Abstient Young Adults Test Positive for STDs

[ewhite]

A recent study shows that 10% of young adults tested positive for an STD despite claiming abstinence. Those who tested positive self-reported that they had not had sexual intercourse in the past 12 months, and half reported no sexual history at all. A couple factors contributing to this discrepancy include lying, exposure beyond the last 12 months, and contracting STDs through other risky sexual acts than intercourse (oral sex, etc).

Regardless of the reasons, this alarming survey suggests a need for routine testing among young people. Clearly a large number of STDs are going undiagnosed, untreated, and consequently spreading to other partners.

Check out this article for more information about this study: Despite claiming abstinence, young adults test positive for STDs – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs

A lot of people, and not just young ones, don't think oral and even anal sex is really "sex". I think they worry more about pregnancy prevention sometimes than STDs. This is why testing is so important, and why we always need to think about safer sex with any kind of sex.