A new study published recently about the sexual habits of teenagers should serve as a wake-up call for adults who cling to unrealistic notions about chastity among young people.

“We have historically seen lots and lots of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) among teens in Kansas City,” said Daryl Lynch, a doctor with the Teen Clinic at Children’s Mercy Hospital. “It’s a very sexually active, sexually promiscuous crowd that doesn’t practice safe sex.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than one in four teenage girls is infected with a sexually transmitted disease.

The group’s report also found that about half the teens studied had had sex. And 15 percent of the young women were infected with more than one STD.

Clearly, current messages about safe-sex practices are not altering the behavior of enough young people.

Far too many teenagers are given messages about abstinence, but not information about protection if they do become sexually active.

Diseases such as chlamydia, herpes simplex virus and the human papillomavirus (HPV) are also common among boys. But the study focused on young women because they can suffer an increased likelihood of cancer and infertility as a result of infection.

The prudent response would be to recognize that many teenagers are sexually active.
Education about protection from disease is absolutely necessary to help save young people from serious health risks.