A 17-year-old Norfolk girl said she and her friends were quick to tell one another when they lost their virginity.
At 16, she was one of the last in her circle to have sex.
They've been slower to share stories about sexually transmitted diseases.
She learned she had chlamydia - a pelvic infection that can cause infertility - after a test at Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia last month.
"I was shocked. For some reason, I felt like it couldn't be me. This opened my eyes."
She is not surprised by a report released earlier this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that estimates one in four American teen girls has at least one of a group of common sexually transmitted diseases.
The problem is worrisome in the eastern region of Virginia - which includes Hampton Roads - because STD rates tend to be higher than average here. In 2006, the eastern region had the highest rates in the state for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
Forty-one percent of the state's chlamydia cases that year were reported in the eastern region, even though the region makes up 24 percent of Virginia's population.
Rates of chlamydia infection are particularly high among girls in their teens and early 20s, said Elaine Martin, who directs community services in the Virginia Department of Health's disease prevention division.
She said the developing nature of young girls' cervixes increases their risk of contracting that disease once exposed.
State health statistics show that 2,620 girls ages 13 through 19 in the eastern region were diagnosed with chlamydia in 2007. That compares with 528 boys in the same age range.
The CDC study examined test results from 838 girls ages 14 through 19, selected at random from a national government health survey in 2003 and 2004. Four infections were tracked: human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer and affected 18 percent of girls studied; chlamydia, which affected 4 percent; trichomoniasis, 2.5 percent; and genital herpes, 2 percent.
The study also found that infection rates were higher among black girls, nearly half of whom had an STD, compared with 20 percent among white and Mexican American girls.
Martin said it's difficult to compare the CDC statistics to Virginia's figures because health care providers are not required to report HPV, herpes and trichomoniasis to the Health Department.
Because of that, state numbers of teen STDs will seem smaller than reality.
Another barrier to a true picture of sexually transmitted disease is that many people who contract STDs do not have symptoms. That means they can spread the disease without realizing it.
It's estimated that 70 to 80 percent of girls and women with chlamydia show no symptoms. Left untreated, it can cause infertility problems.
HPV is another disease that often doesn't have any symptoms. When the law goes into effect in October, Virginia will become the first state to require sixth-grade girls to receive HPV vaccines unless their parents opt out.
Kathleen Raney, a nurse midwife and lead clinician at Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Virginia, said the CDC statistics reflect what her agency sees.
In fact, she believes the local numbers could be higher. Raney said adolescents often turn to the agency because they're afraid or embarrassed to go to their family doctors.
Some of the teens she sees with STDs didn't realize they could be infected from oral or anal sex. Some thought birth control would protect them from everything. Some in same-sex relationships thought that since there was no danger of getting pregnant, there was nothing else to worry about.
"I've had young women who are diagnosed with herpes say, 'I have never had sex.' I ask them, 'Have you had heavy petting? Because herpes is a contact sport.' "
Teens also are afraid to tell their parents they are having sex, she said, but they don't have transportation or money to seek out reproductive care or screening on their own.
Some come to Planned Parenthood on the bus; others get rides from older sisters, aunts and friends.
And there's another factor behind high rates of sexually transmitted diseases: the teen brain.
"They think, 'It's not going to happen to me. I'm infallible. It won't happen until I'm 25.' But STDs do not care what age you are. Or what gender you are, or whether you're gay or not."
They also do not care if you've had sex only one time.
Dr. Joel Brenner, director of adolescent medicine at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, said teens often stop going to the doctor for checkups during their adolescent years.
Those who do get checkups are not generally screened for STDs unless they tell the doctor they're sexually active. Some teens aren't forthcoming with the information, and some family practice doctors and pediatricians might be reluctant to press the issue.
But "it's just as important as asking about safety issues, diet and everything else," Brenner said. "Just because you don't ask doesn't mean it isn't happening."
He said sports physicals would be an ideal opportunity for screening; it's not currently done in school-based exams.
Dr. Glenda Karp, a pediatrician with Tidewater Children's Associates for more than two decades, asks parents to leave the room when she examines teens, so she can talk frankly about sexual activity. Still, she imagines some teens skirt the truth, which is why she believes universal screening is the answer.
"If everyone were screened, we could find and treat the infections earlier."
Adults in the general public might have been surprised by the CDC's report of high infection rates among adolescents, but many teen girls were not.
On Thursday, a group of girls who gathered at a Portsmouth home said teen sexuality is all around them, and not just in the media.
The nine girls ranged from 10 to 17 years old and attend schools in Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Norfolk.
They talked about having pregnant classmates in middle school, and about friends who refer to diseases simply as "the burning." The girls regularly overhear hallway bragging about sexual exploits.
"You hear girls say, 'You did it with him? I did it with him, too,' " said 17-year-old Rayvin Cook of Portsmouth.
Fourteen-year-old Danielle Moore of Portsmouth said some people look down on girls who aren't sexually active. "They'll say, 'Oh, you're a virgin, I'm not going to mess with you.' "
The girls say that they've learned about sexually transmitted diseases in family life classes at school but that many teens ignore the risk or think it won't happen to them.
These girls come together twice a week to talk about sex education issues at the home of Saran Bell-Day.
The Portsmouth woman used to work as a health educator for a community services board and now has an organization called Youth Against Drugs and Disease.
Bell-Day, who was a teen mother herself, says she thinks it's important not only to educate young girls about the facts and risks of sex, but also to give them a place to talk about self-esteem, emotions, peer pressure and whatever else is on their minds.
She tries to drill home this advice:
"Love yourself. Respect yourself. Protect yourself."
The 17-year-old Norfolk girl who is being treated for chlamydia said she, too, learned about sexual diseases and how to protect herself in family life classes in her public school, but somehow, she didn't think it would happen to her.
"I knew the possible consequences of my actions, but I didn't pay attention. It's not like something you can see."
She's had three sexual partners during the past year but didn't use protection.
The boy she believes infected her was "someone I would never think would have anything."
A friend told her she should go to Planned Parenthood for screening to make sure she didn't have a disease. She put it off for a while because she was afraid.
Finally, she asked her sister-in-law to take her. "I thought, 'I got a tattoo, I can do this too.' "
She said she feels fortunate that she wasn't diagnosed with something more serious, like HIV. It served as a serious wake-up call for her.
Her advice for other girls:
"We need to apply what we know," she said. "Be careful, be safe, it can happen to you."
Elizabeth Simpson, (757) 446-2635, elizabeth.simpson@pilotonline.com
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RE: A world of contratiction
We can blame music, TV, the internet and the list will go on and on. The fact remains, we are talking about kids. Parents need to know and should know where their kids are, who their kids friends are, what they do on the internet, what do they have on my space, talk to them about sex, be open to questions from their kids regarding it, and stop being a friend and be the parent. Who's in charge in the home the kid or the parent? Recommemded reading, "Come On People", by Bill Cosby and another author. Life is not that complicated, and common sense goes a long ways.
wcale
Actually, the reason for the difference between boys with STDs and girls is not about more girls being sexually active. The first factor is that girls catch these STDs easier than boys. If an infected boy sleeps with an uninfected girl, chances are she's going to get it. However, if she sleeps with an uninfected boy after that, he may or may not get it. It's a matter of how the STD is delivered. I don't think I need to explain how sexual intercourse works here. Additionally, many STDs are more likely to show symptoms in girls than boys and, therefore, the girls may be seeking treatment and being counted when the boy they got an STD from has no idea he is infected and continues spreading it. He's not counted because he never saw a doctor and wasn't added to the numbers.
Tough problem: Willing to assist with this potential solution?
Sexually risky behavior may be significantly reduced by frequently and publicly offering a reward of sufficient "hope" in the form of FREE raffle tickets for valued prizes ONLY to those who claim to be "STD Free".
ALL who come in contact with the raffle would get a clear message, if perhaps subliminal, "I am privileged and get rewarded as long as I stay STD Free. If I engage in risky behavior and contract an STD, I will lose that privilege." It is likely that behaviors would improve for 5% to 50% of those contacted and the rate transmission would reduce by an estimated 5% or more per year.
If you would be willing assist in such a project, please consider contributing ideas, time, or donations.
Sincerely,
Mr. Bostick
ranboz@yahoo.com
Get a clue..
"Teens also are afraid to tell their parents they are having sex, she said, but they don't have transportation or money to seek out reproductive care or screening on their own.
Some come to Planned Parenthood on the bus; others get rides from older sisters, aunts and friends."
Well all those well meaning older sisters,aunts and friends should tell those girls: "GET A CLUE ! you don't have money for transporation?just how do you think you are going to handle the consequences of having sex and possibly a BABY?!!!!!!!" "Keep your pants on till you can afford your own transportation to the doctor!"
"You aren't teaching MY kids about sex"
Another familiar comment coming from parents. The fact is YOU aren't teaching your kids about sex and what can come with it. If you were there would not be as man STD's as being reported. Waiting until your kid turns 30 isn't the time to be talking to them about the facts of life. Put sex ed in the schools, make it a required course, and one you have to pass or re-take it. Why? Because we cannot count on parents to do their job! Life is not all this complicated.
A world of contradictions...
Who can blame kids these days for what happens to them? Sure, they bear some responsibility, but when you look at the bigger picture, they only made a decision based on what info they knew. The issue with sex is you have on one hand, religion telling you to abstain but then the religious community is rocked with sex scandals, so there goes credibility. On the other hand, you have many channels on TV, some telling you to be responsible with sex and then you flip the channel and see some stupid Hollywood bimbo being exposed for a sex tape or popping pregnant in early teens by some boyfriend...Then they can watch porn that promotes unsafe sex. Parents can only do so much when they have to work like dogs to support them in today's economy... It's a huge problem with a difficult solution...
Ethan brings up a good point....
We have learned a LOT about STDs in the past 5-10 years....when perhaps our parents and their parents were no longer paying much attention. I am 28, and most of my friends have no idea they need to ask their GYN to test them for STDs--they assume it's done along with their Pap smear, which it is not. They also are clueless to important facts about STDs, such as that untreated Chlamydia often causes pock mark-like dents in the fallopian tubes, making these women much more proned to tubal pregnancy. The ignorance goes on and on...and these are women who have been fully educated and have prestigious careers in business, politics, etc. If they aren't clear on the facts, it's safe to say many parents of young teens are not fully informed about the risks either. That's why comprehensive sex education in all schools is SO important. True comprehensive sex ed. is very much abstinence-based, but includes crucial and thorough information about the various STDs, their often lifelong effects, and contraception. It also includes information regarding the emotional consequences of a sexual relationship--something teens don't often talk/think about. The teens cited in this story may have received
I can hear it now
"Not my child", "Oh No, No!" I know where my child is and she's on the honor roll. Yeah right, I bet you don't even know where your child is right this minute. Parents scream about sex education, but don't talk to their kids about sex. They don't want free condoms, because they think it will encourage sex. Like it or not your kids are already having sex. No one has ever talked to them about oral sex, and kids think that's safe. Parents are not doing their kids any favor by sticking their head in the sand and pretending their little angels would never do such a thing. You in fact are killing your own kids by not talking to them, and your bad parenting skills.
joanie06
joanie06, your viewpoint is quite an attention getter I must say. You almost come off as one of those ''Holier than thou'' for your attitude. You imply that somehow there's a connection between lower income (medicaid),and sexual awakenings, which has no statistical backing. Whereas, perhaps a girl/boy having a lower self-esteem might show relevance to more sexual activity. When it comes to a person's lowered self-image, that happens to high income families with kids as well. So your connection to Medicaid has no merit, since there's nothing to back your preposterous claim on that. Also, where exactly do you draw the line, in regards to people making bad decisions on their health, and consequently, (Continued with Part II Reply)
Education Is Not The Answer?
You can have all the morals, mentors, values in the world, but even Ned Flander's kids are at risk of aquiring these diseases. It sounds like you are talking out of both sides of your mouth here. On one hand you are saying education is not the answer, & on the other you are basically saying the parents speak to them concerning these different areas, which, is in fact, educating them. Furthermore, if the parents aren't "equipped" for such a task, then they are need of education as well, as to the facts & consequences. It IS the answer. I would rather have a live kid, who slipped through the moral's net, & used protection, than one who aquired a sexually transmitted deadly disease, because I would not face the reality of the situation. Educate the child of the danger, & the solution to not aquiring the disease, abstinence, as well as precautions. It's tough not to appear to be condoning sexual activitiy among children, but, they still need to have a condom if they are enagaging in it. Thinking it wont be your kid is living in denial.
Numbers Imply
The numbers posted in the article show interesting and disturbing trends. 2,620 girls were treated for STDs as compared with 528 boys within the same age group. Of those girls 50 percent were black. To me this implies that the old statement about it being alright for boys to be sexually active but not girls is dated, with less relevance. If the numbers represent the population accurately, it would seem to imply more females are sexually active than males although with fewer partners. The numbers may also imply that safe practices might to receive greater emphasis within the minority community.
Finally, it shows something fairly obvious. Either sex education practices are inadequate within the schools or homes, or these teens are choosing to be sexually active despite exposure to education, perhaps due to peer presssure or simply raging hormones. It's obvious too many kids are becoming teenage parents instead of creating a promising future for themselves.
Morons
We are raising a generation of morons...no sense of responsibility or accountability as already mentioned. It's not like the 70's when you got a dose of the clap and could go to the Health Department, get a free shot of penicillin in your butt and be cured in time for your next date. Today, STDs are forever. Viruses cannot be cured, and you will spread them the rrest of your life....if you live long enough.
Hmmmp
Hmmp, Melon - nice job with working in the housing bubble issues into the story :-) When I was in jr. high in Chesapeake we definitely had sex ed. The parent(s) are too busy working to keep a roof over their head (and reward the shareholders and execs of the company with more than their fair share of the profits). I saw a commercial on television telling older kids about warning their parents about AIDS... because evidentially there is an increase in AIDS and other STDs spreading among the senior community due to recent advances in science (Vitamin V I suppose). Now *that* was odd.
Abstinence is the only sure method
Saying abstinence isn't realistic because they are going to "do it" anyway is a cop out! It'd be like saying a certain convenient store was sure to be robbed, so you may as well not try any methods to keep it from happening. Let's face it, if you don't do it until you are married......the risk of STD's and unwanted pregnancies are greatly reduced......Abstinece works every time!
Get used to it....
What is missing here is "responsibility" or "accountability". These boys and girls make bad decisions and us hard working tax paying citizens have to bear the financial burden of the illigitimate children these bad decisions produce or the cost of treatment of these STD's. It ain't getting any better either. Just like the "bad decisions" made by some who went out, bought a house they knew they couldn't afford, got a 5 year ARM, now the interest rate goes up and they can't make the mortgage payments. Now they are looking for Uncle Sam to "bail them out" of this bad decision too. Whatever happened to "accountability" or taking responsibility for our own decisions? 50% of the black community and 20% of the white community are being struck with these STD's. Who would have ever guessed?
they should bring sex
they should bring sex education back to the schools and educate children about this problem ,and require all teens to be educated ,
STD's
Everyone wants to blame the parents. Well unfortunatly some children do not listen. Also you need to not only teach them about STD's; you need to make sure they fully understand what is being taught. If noone asks the right questions then all the information in the world will not help.
When my girls were young I tried to make sure they understoud what I was saying by getting them to ask anything they wanted to. Yes, parents need to be more open on the topic of sex and all the possible consiquences of having sex. This includes letting them know about STD's. We need to let kids know that sex is not a dirty word that you don't talk about,but a subject they CAN talk to their parents about. Unfortunatly girls have it harder in this area because people have a habit of thinking it's okay for boys to be sexualy active . Well folks who do you think they are having sex with! DUH!!! Think about it will you??
Education is not THE answer...
Education has its role, but, as was highlighed in this article, knowledgeable people still take chances when they have stronger desires -sexual pleasure, love, acceptance, etc. Ultimately, each person is forced to make a choice. Education helps a person understand all of the facts, but there is more that is involved in making a choice. What about the ethics (morality)? What about social influence (our sexualized nation & media)? What about emotions? Self-control? As non-sensical as it sounds, many of the decisions we make are not based on fact or reason, which is even more true regarding youth. Life experience, including all of the above facets, influence our decision making. Thus, it is vital that we have strong families (preferably), mentors, etc. that can help raise children properly and can speak to these different areas so that that they can be fully equipped to make good decisions later in life. But are parents and adults themselves equipped for such a task? Herein is the issue...
Wow
I had no idea the problem was so extensive in the area. I mean its been around 30 years or so since I was a teenager engaging in sexual activity, but, I'm glad it was back then & not now! Education is the only cure for this. Teenagers are going to have sex, with or without the parent's consent. The parents need to confront this reality, & issue condoms to their children, & educate them on the consequences, if they are not used while practicing sexual activity.
My heart goes out to these
My heart goes out to these young ladies. Parents today do teach our children sex education,but as we all know peer pressure is out there and we can only hope that our children make wise decisions. If they are out there having sex that they have the common sense to wrap it. What looks good is not always good for you. I extend my services and help to young women in Hampton Roads at no cost. www.sophistication-magazine.com where our motto is "Always a lady"
NikkiM
Get a clue, public schools do not teach absitence only, they teach family life ed, where they practically pass out condoms so you will have safe sex.
parents
Where are the parents? It is their responsibility to teach their kids at a young age. It sickens me that most of these people are probably on medicaid sucking up my tax dollars on their treatment. These diseases along with other diseases created by poor choices by individuals (lung cancer from smokers, liver diseases from alcoholism) should be excluded from all insurance contracts. I should not have to pay for other people's mistakes when I take care of myself.
Abstinence only sex ed
Doesn't appear to be working either.
No further information needed.
The thought processes and comments from these girls answers all the questions I may have asked. DUH!