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STDs rife among US teenage girls

One in four teenage girls in the United States has a sexually-transmitted disease, a study has indicated.

The study, by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found an even higher prevalence of STDs among black girls.

Researchers analysed data from a nationally representative sample of 838 US girls aged 14 to 19.

A virus that causes cervical cancer - HPV - was the most common, followed by chlamydia, trichomoniasis and herpes.

The CDC says the study is the first in its kind to examine the prevalence of common sexually transmitted diseases among adolescent girls.

It found that nearly half of the African-American girls surveyed had at least one STD, while the rate was 20% among white and Mexican-American teenagers.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, affected 18% of the girls surveyed, chlamydia 4%, trichomoniasis 2.5%, and herpes simplex virus 2%.

The CDC's Devin Fenton said it was a serious issue because the diseases could lead to infertility and cervical cancer.

"Screening, vaccination and other prevention strategies for sexually active women are among our highest public health priorities," he said.

The CDC is recommending annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under 25, and HPV vaccines for girls aged 11 to 12, followed by booster injections.

John Douglas, the CDC's head of STD prevention, says screenings are underused because teenagers often do not think they are at risk.

Analysts say some doctors are also reluctant to discuss screening with teenage patients because of confidentiality concerns, knowing parents would have to be told of the results.
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My Note:  Does something like this give us a hint that we are failing our children? Please note the following quote:


I'm having a hard time adjusting to the fact that we have an epidemic of STDs with girls that are only 11 and 12 years old. In fact, it makes me sick just to think about something like this.

Brothers and Sisters,

I kind of wonder if those numbers are blown out of proportions. Take a look at the girls of your own Church.. Can one really think that any one of them could/would be a 1 in 4 to do such things to hava a STD? I just do not beleive it! Is this another mind game to PUSH the ULtra liberals agenda etc.... think about it!

LORD SAVE US FROM THIS MESS!!

Looking at those that live around me I do believe it. Many girls getting pregnant at the age of 12 and 13, dressing as though they were .... (I'll just leave that one nuff said) ... Did you stop to think that perhaps the 3 that don't get the STD's are actually just a small portion of those that are in churches. Out of those that are in churches just how many of them actually live the true life of a Christian.

Sadly though you are correct about the liberals using these figures to their advantage forcing medications and other garbage on our youth instead of attacking the problem at its root cause.

Hello Sister Tina and All,

I'm sad to say that I believe it. Further, I think that the overall agenda of the ultra-liberal left is responsible. Things like this happen when people try to remove GOD and morals from the lives of our children and replace it with "if it feels good, do it" mentality.

Reference your question, I would hope that the teens in our churches don't represent the norms in their age groups. Just going to church on a regular basis should have some positive effect on them. Maybe this is naive thinking, but I would hope that teens in our churches have less problems than teens not involved with regular Biblical instruction. AND, one would also have to consider the fact that Pastor Roger mentioned. Just going to church wouldn't mean much for some teens, but I would hope there is some positive impact.

Regardless of whether the teens go to church or not, I think there would be a tendency to keep problems like this secret. So, the problem might be even worse that the report suggests. A lot would probably depend on where and how you selected the sample population for the study.

I would have to say that I believe it too.  Right now at the homeless mission where I work at; we have 2 teenage girls, which was unusual just 5 years ago in it's self.  Both girls already have extensive drug histories and one has been in a treatment facility 6 times already.  If you know anything about addiction, there is a certain lifestyle that goes along with it including in-discretionary sex.  There are some other women here that to look at you wouldn't even think they were homeless or addicts in recovery.  They just "don't look like it".
Satan is alive and active.  Very active right now.  The morals in this country went out the window at least 2 generations ago if not more, so is it any wonder really?  As far as looking around your own church; just because a teenager is sitting in a pew doesn't mean that their parents know what they are doing.  And even if they did find out that their child has an STD do you think they are going to discuss it with their church friends?
Believe it sister.  We are on a snowball to Armageddon.

In Christ,
Grammyluv

Hello Grammyluv and All,

The issues in this thread are very sad and disturbing to think about, but I think that we must face what's happening with many of our young people. Some of those young people are our own children and grandchildren. It would be nice if we didn't have to think about such unpleasant things, but we really don't have that luxury.

I was just reflecting back on my last years in police work and remembering how drastically things seemed to be changing for the worse. The response of families to the self-destructive actions of their children also began to change. In short, family structure and family values have changed drastically in just the last 30 years. There are hard statistics for many issues that should indicate the obvious:  the devil is snaring and devouring portions of many families. Our thoughts and actions should be more about trying to address the specific problems than trying to avoid embarrassment for particular family names in the community. Sadly, many families are more interested in the temporary embarrassment issues than they are in the ETERNAL ISSUES.

So, what do we do? There must be a starting place for all of us, regardless of whether we think there are problems in our families or not. We must start with prayer at least every single day, and we start with our own problems that we all have. We ask GOD to help us and to guide us in all things. We pray that the LORD will be the head over our homes. This is how we start.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Amen Brother Tom.  Wise words.