should be used once and thrown away, or thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before using them again. Ask the staff at the parlor about their equipment. They will show you what precautions they use.

Can I get an STD from kissing?

This is possible. If your partner's mouth is infected with an STD, then he or she may be able to pass that infection to your mouth during a kiss. Fever blisters and cold sores can be passed through a kiss if your partner is infected (this is the Herpes virus), and blood-borne infections like HIV or Hepatitis B or C can only be passed through kissing if there is the exchange of infected blood. If your partner has an infection in his or her genital area, then kissing on the mouth will not transmit the infection.

Can I get an STD from oral sex?

Yes. During oral sex, there is skin-to-skin contact and there can be body fluid exchange, so it is important to use barrier protection like un-lubricated condoms or latex dental dams to protect you during oral sex.  Note:  more and more people are being infected with genital herpes because they practiced oral sex while their partner had an active cold sore or herpes outbreak - also note, this virus can be transmitted even when there is no outbreak.  See Herpesonline for more details!

Why don't teenagers protect themselves if they are having sex?

It's not always because they don't know HOW to protect themselves, there are many other factors that may or may not come into play.

Perhaps they...

• are embarrassed about buying or getting condoms

• feel pressured

• use alcohol and drugs

• have a lack of knowledge and understanding

• believe using birth control pills will protect them

• are too embarrassed to ask questions

• just don't think ahead of time