SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
Adolescents (ages 15-19) and young adults (ages 20-24) are at
much higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
than are older adults. Within these age groups, reported rates of
chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are significantly higher among
non-Hispanic Black youth than youth of all other reported racial/ethnic
categories. Rates of STDs among Hispanic adolescents and young adults
are about twice those of non-Hispanic Whites.
Chlamydia continues to be the most common STD in adolescents and
young adults, with a rate of 1,488 cases per 100,000 adolescents
and 1,619 per 100,000 young adults. Gonorrhea followed in prevalence
with an overall rate of 476 cases per 100,000 adolescents and 593
cases per 100,000 young adults. Syphilis is less common among young
people, with only 1.7 cases per 100,000 adolescents and 4.4 cases
per 100,000 young adults in 2002. For each of these diseases, rates
are slightly higher among 20- to 24-year-olds than among adolescents.
Although these conditions are treatable with antibiotics, STDs
can have serious health consequences. Active infections can increase
the likelihood of contracting HIV and untreated STDs can lead to
pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in women.