One in four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease. Quite alarming, but it is the truth according to a study by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Study says that the highest overall prevalence is among the black teenage girls when compared to the 20 per cent among both whites and Mexican-American teens.

The most common infection in teen girls is a virus that causes cervical cancer. The study also points out that half of the girls analysed acknowledged having sex.

The Study, conducted by researcher Dr. Sara Forhan, also highlights opinion of doctors who treat teens with STD.

CDC’s division of STD prevention director Dr John Douglas said the study was the first comprehensive one on prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among adolescent girls nationwide. He also said the data, from 2003-04, reflected the current rates of infection. Dr Douglas points out the high STD rates among the teenage girls, especially African-American, is a clear sign that efforts should be taken to reach those who are most at risk.

CDC’s Dr Kevin Fenton opines that STDs can cause infertility and cervical cancer in women. As such, screening, vaccination and prevention strategies for sexually active women should be the highest health priorities, Dr Kevin notes.

The study was conducted on 838 teens nationwide, who participated in a health survey. The teens were tested for human papillomavirus or HPV, chlamydia, trichomoniasis and herpes simplex virus. It was found that 18 per cent of the girls were infected with HPV, four per cent by chlamydia, 2.5 percent by trichomoniasis and 2 percent had herpes simplex virus infection.

However, Dr Douglas says that many teens do not think that they are at risk. Even some doctors mistakenly think, “STD will not happen to the kind of patients I see.”

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