13 Mar, 2008
STD - Sinfully transmitted disease?
1 in 4 teen girls has sexual disease
CHICAGO - At least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens, according to the first study of its kind in this age group.
A virus that causes cervical cancer is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls aged 14 to 19, while the highest overall prevalence is among black girls — nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD. That rate compared with 20 percent among both whites and Mexican-American teens, the study from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
About half of the girls acknowledged ever having sex; among them, the rate was 40 percent. While some teens define sex as only intercourse, other types of intimate behavior including oral sex can spread some infections.
For many, the numbers likely seem "overwhelming because you're talking about nearly half of the sexually experienced teens at any one time having evidence of an STD," said Dr. Margaret Blythe, an adolescent medicine specialist.
But the study highlights what many doctors who treat teens see every day, Blythe said.
HPV can cause genital warts but often has no symptoms. A vaccine targeting several HPV strains recently became available, but Douglas said it likely has not yet had much impact on HPV prevalence rates in teen girls.
Chlamydia and trichomoniasis can be treated with antibiotics. The CDC recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women under age 25. It also recommends the three-dose HPV vaccine for girls aged 11-12 years, and catch-up shots for females aged 13 to 26.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has similar recommendations.
Douglas said screening tests are underused in part because many teens don't think they're at risk, but also, some doctors mistakenly think, '"Sexually transmitted diseases don't happen to the kinds of patients I see.'"
Blythe said some doctors also are reluctant to discuss STDs with teen patients or offer screening because of confidentiality concerns, knowing parents would have to be told of the results.
photo & story courtesy news.yahoo.com, 3/11/08
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (NLT)
A Life Pleasing to God
1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2 For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about sexual sin and why we need to live God's way?
Because God wants us to be holy. Sexual desires and actions must be placed under Christ's control in our lives. God came up with the idea of sex. He has given it as a gift to be enjoyed for pleasure and to make babies - but only as an expression of love between a husband and wife.
Because sexual sin causes so much hurt and damage. When sex takes place outside a marriage relationship, people get hurt, relationships are ruined, girls get pregnant and often have abortions, guys abandon the young moms, diseases are passed around, the witness for Christ's cause suffers, people are full of guilt, dignity is lost......
Because of God's judgment and punishment. Since God is holy and just, He brings and allows consequences for our sins.
BUT GOD HAS AMAZING GRACE AND LOVINGLY OFFERS HIS FORGIVENESS!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for coming up with the beautiful gift of sex. Confess any sinful desires and/or sensual actions you've been struggling with in your life. Ask His Spirit to give you the faith you need, the power you need to say no to pressure, and the patience you need to wait for the Christian spouse He has in mind for you.
- Read more of Paul's words in 1st Corinthians 6:18-20 about our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit. Every day, as you face sexual pressure in our sensual culture, remember that the Holy Spirit is in you. This is key to keep abiding in Christ consistently.
- If you have been sexually active, you may want to see a doctor to find out if you have an STD so that you can get the medical help you need.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Pray for the kids who now have a STD (because of making wrong choices about sex) to get the medical help they need and the healing they need, both physically and spiritually.
- Share this DAILYBIDE with others who are followers of Jesus. It might be your youth group or a small group.
- If you are not already in a small group of friends who are serious about following Jesus, start one. Pray for each other and hold each other accountable in the challenge of living a life of sexual purity in obedience to Christ.
- Be ready to share some of your story about your life in Christ, because your peers will notice you living a life of sexual purity and will be curious as to why?
- May 2008 [9]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [21]
- December 2007 [20]
- November 2007 [18]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [19]
- August 2007 [20]
- July 2007 [18]
- June 2007 [19]
- May 2007 [18]
- April 2007 [13]
- March 2007 [17]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [9]
- December 2006 [6]
- November 2006 [15]
- October 2006 [18]
- September 2006 [12]
- August 2006 [17]
- July 2006 [14]
- June 2006 [4]
