Gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, crabs, genital warts, AIDS...

Sound familiar? Maybe you learned about it in health class, but many teens do not know enough about these diseases before they start engaging in sexual activity.

Every year three million teens contract a sexually transmitted disease, which accounts for about one in four sexually active teens. “Sometimes having sex makes [teens] feel more grown up,” says Nurse Practitioner Randy Epstein, “but it may be inviting problems that can change your life forever.”

Says School and Community Health Nurse Karen Mills, “There are people who don’t think about consequences.” Many times alcohol and drugs can play a role, but in a lot of cases teens are unaware of or ignore the necessary precautions.

One main reason that STDs have become a more pronounced issue, especially for teens, is that people do not know their sexual partner very well. “A lot of people who are in high school are not prepared to ask someone about their sexual history,” says Mrs. Mills. Teens really need to ask their partner who they have been with and if they have been tested. Adds Mrs. Mills, “If they’re not prepared to ask the person these questions, they really are not prepared to have sex.”

“Remember that there is no way you can size up a person and determine whether or not they have an STD,” says Mrs. Epstein. STDs can cause permanent damage to your reproductive organs, and according to Mrs. Epstein, the complications can be especially serious for women. Fatal cancers of the cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes can result from STDs, usually causing women to undergo dangerous operations to remove the infected organ, making them unable to have children.

“Teenagers have a problem where they think they’re immortal,” says one junior who wishes to remain anonymous. “They don’t understand the magnitude of what could happen if they don’t try to protect themselves.”

Although many students are well aware of the different STDs, what many do not know is that in a lot of cases these diseases are not curable and can be fatal. “They really need to think about abstinence as a choice,” says Mrs. Mills. Students need to be aware that there is a difference between treatment and cure, and that in many cases these diseases will stay within the body forever.

Mrs. Epstein advises teens to talk with their parents or an older adult before engaging in sexual activity to understand not only the physical, but the emotional repercussions that can come from being sexually active. “It’s very important to understand how the diseases are transmitted,” says Mrs. Epstein. For example, some STDs can be transmitted solely from skin contact.

If students have questions, concerns or want to be tested, they can visit the health office, the Sexually Transmitted Disease clinic on Dennis Avenue, or the Planned Parenthood office in downtown Silver Spring, and be guaranteed anonymity.