Is sexually transmitted diseases a big teen issue? 
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the rates of sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise. Between 2013 and 2017, the rates of syphilis have nearly doubled. Gonorrhea cases have increased by 67 percent. Cases of chlamydia remain high. Herpes, HPV and other scary diseases are also on the rise.
One of the reasons that these diseases are spreading so quickly is that causal sex is such a common and accepted practice these days. Even many teens with good self esteem believe that causal sex and “hookups” are a normal part of life.
Teen Issues with Slut Shaming: Should Acceptance of Casual Sex Be Encouraged?
You may have heard your teen discuss “slut shaming”, a term that refers to putting someone down for having sex, being sexual, dressing in a provocative manner, or other similar things. While we certainly should discourage our kids from bullying and shaming others, we also must question whether full acceptance of casual sex is a good thing. Our society seems to be heading in that direction, but is this sending the right message to our young teens? Is the acceptance of casual sex leading to more teen issues?
You can’t necessarily change society, but you can discuss sex and sexually transmitted diseases with your kids. Experts believe that HPV is responsible for causing more than 31,500 cases of cervical cancer each year. Data from the CDC found that 40 percent of women and 42 percent of men between the ages of 18 and 59 have the disease. It’s also been shown that 12.5 percent of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49 have herpes.
Make sure that your teen understands that certain diseases, like herpes, last a lifetime and cannot be cured. Remaining abstinent or practicing safe sex can help your teen avoiding becoming a statistic.
