The Causes and Spread of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). also called venereal diseases, are caused by germs that travel from person to person through sexual contact. Common STDs include syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes, gonorrhea, and AIDS. Because the germs that cause STDs die quickly outside the human body. these sicknesses are not spread through coughing, sneeZing, or contact With infected objects such as t0ilet seats or eating utensils. Most STDs, however. can be transmitted from an infected pregnant woman to her baby, often causing serious and lite-threatening complications for the infant.

Some Viral diseases, including AIDS and hepatitis B, are spread through direct exposure to infected blood and can be transmitted through sexual contact or through nonsexual means such as the sharing of needles for drug use. Young people are especially at risk for many sexually transmitted diseases.

Teenagers account for three million cases of STDs annually. One out of every four sexually active teenagers acquires a new STD each year. One quarter of new infections of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) are found in people under 22.

Young women are at greater risk than older women for reproductive and health complications caused by STDs. The medical options for the treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases are somewhat limited. Some bacterial STDs, including chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea, can be treated with antibiotics if detected early enough (although the evolution of new germs resistant to antibiotics is a growing problem). Antibiotics are useless against viral STDs. however. Public health measures have therefore focused primarily on preventing the spread of STDs, Because vaccinations for STDs are still in the research stage, efforts to prevent STDs have centered on reducing risky sexual activities.

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Yet while most people agree that healthy and re sponsible sexual behavior should be promoted in the media, in clinics, and in sex education classes. profound disagreements exist as to what constitutes responsible behaviors. Most people agree that abstinence is the most effective way of preventing sexually transmitted diseases and that people should be made aware that certain activmes—including sex at an early age and sex with multiple partners or prostitutes—greatly increase the risks of contracting STDs. But many sex education authorities, such as Debra W. Haffner of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US. contend that abstinence should not be the sole emphasis of STD prevention and sex education programs.

People should acknowledge that many teenagers are engaging in sexual activity, Studies have found that the average age of first intercourse in the World is sixteen and that tworthirds of the world’s high school seniors are sexually experienced prior to graduation, Haffner argues that, given the reality that many teenagers reiect the option of abstinence. young people should be given comprehensive sexuality information “about their bodies, gender roles, sexual abuse, pregnancy, and STD prevention,” including the proper use of condoms to prevent diseases.

She asserts that “fear based, abstinenceronly programs“ that “discuss contraception only in negative terms” threaten to reverse “the significant strides American youth have made during the last two decades to delay sexual activny or else protect themselves.“ Sexually Transmitted Diseases reflect the differences between those who highlight sexual restraint and traditional values as imperative to preventing STDs and those who emphasize condom use and other methods of risk reduction, The relative merits of abstinence and condoms are among the several controversial issues discussed by the educators, health activists and organizations. and other contributors to this volume. all of whom present differing Views on how best to stem the ongoing “hidden” epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases.