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In society today teens are becoming sexually active at an early age.Teens are maturing
faster than previous generations due to better healthcare and nutrition. According to Margaret
Hyde in her novel Safe Sex 101: An Overview for Teens she states Majority of adolescents in the
U.S are sexually active by the twelfth grade and one out of four has had more than four or more
sexual partners putting teenagers at high risk for STIs(2006, pg.64) As for African Americans,
they have the highest rate of sexually transmitted infections putting African American
adolescents at risk of contracting a STI/STD.African Americans can decrease their risk of
contracting a STI/STD in many ways but teens are going to have to want change. One way is
protection, adolescents should protect themselves every time they have sexual contact with their
partner.Another is decreasing their sex partners, teens can minimum themselves to one sexual
partner. Knowledge is another reason, if teens were more informed about what they could catch
they would prevent themselves.
Many people do not know the difference between an STI and a STD. An STI is a sexually
transmitted infection and an STD is a sexually transmitted disease. Alex Miller mentions in a
slide, Medically, infections are only called diseases when they cause symptoms, and many STIs
any symptoms(2013) which separates infections from diseases. Even though these two terms
are very similar there is one thing that is different, infections can be cured and diseases are life
term.
There are up to 25 different STIs/STDs with a range of different symptoms. Before
modern medicine peoples lack of awareness and understanding of STIs provided to the general
transmission of the infections while few or no treatments were available to treat the conditions.
Ananya Mandal, an medical doctor mentions how the increase of STIs increase in the 20th

century, Another major problem that arose was an increase in adolescent sexual activity in the
mid 20th century. This led to widespread infections in the younger age groups and also changed
the way healthcare policy makers tried to raise awareness through campaigns (2013). This
shows that when research showed there was a change in adolescents STI/STD rate they had try to
make a difference and get more involved. In clear affect numbers have increased since the 20th
century and teens arent get more involved.
Reason STIs spread are because people think they can only be infected if they have
sexual intercourse.STIs also spread easily because you can't tell whether someone has an
infection. In fact, some people with STIs don't even know that they have them. These people are
in danger of passing an infection on to their sex partners without even realizing it.
The main reasons STIs are spread fast is because people do not think that it is easy to
catch. In Larissa Hirsch article she states many reasons for STD are spread, she mentions,
Reason STDs spread are because people think they can only be infected if they have sexual
intercourse. STDs also spread easily because you can't tell whether someone has an infection
(2014). With Hirsch statement it shows that you can catch an infection other than intercourse and
you can not tell that you are infected because most symptoms are not visible. With no symptoms
people tend to carry them on to another relationship with no realization.
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are infections that are obtain essentially through sexual
contact and affect the urinary tract and genitals. According to McKinley Health Center,
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral contact (n.d., pg.1),
indicating that through any sexual contact without protection can put people at risk of catching
these two STIs.Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are both bacterial infections but what separates the

two is that Gonorrhea is an inflammatory discharge from the private area. As for Chlamydia it is
a small parasite that can mess a woman's reproductive system up. Out of these two STIs,
Chlamydia is very serious and can cause lots of danger if not treated quickly. Chlamydia and
gonorrhea are transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sexual contact. Both infections cause
symptoms for some people while other people have no recognizable symptoms at all. Both
infections can be transmitted from infected mother to child during vaginal delivery.
African Americans have the highest rate of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. In Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention surveillance sheet it states, The overall rate among blacks in the
United States was 1, 229.4 cases per 100,000 population (n.d., pg.1). African American
adolescents pay a part of this population, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention also stated,
Chlamydia rate was highest for blacks aged 15-19 and 20-24(n.d., pg.1), providing information
stating that African Americans teen history rate is already a high amount. Katy Steinmetz article
explains the African Americans population dealing with the two infections, African Americans
ages 15 to 24 contract Chlamydia and Gonorrhea at four times the rate of general population, and
those in their 20s have the highest reported cases of Syphilis and HIV(2013), data showing that
African Americans adolescents also are at high risk of non-curable diseases. If the change would
be taking serious to teens they would decrease their percentage of HIV etc, only if they can
decrease rate of contracting infections as well.
There are many solutions for young African Americans to lower their risk of contracting
an STI or possibly an a STD. Parents, if they were to have everyday conversations about the
seriousness of contracting anything or protection teens would be cautious of what they do
sexually. If parents got involve teens wouldnt search information from one another. As claimed

by Planned Parenthood, In fact, teens often name their parents as the biggest influence in their
decision about sex. And teens who report having good conversation with their parents about sex
are more likely to delay sexual activity, have fewer partners, and use condoms and other
contraceptives when they do have sex (2014). This proves having the talk with teens help them
make better sexual decisions which increase their risk of teen pregnancy and infections. Started
this conversation at a young age can make teens make better decisions throughout their lives.
Planned Parenthood also mentions, Parents can really make a difference. We can talk with our
kids, build strong relationships with them, and set clear expectations and boundaries for them,
with teens having good relationship with their parents they would be comfortable in telling them
when they are sexually active so they can get the protection they need.
Condoms are very beneficial in sex. They protect many things such as an infection and
disease, they are ninety-nine percent effective. It also prevents pregnancy if used right! In the
opinion of American Sexual Health Association it indicates, Condoms work really well in
stopping most STIs from an infected partner to another when they are used consistently and
correctly every time a person has oral, vaginal, or anal sex(2015). If teens used condoms every
sexual interaction that would also decrease their risk. The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration
states, Condoms are used for birth control and reducing risk of disease. Thats why some people
think that other forms of birth control-- such as the IUD, diaphragm, cervical cap or pill-- will
protect them against diseases, too. But thats not true. So if you use any other form of birth
control, you still need a condom in addition to reduce the risk of getting sexually transmitted
infections(2015), with this being said; only condoms can protect someone from someone who is
affected.

Another way is abstinence. What is the real meaning of abstinence? Abstinence is the
practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, such as sex. Even though it is not a
substantial percentage of abstinence this is a significant way the prevent any type of health
problem or unwanted pregnancy. Dennis Thomas Jr. talks about abstinence in his article, he
voices, Only abstinence from all forms of sex can protect you from STDs 100 percent of the
time(2009). Not saying abstinence should be forced on teenagers but this is a hundred percent
way for teens to not contract an STI or STD. If decided to to become sexually active be sure to
protect yourself against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections/diseases by
consistently using condoms and employing other safe sex practices.
Todays generation teens tend to live in the moment, meaning that they do not care about
the sexual activity they are having with different people. Teens trend to have more than one
sexual partner at a time which puts them in high risk of contracting an infection or disease.
According to RECAPP (Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention) In 2013,
nationwide 15% of high school reported already having four or more sexual partners--- basically
unchanged from 15% in 2007(2014). With this information provided it shows that teens are
switching sex partners rapidly and a surely did not it would increase their risk of catching
anything. A website called I wanna know! mentions, If you are going to have sex, have it with
just one person and ask about his or her sexual history. The fewer partners you have, the less
chance you will get an STI(2015), indicating that having less partners makes you have less risk
of contracting anything. It also shows that people should talk to their partners about their sexual
history so they can get a general understanding.

Sex education plays a huge part of decreasing STI rate as well, if teen had more
knowledge about sex overall they would want to protect themselves anyway possible. In the 20th
century they were allowed to have open honest talks with high school children and pass out
condoms. Things like that have changed, there are rarely any school that have sex education and
the ones that do do not see the significance of the class. In Jessica Lahey article she states, The
question of who should be teaching sex education, and what form that instruction should take, is
increasingly problematic in this diverse and often ideologically divided nation. Theres little
agreement on what should be included in sex education courses, let alone how, and what ages it
should be taught(2015). What Lahey means is that they see that teens are at high risk of
contracting an STI/STD but the focus is on something slightly different. Society is more
interested in what age rage should they allow sex education to start and is it dishonoring
someones religion for teaching their child sex at an early age. Sex education is pro not a con,
parents think it makes teens want to experience it quicker but its more than that. As for Deborah
Pan Abc goes into depth of how sex education is beneficial, Formal sex education also seems to
lead to safer sex, the study found. Males attending school who have received sex education were
almost three times more likely to used birth control the first time they had sex. Aex education is
also about developing young peoples skills so that they make informed choices about their
behaviour, and feel confident and competent about acting on these choices(2009). This
statement proves that sex education will be more than just how to protect themselves but to also
teach them how to communicate about sex. Deborah also mentions that teens that do have sex
education protect themselves better.

In conclusion, there are many ways that African Americans can decrease their way of
contracting an STI/STD. They can communicate with their parents so that they parents can be
open to them about things that are going to happened instead of experiencing it themselves.
Secondly they can practice abstinence, abstinence is a hundred percent reliable. If you are
practicing abstinence you have nothing to worry about for the simple fact that you are not
sexually active. But also keep in mind that you can contract an STI/STD orally so oral and anal
are consider sexual activity. Another way to protect yourself is condoms, condoms are ninetynine percent effective. There are male and female condoms, there is a proper way to put on
condoms and condoms protect against all infections and diseases. Also decreasing sexual
partners, having one sexual partner in todays society can be a good thing since adolescents have
the highest STI/STD rate. It is okay to hold out and wait to get to know your spouse sexual
history. Lastly, sex education; it is okay to get involved with a program that are going to teach
more than just the basics of sex and communication. If your school does not have sex education
get involved online to see that there may be thousands that are in the same predicament as you.
Having safe sex can save a life so protecting yourself from contracting any sexually transmitted
infections or sexually transmitted diseases is very important to adolescents, especially African
Americans who have the highest rate of HIV as well.

Bibliography
Hirsch., Larissa. About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Kids Health. Ed. The Nemours
Foundation, 01 January, 2014. Web. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/stds/std.html
Hyde, Margaret O. Safe Sex 101: An Overview for Teens. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First
Century, 2006. Print
Kalmuss, Debra, Andrew Davidson, Alwyn Cohail, Danielle Laraque, and Carol Cassel.
"Preventing Sexual Risk Behaviors and Pregnancy Among Teenagers: Linking
Research and Programs." Preventing Sexual
Behaviors and Pregnancy Among Teenagers: Linking Research and Programs.
N.p., Mar.-Apr. 2003. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.
https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3508703.html

"I Wanna Know." I Wanna Know. American Sexual Health Association, 2015. Web. 22 Jan.
2015.
http://www.iwannaknow.org/teens/sti/reduce_risk.html
"STDs in Racial and Ethnic Minorities." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. Retrieved 28 Jan. 2015.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats12/minorities.htm
Miller, Alex. STD vs. STI Planned Parenthood. Tumblr, 2013. Web. Retrieved 10 Feb. 2015
http://plannedparenthood.tumblr.com/post/33600737905/std-vs-sti
"Talking to Kids About Sex and Sexuality." N.p., n.d. Web. Retrieved 27 Feb. 2015

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/parents/talking-to-kids-about-sex-and-sexuality
Steinmetz, Katy, "(No) Condom Culture: Why Teens Aren't Practicing Safe Sex." Time. Time,
n.d. Web. Retrieved Mar. 2015

http://healthland.time.com/2013/11/12/no-condom-culture-why-teens-arentpracticing-safe-sex/