The New York Times article about this study can be found at this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/science/12std.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin
In short, what the study says, is that using randomized data they discovered that the likely rate of STD infection among teenaged girls is one out of four. The numbers are slightly higher for economically challenged girls, versus upper class girls, and also are skewed slightly according to ethnicity, with girls of color having higher rates of infection than caucasian girls.

Some bloggers, like a friend of mine (http://womensbioethics.blogspot.com/2008/03/quarter-of-teenage-girls-test-positive.html), take these numbers, paired with the teen birth rate, which is rising for the first time since the 1990s, as a demonstration of the failure of the Abstinence Only Education of which the current administration is so fond. And I have to say that I agree with her. Most of those programs do not teach young women how to protect themselves from pregnancy, let alone sexually transmitted diseases, and in many cases disseminate false information on the efficacy of condoms and other birth control methods. Not to mention the emphasis placed by most of these programs on making young women the gatekeepers of chastity, in essence making them solely responsible for the sexual responses of the boys with whom they interact.

Maybe you are a teenage girl, maybe you are the parent of a teenage girl. What does this study mean to you, then? Well, it means that we need to do a far better job of teaching young women to protect themselves from disease for one.

How can you protect yourself? The first thing I am going to tell you may seem surprising coming from me of all people, but the Abstinence Only crowd are right in one respect: The only way to be one hundred percent sure that you don't get pregnant or catch something is to remain abstinent.

Ok, now here's where I part ways with the Abstinence Only crowd, because I am realistic enough to know that "Just Say No" is about as effective for sex as it is for drugs. Now, I will caution you to be sure that you don't let anyone pressure you into sex before you are ready and very sure that sex is what you want. If you're sure you want to have sex with someone, then make sure they wear a condom. In spite of what the Abstinence Only crowd will tell you, condoms are highly effective in preventing the spread of STDs. I am living proof of this, as I spent several years exploring my sexuality with a variety of partners and have never, in the words of a dear friend, "caught anything I couldn't throw back."

Make sure that the condom is applied correctly. Here is just one of many sites with directions on how to correctly put on a condom: http://www.feelconfident.co.uk/condoms/how_to_put_on_a_condom.htm
Really all you need to do is Google the phrase "how to put on a condom" and you will find videos as well.

Does using condoms make you a slut? Absolutely not. Using condoms demonstrates respect for yourself and your body. If you are mature enough to decide that you want to have sex, you are also mature enough to protect yourself accordingly. And I will tell you right now, that anyone who would tell you that using or having condoms makes you a slut is NOT worth having sex with. I mean it. If they can't respect your need to respect and protect yourself, they probably aren't going to respect you enough to make sure that you enjoy the experience as well, or to not brag about it to their buddies. I cannot stress that enough.

Also, get vaccinated against HPV (the Human Papillomavirus or Genital Warts. See the CDC's website http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm) as soon as you are able. Many states are legislating to have this added to the standard immunizations given to children. There is talk of making the vaccination widely available to older, HPV negative women as well. Hopefully they will soon make the vaccine available to boys, too. Yes, I know men can't get cervical cancer, but if it causes cancer in one gender what is it doing to the other? And men deserve to be protected as well.

To protect yourself from STDs, the keys are to only have sex when you're ready, use condoms correctly, and avail yourself of the HPV vaccine. It is normal to be nervous before you have sex with someone for the first time, regardless of whether it IS your first time, however, if they are trying to coerce or force you, or if you really feel sick to your stomach, then you probably shouldn't be having sex with them. Condoms are highly effective in reducing the spread of STDs, however only if you use them EVERY TIME. Repeat after me, "No glove, no love." I'm serious. What's more embarassing, buying a condom or having to tell all of your future sex partners you have HPV, Herpes, or HIV? And get vaccinated against HPV.

This isn't about telling girls to go out and screw people indiscriminately, this about telling girls who are going to experiment with sex anyway, how to protect themselves.



The King County Health Department site on Condom Efficacy: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/std/condomefficacy.htm

Keep an eye out for the first Valerie Strangiato podcast. I'm still editing, but it was a blast to record and I hope it will be as fun to listen to.

-Valerie