4400 Auburn Blvd., 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95841
(916) 929-9761

Last Modified: January 30, 2008

Birth Control Information
Youth Council
Calendar of Events
Quarterly Newsletters

• January 2007
  
• April 2007
  

Links
Teen Parenthood Testimonials
Statistics on Teen Pregnancy
Teen Births in CA
STD Glossary
Statistics on Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Descriptions
Article on Sexually Transmitted Diseases & Teens
Intimate Partner Violence
History of American Indian Youth Challenge Program
Staff Contact Information

Birth Control

What are the most common choices?

*This is not a complete list of possible side effects. For more information, ask your health care provider.

Information provided by Planned Parenthood Mar Monte,
www/ppmarmonte.org

Youth Council

The Youth Council was created in order to give youth leaders a voice in the American Indian Youth Challenge Program. At the beginning of this fiscal year, a letter was sent out to each of the Collaborators for the program, a request was made to them to nominate youth members who would be capable and willing to assist in the development of a Youth Council for this grant.

Based on the nomination forms, the Youth Council members were designated and work on various grant projects commenced. Youth Council Members have contributed to the following projects this year:
- Summer Volleyball Tournament
- Website Development
- Parent Handbook Development

Special thanks to each of the Youth Council Members! The input you have offered to the projects have proven invaluable.

Youth Council Bios and Photographs will be added in the coming months… Keep an eye out for updates on these up and coming American Indian Leaders!

Calendar Of Events

       (None at present)

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Quarterly Newsletters

• January 2007
  
• April 2007

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Links:

California SITD/HIV Prevention Training Center: http://www.stdhivtraining.org/cfm/resources.cfm#HealthEducation
National Native American AIDS Prevention Center: http://www.nnaapc.org/
Emergency Contraception Pills Article from Kaiser Foundation, February 2004:
     http://www.kff.org/womenshealth/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=31598
A Recent Article on Sexually Transmitted Diseases & Teens, By Mark Sherman, ASSOCIATED PRESS Posted on Tue, Mar. 09, 2004:
     http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/living/health/8140685.htm
www.cdc.gov/nccadphp/teens.htm
www.freeteens.org
www.teenpregnancy.org
www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
www.letsgetreal.org
www.noappp.org
www.teenline.org
www.ppeureka.com
www.aasa.org/nce/
www.nativeweb.org
www.responsibleparenting.org
www.dhs.ca.gov/pcfh/offices.htm

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Article on Sexually Transmitted Diseases & Teens

By Mark Sherman, ASSOCIATED PRESS Posted on Tue, Mar. 09, 2004
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/living/health/8140685.htm

 WASHINGTON - Teenagers and young adults account for nearly half the cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States though they make up just a quarter of the sexually active population, according to the first extensive national estimate of STDs among young Americans. Researchers at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 9.1 million cases of eight sexually transmitted diseases occurred in people aged 15 to 24 in the year 2000. There were 18.9 million new cases overall, said the report in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, a journal published by the not-for-profit Alan Guttmacher Institute.

Another article by CDC researchers that appears in the same journal, released last month, estimates the lifetime medical cost of those 9.1 million cases at $6.5 billion. "The overall cost burden of STDs is so great that even small reductions in incidence could lead to considerable reductions in treatment costs," the article said. Three diseases -- human papillomavirus (HPV), trichomoniasis and chlamydia -- accounted for 88 percent of new cases in 15- to 24-year-olds, the researchers said. Untreated, HPV can cause cervical cancer or genital warts. The health effects of trichomoniasis, a parasite, are not well-known. Chlamydia can lead to infertility.

Both studies said the lack of symptoms in these and other sexually transmitted diseases is a major obstacle to diagnosis and treatment. They called for increased screening for the diseases and other preventive measures, including notifying sex partners.

Other diseases included in the study were: gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, hepatitis B and HIV. A separate report on STDs said that only comprehensive sex education -- that teaches both abstinence and birth control -- will reduce their spread. While calling abstinence "the surest way to avoid STDs," the report said that improved sex education, including instruction on proper condom use, is essential.

"Most youth do not use condoms every time they have sex, and most have not been taught the correct way to use a condom," said the report by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina. The report was based on the work of a group of health experts and a separate youth panel. Other diseases included in the study were: gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, hepatitis B and HIV. A separate report on STDs said that only comprehensive sex education -- that teaches both abstinence and birth control -- will reduce their spread.

While calling abstinence "the surest way to avoid STDs," the report said that improved sex education, including instruction on proper condom use, is essential. "Most youth do not use condoms every time they have sex, and most have not been taught the correct way to use a condom," said the report by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina. The report was based on the work of a group of health experts and a separate youth panel.

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Intimate Partner Violence

Defining intimate partner violence- someone who is a current or former partner, married or non-married, cohabitating or non-cohabitating, same or opposite sex.

Intimate partner violence against Women: U.S. Prevalence

Annually Lifetime

• 1,500 -2,500 murderer - 7-25% have been sexually assaulted
• 200,000- 400,000 sexual assaulted - 5% have been stalked
• Over 500,000 stalked - 22-33% have been physically assaulted
• 1-4 million physical assaulted - 6-8% women assaulted during pregnancy

Sources: supplementary Homicide Report, 2000; Commonwealth Fund, 1993; National Crime Victimization Survey 2001; National Violence Against Women Survey, 1995-96; National Family Violence Survey, 1985; National Women’s Study, 1991; American Psychological Association, 1996.

Defining Our Terms: What Should We Call It?

• Domestic violence
• Spouse abuse
• Wife abuse
• Battering
• Family violence
• Intimate partner violence
• Gender-based violence

What counts as violence?

• Physical violence
• Sexual assault
• Psychological abuse
• Coercive, controlling behavior
• Stalking

Individual-

• Fatal and non-fatal injuries
• STIs
• Mental Health Problems
• Substance abuse
• Chronic pain
• Higher rates of health care utilization
• Lower perceived health status

Societal-

• Homelessness
• Decrease productivity
• Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence increases risk of kids becoming victims or perpetrators

Who Pays the price for Intimate Partner Violence:

• Human and societal service agencies
• Local system
• Health care system
• Social networks

Intimate Partner Violence in American Indian Communities

• 38% of AI women have experience Intimate Partner Violence
  • 31% physically assaulted
  • 16% raped
  • 10% stalked
• 75% of IPV against AI women is by non- AI partners

Intimate Partner Violence in American Indian Communities

American Indian women and men experience the highest rate of violent victimization rate of any racial/ethnic group in the United States AI women report “significantly higher” rates of IPV than women of other racial/ethnic backgrounds

American Indian women report rates of sexual assault that are 3.5 times higher than for women of the races/ethnicities.

Intimate Partner Violence “Risk Factors” for AI Women

• Alcohol Use
• Age: women 18-24 at highest risk
• Household receives government assistance
• Separated (compared to married)
• Incidence of witnessing abuse
• Historical trauma

Battered women’s voices:

“My husband would give me $20 a week to go grocery shopping and expect me to bring home a lot for $20, for me, him and our two children. Twenty dollars! And if I didn’t bring home what he expected me to bring home, then I might as well just lay and let it happen.”

“My husband burned the only picture of my mom. She died three years ago, and he burned the only picture I had of my mom. The only picture. Because, he knew. I mean, I had it in this pretty bow, pretty frame and everything. And he got it and burned it in front of me.”

“I needed somebody to make me see, and remove the blindfold from my eyes.”

Resources

• Native Healing Connection : (800) 600-5463
• Native American Circle
• IHS: Violence Against Native Women
• Family Violence Prevention Fund

If you or some one you know is experiencing Intimate Partner Violence, please contact the
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE at (866) 920-2952

Excerpt From HIS Tribal Injury Prevention Cooperative Agreements Program
2004 Workshop
Presentation June 18, 2004

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Teen Parenthood Testimonials

Teens Tell All about... The Reality of Being a Teen Parent

It's really, really hard. I've got to get up with him during the night, then get up early for school. My mother watches the baby during the day. But in the evening, I've got to do my homework, feed him, give him a bath, get him to sleep and get myself ready for the next day.

What troubles me is when another girl finds out that I have a daughter and she says "that is so neat." A car is neat, an outfit is neat, a baby is not. They take a lot of time and work. When you become a mom, you become responsible (physically, emotionally, and financially) for a child for the rest of your life. There are no weekends or summer vacations, the child will always be there. And no matter how good your relationship was before you became pregnant, the father will most likely have gone on his merry way. If I had been better informed, I would have never had sex in the first place, let alone a child.

Feeling insecure, lonely and frustrated.
Needing someone to love me.
So I look to him.
Thinking he can fill this emptiness inside of me.
Hoping he is the one.
How do I feel while lying under him?
Blinded by the love or the deep feelings I have for him.
Does he love me or even care about me?
Is what I ask myself while giving him a part of my soul, my temple.


Am I settling for less?
As I wait for him to show me some affection.
Once I realize how infatuated I am with him
And the fact that we are not looking for the same thing,
It is too late….
- Poem by a teen mother

I got pregnant at the age of 14 and had no clue what to do...people these days seem to talk of only two or three solutions to teen pregnancy, although most people forget another--adoption. It was the best, yet hardest decision of my life. I look at all I am doing now and think where I would be with a baby. I was not and will not be ready to take care of a baby for a few years...Plus, the most important thing to me is that my baby has two parents who love each other.

After the baby was born, I called the father and said, 'You have a son.' He was like, 'No I don't. You have a son."

Changing diapers, and feeding them, and taking baths, and playing with them. It's not like you can just say, 'Ok, I'm tired of being a father,' and just give up. That child's still here.

I realized she cried all the time. She had colic. Since I was so young when I got pregnant, all the nutrition went to my body, not hers.

I never thought--never in this life--that I would be a statistic.

My friend just became a mom. She has no time for anything else. She comes to school looking so tired and run down. She leaves at lunch to go feed her baby. Sure, babies are cute but they are so much work. I know that now and I am more careful about using protection when I have sex.

Get up, take her to school, go to work, pick her up, bathe her, feed her. Then it's just the same thing over again.

I got pregnant a month before my 17th birthday. My son's father and I got married five months ago and we're already separated. I live in an emergency shelter for teen moms. I raise my son alone. My son will be a year old next week. In his whole life, his father has only taken care of him by himself one time. He does not pay me child support...I have only been out once without him. The rest of the time he goes everywhere with me. I only get four hours of sleep at night. I have no money because I quit work to go back to school, and I'm not on public aid at the moment. I miss my friends. I don't see them anymore because they have their own lives. All I do is sit at home...I love my son more than anything in the world, but it would have been a lot better if this had happened when I was like 27 instead of 17.

You sometimes feel as tired when you get up in the morning as when you went to bed.

I reccommend kids just staying away from sex all together unless you like waking up in the middle of the night and early in the morning, spending all of your money on that child and not having a dollar to spend on yourself. Just because my parents and family help me does not mean yours will. Think about it next time you go to have sex- is it really worth the lifetime responsibility for the 5 minutes of pleasure? My daughter is the best thing that ever happened to me but I really wish I would have waited. So don't make the same mistake I did. Please use abstinence as your birth control method.

People talk about welfare, getting money. You can't get support. It's going to get cut off.

I am 15 years of age. I am 5 months pregnant with my 2nd child. My boyfriend is 17 years of age and has been behind me all the way. Even though I love my son and un-born child, I've missed out on a lot of TEENAGE things like dances, parties, or just having fun. I have 3 jobs now, and spend most of my money on food, diapers, and child needs. To all teens thinking about having sex, don't make the same mistake I did. It takes a lot of time and a lot of hard work.

I could've been a cheerleader. I could've been in pageants and homecoming queen. But I lost all of that.

Another thing that is so hard is not being able to go out with my friends as much as I would like to. Once a week just doesn't seem to cut it. I absolutely hate hearing everyone talk about that great party on the weekend or how they are going out of town over spring break. It just seems that I am missing out on all my childhood years, all the memories of being a teenager. When my daughter grows up and asks me what I did when I was a teen all I will be able to say is 'I changed your diapers and prepared your formula.' I really wish I could go back and do things differently. I am sick of the constant worrying about how we are ever going to live once we move out of my mother's house.

You can say it's not going to happen to you and keep on doing what you're doing. But I said the same thing.

I don't want someone else to go through what I'm going through. I was 17 when I got pregnant. When I was 13, I was staying out until 3 am. I was going to parties. I was having sex, I thought I couldn't get pregnant.... On the same day my boyfriend broke up with me, I found out I was pregnant.... My son is going without a lot of things he'd have if he had two parents. You need a family. You need to be stable. I'm alone except for my baby.

I was there from the time my friend got pregnant and the time she gave birth, and it just gave me a real clear understanding of what happens and how it can mess things up and how your life won't be the same afterwards.

I don't get to do things normal high school kids get to do. At 5:30 am, I get up, get ready for school. At 6:30 am, I wake up my daughter and leave the house at 7:00 am. Around 9:00 pm, I put her to bed. And the next day it's the same again. (teen father)

I always say I feel like I'm 40 years old. I missed out on my whole childhood. That's it.

You have so much to do. I mean, they puke and they poop--you have to clean all that.
I didn't think it would be that much screaming. Or that he'd need that many diaper changes.

[Excerpts from a letter] At age sixteen, I became pregnant. Before my pregnancy, I was a cheerleader and involved with many school clubs. I had many friends and was enjoying my teenage years. I now ask myself, "What happened to me? Where did I go wrong?" Why was I now standing in line at the welfare office waiting for food stamps? Maybe because I was involved with a guy who was three years older than myself. My parents had forbid me to stay in the abusive relationship. My answer to stay with this guy was to become pregnant. I will never forget the tears that my mother shed when my step-father told her the news. That night, I left my home, my teenage years, and never went back...[A while later,] I finally reached the lowest point in my life. There I was lying in a bed at a shelter for battered women. In the past, I would always leave the relationship [with the baby's father], but always return. That same night, I prayed for the strength and courage to get myself back on my feet. That was also the night that I left him and never went back. Even though my life seems to be going well now, there are emotional scars that I will carry with me each and every day of my life. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about my past mistakes. This letter is not in any way intended to prove how teen mothers can succeed, but rather to prove how one mistake can change the rest of your life! Enjoy your teen years! I never went to my prom; I never got to cheer at homecoming; I never went on my senior cruise; I never went off to college. These things I will never have the opportunity to do again, but you will. Please, think twice before changing the rest of your life!

©2002, The National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036.
telephone: (202) 478-8500. fax: (202) 478-8588. email: campaign@teenpregnancy.org

Statistics on Teen Pregnancy

How many teen girls in the U.S. get pregnant each year?

Nearly one million teen girls get pregnant each year. Nearly four out of 10 young women get pregnant at least once before they turn 20.1 Each year the federal government alone spends about $40 billion to help families that began with a teenage birth.2

But aren't the teen pregnancy and birth rates declining?

Yes, but they are still too high. The overall U.S. teenage pregnancy rate declined 19 percent in 1997 from its all time high in 1991 (the most recent year available), from 117 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19 to 94.3 per 1,000.3 The national teen birth rate declined 5 percent between 1998 and 2000, reaching a rate of 48.5 births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 - the lowest rate ever recorded. Since 1991, the teen birth rate has declined 22 percent.4

Does the U.S. have a higher teen pregnancy rate than other countries?

Yes, by a long shot. Although rates here are declining, the U.S. has the highest rates of teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion in the industrialized world. In fact, the U.S. teen pregnancy and birth rates are nearly double Canada's, at least four times those of France and Germany, and more than eight times that of Japan.5

Isn't everyone having sex?

No. Fewer than one-half of high-school students have had sex.6

So, does that mean more kids think it's "cool" to be a virgin?

Teens are showing signs of being more conservative sexually. Close to six in ten teens (58 percent) surveyed recently said sexual activity for high school-age teens is not acceptable, even if precautions are taken against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.7 In fact, the vast majority of teens (87 percent) surveyed said they do not think it is embarrassing for teens to admit they are virgins.8

Do teens have a general opinion about whether their peers should be sexually active?

In a recent poll, nearly eight of ten teens surveyed (78 percent) agreed that teens should not be sexually active. However, the majority of teens (54 percent) said teens who are sexually active should have access to birth control.9

Are younger teen girls more sexually active than they used to be?

While teen sexual activity is down among most teens, it has risen among girls younger than 15.10 In 1995 (the most recent year for which data is available) almost one-fifth (19 percent) of teen girls reported they had sex before age 15.11 And, the younger teen girls are when they first have sex, the more likely they are to report that sex was unwanted or non-voluntary.12

Are teen guys more sexually active than they were in the past?

The percentage of unmarried teen guys aged 17-19 that reported having sex dropped from 75.5 percent in 1988 to 68.2 percent in 1995.13

Do teens who have had sex wish they had waited?

Most do. In a recent poll, 63 percent of teens who have had sexual intercourse said they wish they had waited. More than one-half of teen boys (55 percent) and nearly three of four teen girls (72 percent) surveyed said they wish they had waited longer to have sex.14 Sixty-four percent of teens also said the advice they'd give a younger sibling or friend would be: "Don't have sex until you're at least out of high school, but, if you do, be sure to protect yourself against pregnancy and STDs."15

Can you get pregnant if you use birth control?

Yes. Even if used perfectly, all methods of birth control have a failure rate, ranging from 0.05 percent for Norplant to 9 percent for the sponge and calendar rhythm.16 The only way to make 100-percent sure that you won't get pregnant or get someone pregnant is to not have sex. The next best thing is to use birth control correctly every time you have sex. Many sexually-active teens don't use protection at all or use it inconsistently or incorrectly.

Are sexually active teens using birth control?

More teens are now using contraception the first time they have sex, but are less likely than in previous years to use contraception the most recent time they've had sex.17 Moreover, thirty-one percent of girls were completely unprotected the last time they had sex, and one-third of sexually active teens who do use contraception use it inconsistently.18

Why don't teens use birth control every time?

In a recent poll, teen boys (49.3 percent) and teen girls (54.2 percent) agree that pressure from their partners is one of the main reasons teens fail to use birth control.19 Alcohol and drugs can also play a role. Many young women say that they used alcohol - or were even drunk - when they first had sex. And many of these same young women say that they were so drunk that they were unable to use birth control (especially condoms) properly at the time. In one study of unplanned pregnancies in 14-21 year olds, 1/3 of the girls who had gotten pregnant had been drinking when they had sex; 91% of them reported that the sex was unplanned.20

You can't get pregnant the first time, right?

Wrong. Teen girls can get pregnant the first time they have sex, and every time after that. A couple that doesn't use birth control has an 85 percent chance of pregnancy within one year.21

Do most teens who choose to raise the child get married when they find out they're pregnant?

In 1960, only 15 percent of teen births were to unmarried teens.22 In 2000, 79 percent of teen births were to unmarried teens.23

Aren't there a lot of teen girls who want to get pregnant?

The majority of pregnancies to 15- to 19-year-olds - 78 percent - are not planned.24

Do the teen girls who get pregnant keep their babies?

Just over one-half of all pregnancies to teens aged 19 or younger end in births.25 Thirty percent of teen pregnancies end in abortion and 14 percent end in miscarriage.26 Of those teens that give birth, most keep their children. According to a 1995 survey, only 1 percent of all single women choose adoption.27

What happens to teen mothers?

Less than one-third of teen mothers complete high school.28 Many teen mothers go on to have more children - about one-fourth of teen mothers have a second child within 24 months of the first birth.29 A 1990 study shows that almost one-third of all teen mothers and one-half of unmarried teen mothers go on welfare within the first year of the birth of their first child. Within five years after the birth of their first child, almost one-half of all teen mothers and over three-quarters of unmarried teen mothers began receiving welfare.30

What happens to the children of teen moms?

Children of teen mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and at low birth weight, which raises the chances of blindness, deafness, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities.31 Children of teen mothers are 50 percent more likely to repeat a grade. They also perform much worse on standardized tests and ultimately they are less likely to complete high school than children of mothers who waited to have a baby.32 The daughters of teen mothers are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers themselves. The sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison.30

Who are the fathers, and where are they now?

Nearly 40 percent of the fathers of children born to teen mothers are age 20 or older. Only 20 percent of the fathers marry the teen mothers of their first children. On average, the remaining 80 percent pay less than $800 annually for child support.34

Where can I find out about teen pregnancy rates in my state?

Check out this link: www.teenpregnancy.org/america/states/
You'll find all kinds of interesting information about your state, including teen pregnancy and birth rates, changes in pregnancy and birth rates over the past several years, and racial and ethnic breakdowns of the numbers.

Facts & Statistics - Endnotes

Teen Pregnancy in California

How many teens get pregnant in California each year?

What is California's teen pregnancy rate?

*Rank of 1 = lowest rate

How have California's teen pregnancy rates changed in recent years?

*Rank of 1 = lowest rate

Teen Births in California
How many teens give birth in California a year?

How does the number of teen births in California vary among different racial/ethnic groups?

What is California's teen birth rate?

*Rank of 1 = lowest rate

How do California's teen birth rates vary among different racial/ethnic groups?

What percentage of teen births in California are to unmarried teens?

*Rank of 1 = smallest percentage

What percentage of teen births in California are to teens who have already had a birth?

*Rank of 1 = smallest percentage

How have California's teen birth rates changed in recent years?

*Rank of 1 = largest decrease

How have California's teen birth rates for racial/ethnic subgroups changed in recent years?

*Rank of 1 = largest decrease

Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Use Among California's Public High School Students

Information on sexual activity and contraceptive use among California students is not available. Although California has participated recently in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (the source of this information), the survey response rate was too low to calculate reliable statistics.

For More Information on Your State:

Governor's Office Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 915-445-4633
Web: http://gov.ca.gov/
State Legislative Office Web: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov
Office of Maternal and Child Health Phone: 916-657-1347
Fax: 916-657-3069
Office of Adolescent Health Phone: 916-657-1332
Fax: 916-657-3069
California Alliance Concerned with School Age Parenting and Prevention Phone: 916-657-5488
Web: http://www.cacsap.org
E-mail: jweber@cde.ca.gov
California Department of Health Services
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Efforts Phone: 916-657-0769
Web: http://www.responsibleparenting.org
or
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/pcfh/offices.htm



Notes

The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (1999). Teenage pregnancy: Overall trends and state-by-state information. New York, NY: Author.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2000). National and state-specific pregnancy rates among adolescents - United States, 1995-1997. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 49(27), 605-611.

Henshaw, S.K. (1997). Teenage abortion and pregnancy statistics by state, 1992. Family Planning Perspectives 29(3), 115-122.

For certain statistics, data are not available for all states, usually because there were too few births/pregnancies or the population is too small to calculate a rate. This problem affects:

• pregnancy rates for girls 14 and younger (44 states have data available),
• changes in pregnancy rates for girls 14 and younger (40 states have data available),
• birth rates for African American, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latina teens (41, 23, 35, and 42 states have data available, respectively),
• changes in birth rates for non-Hispanic White, African American, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic/Latina teens (49, 39, 17, 31 and 37 states have data available, respectively), and the percent of teen births that are out-of-wedlock for African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, and Hispanic/Latina teens (42, 40, 42, and 47 states have data available, respectively).

©2002, The National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036.
telephone: (202) 478-8500. fax: (202) 478-8588. email: campaign@teenpregnancy.org

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STD Glossary

AIDS and HIV Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, is a virus that attacks the immune system resulting in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS.

Chancroid A treatable bacterial infection that causes painful sores.

Chlamydia A treatable bacterial infection that can scar the fallopian tubes affecting a woman's ability to have children.

Crabs Also known as pediculosis pubis, crabs are parasites or bugs that live on the pubic hair in the genital area.

Gonorrhea A treatable bacterial infection of the penis, vagina or anus that causes pain, or burning feeling as well as a pus-like discharge. Also known as "the clap".

Hepatitis A disease that affects the liver. There are more than four types. A and B are the most common.

Herpes Genital herpes is a recurrent skin condition that can cause skin irritations in the genital region (anus, vagina, penis).

Human Papillomavirus / Genital Warts Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that affects the skin in the genital area, as well as a female's cervix. Depending on the type of HPV involved, symptoms can be in the form of wart-like growths, or abnormal cell changes.

Molluscum Contagiosum Molluscum Contagiosum is a skin disease that is caused by a virus, usually causing lesions or bumps.

Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU) Nongonococcal urethritis (or NGU) is a treatable bacterial infection of the urethra (the tube within the penis) often times associated with chlamydia.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease An infection of the female reproductive organs by chlamydia, gonorrhea or other bacteria. Also known as PID.

Scabies Scabies is a treatable skin disease that is caused by a parasite.

Syphilis A treatable bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body and affect the heart, brain, nerves. Also known as "syph".

Vaginitis
Caused by different germs including yeast and trichomoniasis, vaginitis is an infection of the vagina resulting in itching, burning, vaginal discharge and an odd odor.

STD Statistics

One in five people in the United States has an STD.

Two-thirds of all STDs occur in people 25 years of age or younger.

One in four new STD infections occur in teenagers.

Cervical cancer in women is linked to HPV

Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV

STDs, other than HIV, cost about $8 billion each year to diagnose and treat

ASHA is a trusted partner with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and operates the national AIDS, STD and Immunization Hotlines

One in five Americans have genital herpes, yet at least 80 percent of those with herpes are unaware they have it

At least one in four Americans will contract an STD at some point in their lives.

HPV is the most common STD in the United States. More than 5 million people are infected with HPV each year.

Less than half of adults ages 18 to 44 have ever been tested for an STD other than HIV / AIDS.

At least 15 percent of all infertile American women are infertile because of tubal damage caused by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), the result of an untreated STD.

Two-thirds of Hepatitis B (HBV) infections are transmitted sexually, HBV is linked to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Descriptions

Chlamydia

Type: Bacterial
Modes of Transmission: Vaginal and anal sex.
Symptoms: Up to 75% of cases in women and 25% of cases in men are asymptomatic. Symptoms may include abnormal genital discharge, and burning during urination in both men and women. Women may also experience lower abdominal pain or pain during intercourse, and men may experience swelling or pain in the testicles.
Treatment: Infection can be cured with antibiotics. However, it cannot undo the damage done prior to treatment.
Possible Consequences for the Infected Person: If untreated in women, up to 30% will experience pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which in turn often leads to ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. In men, if untreated, chlamydia can cause epididymitis, an inflammation of a testicle (where sperm are stored), which may result in sterility. Infected individuals are at greater risk of contracting HIV if exposed to the virus.
Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: Premature birth; infant pneumonia and neonatal eye infections may result from transmission of the disease during delivery.
Prevention: Abstaining from vaginal and anal sex with an infected person is the only 100% effective means of prevention. Latex condoms can reduce but not eliminate the risk of contracting the disease.

Gonorrhea

Type: Bacterial
Modes of Transmission: Vaginal, anal or oral sex.
Symptoms: Though some cases may be asymptomatic, when symptoms do appear, they are often mild and usually appear within 2-10 days after exposure. The symptoms include discharge from the penis, vagina, or rectum and burning or itching during urination.
Treatment: Infection can be cured with antibiotics. However, it cannot undo the damage done prior to treatment.
Possible Consequences for the Infected Person: Untreated in women, the disease is a major cause of pelvic inflammatory disease. Ectopic pregnancy, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to ectopic pregnancy, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. It can cause sterility in men. Untreated gonorrhea can infect the joints, heart valves and/or the brain.
Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: Gonorrhea can cause blindness and systemic diseases such as meningitis and septic arthritis in infants infected during delivery. To prevent blindness, all newborns delivered in hospitals have their eves treated with medication specific for gonorrhea.
Prevention: Abstaining from vaginal, anal and oral sex with an infected person is the only 100% effective means of prevention. Latex condoms can reduce but not eliminate the risk of contracting the disease during sex.

Hepatitis B (HBV)

Type: Viral
Mode of Transmission: Vaginal, oral and especially anal sex; sharing contaminated drug needles; piercing the skin with contaminated instruments such as those used in dental and medical procedures; and receiving contaminated blood or blood products through transfusions.
Symptoms: About one-third of people with HBV are asymptomatic. When symptoms are present they include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms of liver involvement include dark urine, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
Treatment: There is no known cure. Most infections clear up by themselves within 4-8 weeks. Some individuals become chronically infected.
Possible Consequences for the Infected Person: For those individuals who are chronically infected, the disease can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and immune system disorders.
Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: Pregnant women can transmit the disease to their unborn children. Some 90% of infants infected at birth become chronic carriers and are at risk of liver disease and liver cancer. They are also capable of transmitting the virus. Infants of infected mothers can be given immunoglobulin and vaccinated at birth, potentially eliminating the risk of chronic infection.
Prevention: Abstaining from sex with an infected person, especially anal sex, where body fluids, blood, semen or vaginal secretions are likely to be exchanged, is the only 100% effective means of preventing the sexual transmission of Hepatitis B. Latex condoms can reduce but not eliminate the risk of contracting the disease during sex. Avoid illicit IV drug use and sharing drug needles. Discuss with health care providers precautions that are taken to avoid transmission of Hepatitis B, especially when receiving blood products or blood transfusions. A vaccine is available and is recommended for those at risk of contracting Hepatitis B. Additionally, the vaccine has been added to the routine pediatric immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Genital Herpes (HSV-2)

Type: Viral
Modes of Transmission: Herpes is spread by direct sexual skin-to-skin contact with the infected site during vaginal, anal or oral sex. Another strain of the virus, Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV-1) is most commonly spread by nonsexual contact and usually causes sores on the lips. However, HSV-1 can also be transmitted through oral sex and can cause genital infections.
Symptoms: Symptoms are often very mild and may include an itching or burning sensation; pain in the legs, buttocks or genital area; or vaginal discharge. Blisters or painful open sores may appear, usually in the genital area, buttocks, anus, and thighs, although they can erupt anywhere. Sores heal after several weeks but may recur.
Treatment: There is no known cure. An anti-viral drug is usually effective in reducing the frequency and duration of HSV-2 outbreaks.
Possible Consequences for the Infected Person: An infected person with sores present has an increased risk that exposure to HIV will lead to infection because the sores provide an entry point for the AIDS virus.
Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: Women who develop a first episode of genital herpes curing pregnancy may be at higher risk for premature delivery. Outbreaks present during labor usually indicate the need for a cesarean delivery because infection passed to the newborn during childbirth may result in possible death or serious brain damage.
Prevention: Abstaining from vaginal, anal and oral sex with an infected person is the only 100% effective means of preventing the sexual transmission of genital herpes. Latex condoms can reduce but not eliminate the risk of contracting the disease during sex. However, it is still possible to contract genital herpes, even though using a condom, via sores in the genital area.
More Information: Click here for frequently asked questions about herpes and the latest developments in diagnosis.

HIV/AIDS

Type: Viral
Modes of Transmission: Vaginal, oral and especially anal sex; infected blood or blood products; sharing drug needles with an infected person; and from infected mother to infant in utero, during birth, or while breastfeeding.
Symptoms: Some people experience no symptoms when first infected. Others have flu-like symptoms including fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue and enlarged lymph nodes. The symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month, and the virus can remain dormant for years. However, it continues to weaken the immune system, leaving the individual increasingly unable to fight opportunistic infections.
Treatment: There is no known cure. Antiviral drugs are used to prolong the life and health of the infected person. other treatments are used to combat opportunistic infections.
Possible Consequences for the Infected Person: Virtually everyone who becomes infected with HIV will eventually develop AIDS and die of AIDS-related complications.
Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: 20-30% of infants born to infected mothers are HIV infected and develop symptoms of AIDS within one year after birth. Of these babies, 20% die by the time they are 18 months old. Antiviral drugs given during pregnancy can greatly reduce the risk to the fetus of contracting HIV. See Prenatal Risk Assessment: AIDS for more information about AIDS and pregnancy.
Prevention: Abstaining from sex with an infected person, especially anal sex, where body fluids, blood, semen or vaginal secretions are likely to be exchanged, is the only 100% effective means of preventing the sexual transmission of HIV. Latex condoms can reduce but not eliminate the risk of contracting the disease during sex. Avoid illicit IV drug use and sharing drug needles. Discuss with health care providers precautions that are taken to avoid transmission of HIV, especially when receiving blood products or blood transfusion.

A kiss is just a kiss..?

Even kissing can be a source of infection. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, "Open-mouth kissing is considered a very low-risk activity for the transmission of HIV. However, prolonged open-mouth kissing could damage the mouth or lips and allow HIV to pass from an infected person to a partner and then enter the body through cuts or sores in the mouth. Because of this possible risk, the CDC recommends against open-mouth kissing with an infected partner. One case suggests that a woman became infected with HIV from her sex partner through exposure to contaminated blood during open-mouth kissing. The July 11, 1997, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report contains an article on this case". Source: Centers for Disease Control (more info.)

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Type: Viral
Modes of Transmission: Vaginal, anal or oral sex.
Symptoms: Painless fleshy, cauliflower-like warts develop on and inside the genitals, anus and throat.
Treatment: There is no known cure. Warts can be suppressed by chemicals, freezing, laser therapy and surgery.
Possible Consequences for the Infected Person: HPV is the virus that causes genital warts. The some strains of the virus are strongly associated with cervical cancer as well as cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis and anus. In fact, HPV is the cause of more than 90 percent of all cervical cancer, which kills about 5,000 American women every year.
Possible Co
nsequences for the Fetus and Newborn: Infants exposed to the virus in the birth canal can develop warts in the throat which can obstruct the airway and must be removed.
Prevention: Abstaining from vaginal, anal and oral sex with an infected person is the only 100% effective means of prevention. Condoms provide almost no protection against contracting the disease during sex.

Syphilis

Type: Bacterial
Modes of Transmission: The most common way of contracting the disease is through vaginal, anal or oral sex. However, it can be spread by non-sexual contact if the sores (chancres) rashes or mucous patches caused by syphilis come in contact with the broken skin of a non-infected individual.
Symptoms: In the initial phase, the disease produces painless sores or "chancres" that usually appear on the genitals but can appear anywhere on the body, If untreated, the disease progresses to other stages of infection which include a rash, fever sore throat, hair loss and swollen glands throughout the body.
Treatment: The disease can be cured with penicillin; however, damage done to body organs cannot be reversed.
Possible Consequences for the Infected Person: If untreated, syphilis may cause serious damage to the heart, brain, eyes, nervous system, bones and joints and can lead to death. A person with active syphilis has an increased risk that exposure to HIV will lead to infection because the sores (chancres) provide an entry point for the AIDS virus.
Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: If untreated, a pregnant woman will usually transmit the disease to the fetus. Stillbirth and death within the neonatal period occur in 25% of these cases. 40-70% deliver an infant with active syphilis. If undetected, damage may occur to the infant's heart, brain and eyes.
Prevention: Abstaining from vaginal, anal and oral sex with an infected person is the only 100% effective means of preventing the sexual transmission of syphilis. Latex condoms can reduce but not eliminate the risk of contracting the disease during sex. However, it is still possible to contract syphilis, even though using a condom, via sores in the genital area. It is also important to avoid non-sexual physical contact with the infectious sores (chancres), rashes or mucous patches caused by syphilis.

Trichomoniasis

Type: Bacterial. It is caused by a protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis.
Prevalence: Trichomoniasis is the most common curable STD in young, sexually active women. An estimated 5 million new cases occur each year in women and men.
Modes of Transmission: Trichomoniasis is spread through sexual contact. Trichomania can also survive on infected objects such as washcloths, and could possibly be transmitted by sharing those objects.
Symptoms: Excessive, foamy diffuse, yellow-green vaginal discharge is common in women. Difficultly or pain on urination and/or intercourse is common. There may be vaginal pain and itching or there may be no symptoms at all. Men may experience inflammation of the urethra, glans, or foreskin, and/or lesions on the penis, but most infected men have no symptoms.
Treatment: The disease can be cured with antibacterial medication. Sex partners should also be treated.
Possible Consequences for the Infected Person: The genital inflammation caused by trichomoniasis might also increase a woman's risk of acquiring HIV infection if she is exposed to HIV. Trichomoniasis in a woman who is also infected with HIV can increase the chances of transmitting HIV infection to a sex partner.
Possible Consequences for the Fetus and Newborn: Trichomoniasis in pregnant women may cause premature rupture of the membranes and preterm delivery.
Prevention: Abstaining from vaginal sex with an infected person is the only 100% effective means of preventing the sexual transmission of trichomoniasis. Latex condoms and other similar barrier devices can reduce but not eliminate the risk of contracting the disease during sex. Avoid sharing towels and washcloths with others to prevent non-sexual transmission of the disease.

Other reproductive tract infections not discussed here:

• Bacterial Vaginosis - Causes pain during urination, and untreated can result in kidney failure.
• Candidiasis - Candidiasis, or yeast infection, is not a true STD but can be contracted sexually, causing burning, itching and discomfort. It is treatable with over-the-counter medication, although it is commonly recurrent. More.
• Chancroid - A large, painful blister or ulcer which appears in genital area; may rupture.
• Granuloma Inguinale - Causes painless ulcers which enlarge and easily bleed.
• Lymphogranuloma Venereum - Rare in the United States; causes lesions, aching and abscesses in the groin.
• Molluscum Contagiosum - This virus causes smooth, shiny lesions, which must be individually removed by a doctor.
• Mucopurulent Cervicitis (MPC) - Causes discharge from the cervix, can result in PID or miscarriage in pregnant women.
• Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU) - Afflicts men and causes urinary problems, can be caused by chlamydia.
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - Can be caused by a number of bacteria, transmitted sexually or through other means. Can result in pain, infertility, and even death. More.

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adriana.kimbriel@crihb.net

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