HEALTH INSIGHTS

Teens: About STDs

July 27, 2018

Teens: About STDs

If you’re having sex, or thinking about having sex, you need to know about sexually transmitted diseases or STDs. STDs can cause serious health problems. And not all can be cured. But there are ways to protect yourself and others.

Teenage boy and girl walking in park.

How do you catch an STD?

It’s simple. You catch an STD by having sex with an infected partner. Some STDs spread when body fluids (semen, vaginal fluids, saliva, blood) get passed during sex. Others spread by touching infected areas. It doesn’t matter what kind of sex it is. You can catch an STD if sex involves the mouth (oral sex), vagina (vaginal sex), or anus (anal sex). The risks of catching an STD are even higher if:

  • You have more than 1 sex partner 

  • Your partner has sex with other people

  • You don’t use latex condoms

What can you do?

To prevent problems now—and in the future—decide if it’s the right time to have sex.  It’s OK to wait. Not having sex is the only sure way to prevent STDs.

But if you are having sex...

  • Always use a latex condom during sex. Why latex? When used correctly and constantly during sexual intercourse, latex condoms are very effective in decreasing the transmission of HIV and other viruses compared to other types of condoms (for example, those made of lambskin or natural membranes).

  • Limit how many sex partners you have. The more people you have sex with, the greater your risk of catching an STD.

  • Get checked if you think you have an STD. Then you can be treated if you do have an STD.

Updated:  

July 27, 2018

Sources:  

Sexually transmitted infections: overview of issues specific to adolescents. UpToDate.

Reviewed By:  

Adler, Liora C., MD,Fetterman, Anne, RN, BSN,Image reviewed by StayWell art team.