engage in risky behavior. The area of the brain involved in good decision-making is not fully developed until age 25. The earlier someone begins to be sexually active, the more likely they are to have 2 or more sexual partners in the past year, and the more likely they are to have had an STI in the past year. Secondly, the cervix of teen girls is also immature and more prone to infection than older women. In addition, the use of hormonal contraceptives blocks the natural ebb and flow of reproductive hormones which contributes to the maturation of the cervix, so that teens using such contraceptives can have an extended period of increased vulnerability to STIs.
So, what are the long-term repercussions of getting an STI? Some viral infections such as Herpes and HPV (human papilloma virus) can be life-long infections. Certain strains of HPV can lead to cervical cancer. Some STIs can be treated with antibiotics, but some, like gonorrhea, are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. STIs can also lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which is a serious infection diagnosed in over a million women a year, and is most common between the ages of 15 and 25. While PID can be treated, the resulting scar tissue can cause lasting effects, such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pain.
- https://naturalwomanhood.org/teen-sexually-transmitted-infection/
- https://naturalwomanhood.org/teen-sex-mental-health/
