Teen STDs are preventable, treatable

most common STDs we see with Gordon County teens,” according to Crowder.

The most recent data available for Gordon County show that in 2015 there were 51 chlamydia cases and 10 gonorrhea cases among Gordon County teens aged 15 – 19. “We see other STDs in our teen population, but these two are our biggest concerns,” Crowder says.

“Individuals with chlamydia and gonorrhea sometimes have no symptoms or may overlook them, so many infections go undiagnosed. This can cause serious health complications for men and have lifelong repercussions for a woman’s reproductive health, including infertility.”

“It’s crucial to educate our teens about how STDs are transmitted, how to protect themselves and how to seek medical treatment when needed, “says Crowder. “Teens shouldn’t just hope an STD will go away. It won’t.”

Crowder says she wants all Gordon County teens and their parents to know that the Gordon County Health Department offers confidential, teenfriendly STD testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, herpes and genital warts. She’s also quick to point out that if a teen is at risk of any STD, he or she is also at risk of HIV.

According to Crowder, young people are at greater risk of getting an STD for several reasons. “Young women’s bodies are biologically more susceptible to STDs. Some young people do not get the recommended STD tests, and many young people are hesitant to talk openly and honestly with a doctor or nurse about their sex lives,” Crowder says. “Not having insurance or transportation can make it more difficult for young people to access STD testing, and some young people have more than one sex partner.”

“The surest way for teens to protect themselves against STDs, of course, is abstinence -- to not have sex -- but we know that’s not always going to be the decision.” Crowder stresses that if teens do decide to have sex, “you and your partner should get tested beforehand and make sure that you and your partner use a condom, every time you have sex, from start to finish. Know where to get condoms and how to use them correctly. It is not safe to stop using condoms unless you’ve both been tested, know your status and are in a mutually monogamous relationship.”

Crowder emphasizes that many STDs don’t cause any symptoms that teens would notice, so the only way to know for sure if they have an STD is to get tested. “You can get an STD from having sex with someone who has no symptoms. Just like you, that person might not even know he or she has an STD,” Crowder says.

Teens and/or their parents can contact the Gordon County Health Department, 310 N. River Road, Calhoun, GA, for more information on STD prevention, testing and treatment. Call the health department at 706-624-1444 or visit http://nwgapublichealth. org/counties/gordon/