Study finds 15-year-olds with STDs like Herpes Simplex

DOCTORS and education groups are calling for schools to screen students for sexually transmitted diseases after a study found teenagers as young as 15 had contracted STDs. The study of 795 students over the age of 15 found almost 30 per cent had had unwanted sex as a result of being affected by alcohol or drugs and fewer than half regularly used condoms. More than 10 per cent tested positive for the human papilloma virus, which can cause genital warts or cervical cancer. Almost 4 per cent said they had previously been diagnosed with an STD like herpes. About 2 per cent tested positive for herpes simplex 2, which causes genital herpes, and 1 per cent had chlamydia. Frank Bowden, professor of medicine at the Australian National University and co-ordinator of the trial, said teenagers needed more information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. "They know heaps about HIV, they are starting to know more about chlamydia, but they are remarkably ignorant of contraception," he said. The team from the ANU and Canberra Hospital's sexual health centre set up temporary clinics at two high schools and conducted voluntary screening for several STDs. "We found that when teenagers first have sex with a new partner they usually use a condom, but as it turns into a relationship, they stop using condoms," Professor Bowden said. "And that's a concern because the message that 'when it's love, sex is safe' is a very dangerous one." The study also revealed that 67 per cent of teenagers had sexual intercourse and 12per cent had been with three or more partners in the previous six months. Two per cent had same-sex partners and only 47per cent reported that they always used condoms. Terry Aulich, executive officer of the Council of State School Organisations, said sex education was usually taught in the context of relationships. "We support, at the appropriate time, young people having full knowledge about sexual health and about relationships. The two should be taught together," he said. "But we have to question if we've done enough if the findings of the study are correct and there is a large number of teenagers who are not practising safe sex and have inaccurate and quite frankly ignorant views about contraception and sexual health." Seventeen-year-old Josh Alfrey, from Brisbane, said his school held four weeks of sex education in Year 10, which included information about sexually transmitted diseases. "It makes you afraid and it makes you take precautions like using condoms," he said. "There should be more screening of sexually transmitted diseases." Josh said it was not surprising that many teenagers were drunk when they engaged in sexual activity. "Alcohol eases the inhibitions," he said. Shona McKenzie, also 17, said most of her friends were sexually active. "But there isn't a lot of sex education," she said. "Year 8 was the only time we discussed sex. "I think it's a good idea that there should be screening for STDs."