STD

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infectious diseases transmitted through sexual contact. Fifty percent of new STDs occur in people in the age range of 15 to 24 years.

Numerous STDs have been identified.  According to the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the CDC, common types of STDs include:

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- HIV, the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency symptoms (AIDS), destroys the body's ability to fight off infection. It is spread by unprotected sex with an infected person, as well as through contact with infected blood or contaminated needles. People with advanced HIV infection are very susceptible to many life-threatening diseases and to certain forms of cancer.

Syphilis- The initial symptom of syphilis is a painless open sore that usually appears on the penis, in the vagina, or around either sexual organ. Untreated syphilis may go on to more advanced stages, including a transient rash and, eventually, serious involvement of the heart and central nervous system. Syphilis infections can be treated with antibiotic therapy.

The best way to prevent your son or daughter from contracting an STD is to advise them to abstain from any type of sexual contact with another person. However, if they decide to become sexually active, or are currently sexually active, there are several precautionary measures to follow, recommended by experts, to help reduce your adolescent's risk of developing a sexually transmitted disease.