The New Teen Age

Scary statistics...great blog. It's about time our sex education approach actually becomes about education and not about denial and wishful thinking. Teens are having sex and have always had sex and will always have sex. If we at least let them know the risks and how to take care of their body should they contract something instead of creating a sense of shame with scare tactics surrounding STIs, we might start to see better results...they can't get much worse!

An honest poll about the average age that people who push abstinance only lost their virginity would be interesting...i bet it would make most people look like hypocrites!

What should be said is that STDs are normal for adults too. If you are not always with the same partner, then whatever the age you are, the chances of getting an STD are in fact pretty high. Even if you protect yourself. There is NO shame in that.

If we were a little bit more honest as adults, then maybe teens would be too. At least, preach by example! After all...monkey see, monkey do.

After trying several sites myself, I just wanted to say that anything is possible, like finding the love of your life on MeSTD.COM which is exclusively for sinlges living with STD!

Of course the rise of STD's is the fault of "hypocrites" encouraging abstinence. Great logic. Hypocrite, hypocrite hypocrite...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

It is common to blame the whole "why do girls have more std's" thing on the premise that girls get STD's easier.

But in fact there are a just few boys/men who are very promiscuous because females find them attractive and therefore they get laid a lot.

In other words 80% of women are having sex with 20% of men.

Thank you so much for this article. I contracted herpes 3 years ago and it has greatly effected my body-image and sexual confidence, largely as a result of the education I had surrounding STIs and the stigma attached to them. I hope that people like you can mark the path to a better way to teach people about sexual health.

I think this is a good article, and it's true that most STDs are not that serious, but there will always be at least some stigma surrounding STDs for the simple reason that people who disclose having an STD to potential partners will have less sex than those who deny it. Since everyone wants to have sex, there is a clear disincentive to letting people know you have an STD. Disclosing after sex is even worse, as it would leave the partner feeling used and betrayed.

Therefore, the stigma will persist because nobody wants to risk diminishing their chances of sex, and few people want to risk harming someone (physically or emotionally) that they care enough about to engage in sex with.

I really don't think STD's should bring up so much shame. I think that readers of the article may also find this article about accepting that you have an STD just as illuminating.