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Oops, we did it again!

Posted: July 30, 2009

(3) Comments

Over the past decade or more, we have seen promising trends in the data measuring the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young adults.  In surveys focused on the 10-24 year age group in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has measured birth rates, new cases of HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, as well as risky sexual behaviors. 

However, in the past few years, we are seeing some of the same-old problems starting to reappear:

  • Birth rates that had declined from 1991-2005 have increased from 2005-2007
  • New HIV diagnosis rates in men 15-19 years old have nearly doubled in the past ten years
  • Declining rates of gonorrhea have slowed and leveled off
  • Syphilis rates increased from 2004-2006 after steadily declining from 1997-2004.

(Visit Sexual and Reproductive Health of Persons Aged 10--24 Years report from the CDC for more details of this study.)

Public health researchers are working to evaluate these trends and the reasons behind them.  BuckMD would like to hear from you - what do you think is happening with adolescents and young adults, and their risk behaviors?  Post a comment and let's start a discussion.  Your identity will be strictly confidential.

Roger Miller, MD for BuckMD

 

Comments

  • Tuesday, November 03, 2009 12:55:05 AM Posted by: J Three words: abstinence only education.
  • Thursday, December 03, 2009 4:21:15 PM Posted by: B I think it just has a lot to do with cultural trends--it is more socially acceptable today to have sex before marriage and at much younger ages. I'm not saying this is necessarily a good thing, but the fact is that it's happening. I think another factor might be that with all the advancements in medicine today, people get a false sense of security. "I can't get that," and if I do, "surely there's a cure." As far as abstinence only, I don't really think that is plausible in today's society (people will continue to have sex no matter what they are told) and it is vitally important for such people to know how to do it as safely as possible.
  • Friday, December 04, 2009 11:06:25 AM Posted by: Roger Miller MD Thanks for the comments. My biggest concern as a physician for young adults is that after a number of years of decreasing birth and disease rates, we are now trending the other way. The reasons for this are, in my opinion, largely unknown. Abstinence-only education has been in place for a number of years, and yet, this negative trend is noted. As far as social acceptance of sex before marriage, do we really think that is different now compared to 2000? And what about the people who are legally prohibited from getting married? I think we have a long way to go to gain understanding of these issues. In the meantime, we need to continue to make ALL people aware that there are risks and consequences to everything we do, and there are also ways to reduce those risks and prevent or minimize those consequences.

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