Confronting the issue of STDs in teenagers

By Donya Betancourt

Teenagers are not necessarily free of sexually transmitted diseases as many people, especially parents, assume. In fact, they are among the higher risk groups for contracting such diseases.

This is the first of two articles discussing teenagers and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The writer is a pediatrician based in Sanur, Bali. Questions? Contact her at drdonya@hotmail.com or features@thejakartapost.com

SANUR, Bali (JP): Children now grow up sooner than their parents expect and they often learn new things from non-parental sources, such as friends and the media. Sometimes, they miss important facts.

In the case of sex, it is better for parents to talk to their children, however difficult it may be for both them and their children, instead of having to deal with the problem of STDs later.

When is the right time to talk about it?

When you and your child discuss sex and he or she asks questions. The best way to have a healthy dialog with your children is to establish lines of communication early on.

If you do not talk about sex or other personal subjects when your child is young, it is unlikely that he or she will ask you about the subjects when he or she grows up. If you spend time talking about topics like sex with your child early on, it will make your child feel comfortable sharing his or her thoughts with you. It is never too late to talk to your child about STDs, even if he or she is already a teenager. After all, a late talk is better than no talk at all.

What should you tell your child?

A good start is to ask your child what he or she knows about STDs and what else he or she wants to know. Make your child feel he or she is in charge of the conversation.

Let your child share his or her opinion and then discuss the issue openly. Remember, it is a life and death matter today. You might ask what he or she thinks about sexual scenarios on television. If you let the questions lead the way, you will have much more to say.

Your child might already know more than you realize, so you should not shy away from discussing, for fear that talking will make your child want to have sex. They are not more likely to have sex, but, when they do, they are more likely to practice safe sex.

What are STDs?

Most sexually-transmitted diseases are infections that are spread from person to person through sexual contact.

What do they do?

They are dangerous as they are easily spread. One cannot tell from his or her partner's appearance whether he or she has STD. An important aspect of the disease is that some STDs can cause long-term problems, such as infertility and it can also be transmitted to babies.

How does someone catch an STD?

They spread through common sexual contact, which includes vaginal, anal and oral sex. One cannot catch it from holding, hugging or sharing towels, doorknobs or toilet seats.

The viruses or bacteria that cause STDs travel from person to person in semen, vaginal fluids or in blood. Some STDs enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the mouth, anus or genitals. Diseases that are spread through blood like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis B are also transmitted via needles shared by intravenous drug-users.

Remember that you do not have to have sexual intercourse to become infected with an STD. Someone can contract herpes or genital warts simply through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area or sore. And babies can get STDs from their mothers either while in the uterus (syphilis and HIV can be transmitted through the placenta and infect the fetus) or during birth (gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, and hepatitis B can be passed from mother to child during delivery).

How can you prevent them?

Just as with many other diseases, prevention of STDs is the key. It is much easier to prevent STDs than to cure them.

There is only one sure way to prevent the transmission of STDs: abstinence.

However, if you have sex, you must use a condom at all times as this is the only birth control method that will help to prevent most STDs. Other methods such as birth control pills and injections do not offer protection against STDs. Diaphragms or spermicides, used by themselves, do not offer adequate protection.

A latex condom, with spermicidal foam, cream or jelly that contains "nonoxynol-9" has been shown to reduce the risk of contracting gonorrhea and chlamydia, but does not protect against AIDS.

How can STDs be cured?

Some STDs are caused by bacteria and can be cured by antibiotics. Others are caused by a virus that can never be cured, such as sores or warts. They can be treated, but the virus remains in the person's body and can cause those symptoms to flare up again at any time.

Most STDs are treatable, but HIV, the cause of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), has no "current" cure and death eventually occurs in most cases.

These are a few common questions that you can answer for your child. It is up to you to gently pass on the information to your child to avoid any misunderstanding. However, always answer questions honestly without overdramatizing anything. It can be tough to step outside the protective parental role, but try to avoid being too emotional or preachy if you want your child to know you are there to support and help him or her, not to condemn them.

These are the names of a few STDs: chlamydia, genital herpes (HSV-2), genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B (HBV), HIV and AIDS, pelvic inflammatory disease, pubic lice (crabs), syphilis and trichomonas. Information about the causes, symptoms and treatments of common STDs will be discussed next week.