Spring Break Triggers Exposures to STDs

CHICAGO - For many individuals, spring break is a time to abuse drugs and alcohol, which can lead to unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), recent studies show.

Nearly 5.6 million people between 15 and 24 reported having unsafe sex because they were drinking or using drugs, according to a Columbia University study, while 40 percent of college students reported never using condoms in a University of Pittsburgh study.

Two thirds of all STDs occur in people 25 and younger, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

A University of Wisconsin study reported that 75 percent of men and just under 50 percent of women reported being intoxicated every day during spring break.

Several STDs have no noticeable symptoms. That's why it's so important that people get tested. If treated early, some STDs can be cured with antibiotics. Left untreated others can lead to sterility, cancer, blindness, and even death. Doctors recommend abstinence. Barring that, correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of disease transmission, but no protective method is 100 percent effective.

Source: Internet Wire