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Why do Americans find it easier
} .
to have sex than to talk about it?
By_Peggy Clarke
President, Social Health Association
Why do Americansfind it easier
tqihave sex than to talk about it?
n its recent report on sexually
trgnsmitted diseases (STD), the
prestigious Institute of Medicine
myade incisive obseryations about
oyr society’s inability to deal with
mgtters of sexuality. STDs, it
ngted, are “hidden from public view
bgcause many Americans are re
luctant to address sexual health
iggues in an open way.”
oflthough we have knowledge to
vijztually eliminate STDs, the re
pert says, our failure to discuss
?pm.lity impedes STD prevention.
ommunication about sexual
health isineffective or nonexistent
inthe mostimportant arenas: be
tween parents and children, be
tween sex partners, in doctor/pa
tient relationships. Because STDs
are so often symptomless, this fail
ure tocommunicate facilitates the
epidemic, as many sex partners
have noknowledge of one another’s
sexual history and most doctors do
not ask about patients’ risk for
STDs.
'Our lack of healthy discourse
about sexuality also hinders STD
education, community activism for
STD prevention and behavioral
research.
ilnother words, when it comes to
addressing STD prevention openly
and forcefully, we are combining
Zfist century technology with 19th
century social attitudes -the Victo
rian mindset that prevents “nice”
people from talking about sex.
'Placed against a cultural back
drop in which sex is used to sell
everything from perfume to cars,
and in which nearly 70 percent of
adolescents have sexualintercourse
by the 12th grade, our reluctance
to discuss sexual health is both
ironicand tragic. The mass media
Protect Your Fertility and Your Future
Bddie R. Cheeks, M.D. Calvin L. Hobbs, M.D.
- [OBETN
LIB B i
1903 Wrightshoro Ruad 524 West Hill Street
Augusta, GA 30904 Thomson, GA 30824
(706) 736-2737 (706) 724-1143 or (706) 595-6290
Fax (706) 7319047 Fax (706) 597-0158
801 Nurth Liberty Street {
Wayneshoro, GA 30830
(706) 437-9911 * Fax (706) 437-9921
LEPHONE (706) 736-5378
RAVINDER JERATH, M.D.
Obstetrics & Gynecology |
2100 CENTRAL AVENUE
SUITE? 7
BY APPOINTMENT AUGUSTA, GEORGIA 30904
"—_“_“_—“_——’——l
SUMMERVILLE WOMEN’S
MEDICAL GROUP
Obstetrics « Gynecology
Drs. Bahr, Christie, Chudgar, Faulkner, Oldham & Oliver
f
Tel. (706) 737-3948 2258 Wrightsboro Road Suite 300
Fax (706) 737-4035 iy Augusta Georgia 30904
[ Synergic Health Centre
1055 a Silver Bluff Rd.
Alken, South Carolina 29803
' 803-648-3500
| Fax: 803-648-4200
~ Gerald D. Oliver, M.D.
Internal .:eddne
Pediatric Medicine
Pianned Parenthood
of East Central Georgia, Inc.
“We're More Than You Think"
:a‘nnr;‘ual Exams *Male & Fflprllo Sterilization
sinfection Screenings Rotanel Rdammin 1
o Toste™ | OmEie Maoaid Soecialet (RSM)
*Education )+ eMarriage Blood Tes'ing
1289 Broad smg GA 30901
TRy T
STD Awareness Month
usually donot portray sexuality in
ahealthy way, and seldom provide
messages supporting healthy be
havior. In television programs
and films, sexual activity may be
graphic, but it rarely has conse
quences.
Thisimbalance between sexual.
behaviorand communication about
sexual health has disastrous re
sults. Accordingto the Institute of
Medicine report, rates of curable
STDsinthe U.S. are the highest in
the developed world and higher
than insome developing countries.
Of the top ten most frequently
reported diseases in the U.S. in
1995, five were STDs. In this
country, the annual direct and
indirect costs of major STDs other
than AIDS are about $lO billion.
And STDs increase the risk of
infertility, HIV/AIDS infection and
various forms of cancer.
Women, infants and adolescents
bear the greatest burden of the
epidemic. Atleast 15 percent ofall
infertility cases among American
women are caused by complica
tions of STDs. Infants who acquire
STDs during their mothers’ preg
nancy can suffer severe damage to
the central nervous system.
Adolescents, who are at great
risk for STDs because they are
biologically susceptible toinfection
and more likely than adults to
have frequent unprotected sex,
account for one-fourth of all new
STD cases each year. Many of
these young people will live with
the consequences of STDs for the
rest of their lives.
As the report understores, we
know how to prevent all STDs by
promoting health behavior. We
have the technology to cure many
STDs, including chlamydia, the
most rapidly spreading infection
inthe U.S. Thereisevenavaccine
for one STD, hepatitis B, though it
is not widely administered. Fed
eral pilot projects have demon
strated that when public clinics
routinely screen and treat for symp
tomless STDs, infection rates drop
dramatically.
Nonetheless, despite our scien
tific ability to virtually eliminate
STDs, the epidemic grows daily,
inexorably. STDs are so much a
partofthe national landscape that
many experts believe at least one
in four Americans, perhaps more,
will have an STD at some time in
theirlives.
As the first of its four recom
mended strategies for STD preven
tion, the Institute of Medicine listed
“overcome barriers tothe adoption
ofhealthy sexual behaviors.” Qur
failure to communicate about
sexual health is a barrier that we
canall work toward breakingdown.
B Chlamydia is the
most rapidly spreading
STD—four million new
cases each year
B women are the fast
est-growing group in
fected with HIV
M Aids is currently one
of the top 10 causes of
death among women of
reproductive age
M Three million STD
infections occur in teen
agers each year
B Young women under
25 are at especially
high risk for STDs.
o William E. LaVigne,
;‘ .‘ o M.D.’ OBIGYN
A
RN 2100 Central Avenue
o ‘;%, Augusta, GA 30904
Phone: (706) 737-5935
FAX: (706) 737-6023
If unable to keep appointment, kindly give 24 hours notice
L
R. Glen Owen, M.D., PC.
1710 Central Ave.
Augusta, GA 30904
* Gynecology
¢ Female Bladder Problems
¢ Pelvic Pain
* Infertility
Phone: (706) 733-8202
April is National STD
Awareness Month
At least 15 percent of all infertility cases in
American women are caused by pelvic inflamma
tory disease, which is usually a complication of
sexually transmitted diseases.
Young people are at highest risk for all STDs.
Two-thirds of the estimated 12 million new STD
infections in the U.S. each year occur in people
under 25; one-fourth occur in teenagers.
People who have had unprotected sex should
consult a health care provider about getting tested
for STDs—even if no symptoms are noticeable.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea can be cured with anti
biotics, thus preventing PID and its complications.
Women are more biologically susceptible to
many sexually transmitted diseases, partly be
cause the bacteria and viruses that cause STDs
can thrive more effectively in a woman’s repro
ductive tract. STDs may also be more easily trans
mitted to women through the mucosal surface in
the reproductive tract.
STDs are responsible for 75 percent of neonatal
deaths not caused by congenital malformations.
STDs can also lead to maternal infection or fever.
During April, the American Social Health Asso
ciation encourages you to help inform young
people and their parents about this important
issue. Please join ASHA and these local clinics
and doctors in “Protecting Your Fertility and
Your Future.”
Founded in 1914, ASHA is the only nonprofit
organization dedicated to stopping STDs.
Teen STDs
on the rise
Of the estimated 12 million new
STD infections in the U.S. each
year, two-thirds (eight million) oc
cur in people under 25 and one
fourth (3 million) occur in teenag
ers. Over the past two decades, in
creased sexual activity among teens
hasmeant thatthereisalarger pool
of young people at risk for STDs.
Today, 68 percent of teens in the
12th gradereport havinghad sexual
intercourse.
Teens have the highest rates of
chlamydia, gonorrhea and pelvic
inflammatory disease, a severe con
dition usually caused by untreated
chlamydia orgonorrhea. Some stud
ies estimate that as many as 30-40
percent of sexually active teenage
women have chlamydia. In 1993
and 1994, while gonorrhea rates
declined for the population as a
whole, they increased nearly three
percent for teenage women and lev
eled offfor teenage men.
among some sexually active teen
populations range from 20 to 80
percent. In 1995, the American col
lege Health Associationreported that
46 percent of college women were
estimated to have HPV infection.
Teens often do not have access to
routine health care at which diagno
sis and treatment of STDs, as well
aseducation, might take place. One
outoffourteensdoes nothave health
insurance coverage; those who do
have family coverage may be reluc
tanttouseitbecause of confidential
ityconcerns. Oftenuneducated about
the risk of STDs, teens may deny
their own level of risk. In addition,
they may notbe able tospeak about
sexual issues with the people closest
to them. In an American Social
Health Association study, only 11
percent of American teens report
receiving STD information from
parentsand other family members,
and only three percent learned about
STDs from health care providers.
The family of health plans that fits.
is pleased to announce
that the
Medical College of Georgia
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and all MCG physicians
are now
Participating Providers
. 1-800-454-3085 |
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AUGUSTA FOCUS APRIL 17,1997
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