Patients with Sexually Transmitted Diseases It can be a touchy subject when a patient comes to the doctor’s office or hospital, and they have a sexually transmitted disease. If that is the reason they are seeking medical treatment, it obviously has to be discussed, and that can make many people very uncomfortable. Many young people assume actual intercourse in the only way to contract an STD, and this often leads to many instances that could have been prevented. When a teen visits a clinic or medical facility, and has a complaint that sounds as if it could be a symptom associated with an STD, the subject should be discussed. A direct approach of asking the teen if they are sexually active is generally the best method. In most cases this should be done privately with the teen, however, some states have laws regarding speaking to minors without parental consent. A frank discussion with a teen patient to determine the possibility of an existing STD, is imperative, they should receive treatment as soon as possible. Related: Uterine Fibroids and Endometriosis Discussing STDs with Teens New estimates show that there are about 20 million new sexually transmitted infections in the United States each year. Young people, between the ages of 15 to 24, account for 50% of all new STDs, although they represent just 25% of the sexually experienced population. 46% of American high school students have had sexual intercourse and potentially are at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and other STDs. In 2012, gonorrhea rates were highest among adolescents and young adults. In 2012, the highest rates were observed among women aged 20–24 years (578.5) and 15–19 years (521.2). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are more than 110 million STIs among men and women in the US. This includes both new and existing infections. The annual number of new infections is roughly equal among teen girls (51%) and teen guys (49%).
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