California Family Health Council, Inc.

The young women in the study were tested for chlamydia, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, and 25 types of human papillomavirus (HPV), including 23 high-risk types and low-risk types 6 and 11.

Of the 838 young women interviewed, 404 reported that they have had sex. The prevalence of STIs among the entire study group was 26 percent -- that is, 1 out of 4 teenage girls had an STI. The most prevalent STI was HPV (18%), followed by chlamydia (4%), trichomonas (3%), and genital herpes (2%).

Among those reporting having had sex, nearly 40 percent had an STI. Among black teens interviewed, 48 percent had an STI, compared to 20 percent of white and Mexican-American teens. The study also showed that the longer the teens had been sexually active, the higher the prevalence of STIs. But even among those teens relatively close to their sexual debut, and with a single partner, the prevalence of STIs was still 20 percent. There were STIs even among those who reported never having had sex, suggesting that teens may have a narrow interpretation of what “having sex” means and that teens are exposed to STIs in ways other than vaginal intercourse.

In response to this study, the CDC emphasizes the importance of annual chlamydia screening for sexually active women age 25 or younger. The CDC also recommends that girls and women between the ages of 11 and 26 who have not been vaccinated or who have not completed the full series of shots be fully vaccinated against HPV. These are two important ways providers can help young women prevent the dangerous sequelae of these infections which include infertility and cervical cancer.

Click here to read more about this study.

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