The Center for Disease Control released the latest numbers on STDs this week and the news isn't pretty. According to the CDC, there are approximately 19 million new sexually transmitted disease infections each year, and half of those are among people 15 to 24 years old.
The report focused on three STDs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, which are all on the rise. Young women represent the majority of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases. And syphilis, though not as common among females, has increased 36.4% in women.
This is scary news, especially for women, since these three STDs can lead to serious health problems like PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and even infertility.
So what can you do to protect yourself? Use condoms! (Check out this article on how to make them more fun.) Also, make sure you get screened for all three anytime you have unsafe sex. And ask your gyno to test you at least once a year for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Do you ask a guy to get tested for STDs before you sleep with him? What do you think is the best way to bring up the topic with a boyfriend or hook-up?