The Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare has warned of a worrisome rebound in sexually transmitted infections among young people. Not surprisingly, according to the latest Epidemiological Surveillance data collected annually by the Carlos III Health Institute, diseases such as gonorrhea or syphilis have experienced a rise in several percentage points over past years.
Young people have relaxed with the use of condoms, especially adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age, and the lack of information seems to be an important factor that we must solve from all social spheres, starting with home schooling.
What are sexually transmitted diseases?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a set of infectious pathologies that are transmitted from one person to another through sexual intercourse, giving rise to diseases of various clinical conditions.
In VitónicaHow to prevent STDs: what you need to know to maintain safe sex The most common STDs are:
Genital Herpes: remember that there are two types of Herpes Simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1) that causes lesions on the lips, nose and nearby areas (cold sores, which we have already talked about), and type 2 (HSV- 2) that would be responsible for herpes in the genital and anogenital area.
The trichomonas infection It is the most frequent infection among young people who do not use barrier protection methods, and it is caused by a parasite that contracts during sexual intercourse.
The human papillomavirus or papillomavirus is transmitted during sexual intercourse, being able to cause different diseases in both men and women, from benign to very serious. Recall that vaccination in adolescence, both girls and boys, is the most effective measure to protect against diseases caused by this virus.
In Babies and more The human papilloma vaccine works, and that is why it is important to vaccinate your children- The Chlamydia infection and gonorrhea infection They are two STIs caused by bacteria that, without due treatment, can lead to serious long-term health consequences, including female infertility and a higher rate of ectopic pregnancies.
In 2017, 8,772 cases of gonorrhea were registered, compared to 6,331 in 2016, being especially worrying about the growing trend this disease is experiencing since 2010. Although there are records of this STI in adolescents from 15 years of age, it is the age range between 25 and 34 years that most worries.
- The syphilis It is also a disease caused by bacteria, which if contracted during pregnancy, could be transmitted to the baby. If syphilis is not treated, in one in ten patients it can cause serious long-term health problems, such as neurological, osteoarticular or cardiac problems.
According to the Epidemiological Surveillance data, in 2017 the highest numbers of syphilis were produced since there are records: 10.61 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 2.57 registered in 1995. The age range that worries most They are young people between 20 and 24 years old.
- Venereal lymphogranuloma: Although it is an STI especially present in tropical countries, in recent years it has reappeared in Europe, especially among men who have unprotected homosexual relationships.
Condom use falls among teenagers and youth
Pediatricians have long been warning about the significant rise in STDs among adolescents, as well as a number of unwanted pregnancies among children under 19 years of age, which, although the decline continues, remains high and borders 10,000.
These alarming figures are due, according to the Ministry of Health, to the fall experienced by the use of condoms among young people, especially among adolescents aged 15 to 18 years."We want to know why these risk behaviors are occurring. There are relaxing attitudes towards STIs, including HIV infection. There is an absence of information and training, and we want to continue to deepen it "- said the Minister of Health, María Luisa Carcedo, last June.
Why this "relaxation" in the use of condoms among adolescents?
Teenagers do not feel vulnerable, and that is something we saw a few months ago when we talked about the drowning rebound in this age group. This occurs because the part of the brain that controls complex decision making is still developing, which can lead teenagers to underestimate certain dangerous situations, and to mistakenly believe that "that will never happen to them."
It is also frequent fall into the error of thinking that for once nothing will happen. But it can happen, so it is essential to always avoid any risky behavior, even if the relationships you have are sporadic.
In Babies and more The five important things we should teach our teenagers about sexThere are experts who argue that when in heterosexual relationships the boy is not responsible for the use of condoms, your partner does not insist on putting it on, for fear of losing the relationship.
On the other hand, you are also alert of a condom misuse, since many young people only turn to him just before intercourse for fear of breaking the romanticism of the moment, or fearing that this will diminish pleasure.
Likewise, the importance of acquiring this contraceptive method in pharmacies or authorized places of trust is stressed, check its expiration date and conversation status before using it, and handle it carefully to avoid cracking.
- The fear of parents finding out, the belief that they are expensive and difficult to access, or the false myths about sexuality and health that still circulate, are other reasons that could lead teenagers not to use condoms.
How to educate teenagers in safe sex?
Adolescence is an especially relevant stage when it comes to sexual matters, and according to studies, the first sexual relations begin at an average age of 16 years. Although parents may think that it is too early, we can do little to avoid it, but we can begin to instill a healthy and safe sex education from a very young age.
For this it is essential that before starting in sex they are very clear that there may be a risk of unwanted pregnancy and contracting sexually transmitted diseases if the relevant contraceptive methods are not used. And this is something that can happen to both girls and boys, regardless of the type of relationships they are going to have, whether they are purely sexual or romantic.
In Babies and more19 books on sexual education for parents and adolescentsBut in addition to the sexual education that we must give our children in the family, from other social spheres we should also contribute; as for example, through talks in schools and institutes, and public awareness and information campaigns.In this sense, the "#SiemprePreservativo" campaign, launched last June by the Ministry of Health, Consumption and Social Welfare, intends raise awareness among young people in the responsible use of condoms male and female
The campaign has videos, posters and banners that inform about how to use condom correctly and why it is so important to do so. The dissemination is carried out mainly through social networks and music content platforms, as well as in digital media with a higher incidence among young people.
Another of the actions framed in the campaign that are being carried out this summer is the free distribution of condoms at festivals, concerts and musical shows, as they are moments in which "sexual relations between young people increase".
Although these types of information campaigns are undoubtedly important and necessary to attract the attention of the youngest, we must not forget the fundamental role that parents play in the sexual education of our teenagers. In this sense, clear information and naturalness when addressing these issues are essential to prevent risk behaviors that may put your health and that of others at stake.
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