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Studies document high rates of STDs among young people

Because this demographic is also the least likely to seek regular medical care, some experts believe the actual incidence rate may be even more staggering.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, amednews staff. March 22/29, 2004.

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Nearly half of all sexually transmitted diseases occur in people ages 15-24 even though this age group only accounts for a quarter of the sexually active population. The economic cost of these infections is significant, according to two studies published in the January/February Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the nonprofit reproductive health organization, Family Health International, analyzed data from various sources to conclude that young people accounted for 48% of all STDs, including 74% of Chlamydia and 60% of gonorrhea cases. The lifetime medical costs for the infections acquired annually were set at $6.5 billion in direct medical expenses with $5.9 billion spent on care related to HIV and HPV.

"The numbers are pretty staggering," said John Douglas, MD, director of the CDC's division of sexually transmitted disease prevention.

Although much of the data used were at best rough estimates, those who treat adolescents say the numbers reflect their real-life experiences. They also say that the problem may be bigger than even the statistics reveal.

"I believe these numbers," said Wendi Ehrman, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Madison. "But what really bothers me is that we don't know the prevalence of undiagnosed STDs that are going untreated."

Specialists say there are several social, economic and physical factors that make this situation so difficult to control. Adolescents' psychology leads young people to take chances that put them in situations in which they are likely to be at risk of being infected. Their bodies are also more susceptible to these bacteria and viruses.