Many young people engage in risky sexual behaviors that can lead to unintended health consequences. For example, among surveyed high school students in the U.S.:
- 41% have had sexual intercourse;
- 30% had sexual intercourse in the last 3 months, and of these;
- 43% did not use a condom the last time they had sex;
- 14% did not use any method to prevent pregnancy;
- 21% consumed alcohol or used drugs before their last sexual encounter;
- Only 10% of all students have ever been tested for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);*
- CDC data shows that lesbian, gay, and bisexual high school students are at substantial risk for serious health outcomes.
Risky sexual behaviors put young people at risk for HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancy:
- Young people (13-24 years old) accounted for about 21% of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2016;
- Among young people diagnosed with HIV, 81% were gay and bisexual men;
- Half of the 20 million new STDs reported each year were among young people aged 15 to 24;
- Nearly 210,000 babies were born to adolescent girls aged 15–19 in 2016.
The National HIV/AIDS Strategy requires that all Americans be educated about HIV. This includes knowing how HIV is transmitted and prevented, and understanding which behaviors put individuals at greater risk of infection. Awareness and education about HIV should be universally integrated into all educational settings.
* The CDC recommends that all adolescents and adults be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine medical care.
Abstinence from vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse is the only 100% effective way to prevent HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy. Correct and consistent use of male latex condoms can reduce the risk of STD transmission, including HIV infection. However, no protective method is 100% effective, and condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection against any STD or pregnancy.
Source: www.cdc.gov