Young adults are at high risk for STIs, including HIV, due
primarily to their behaviors. Even if sexually active youth
do plan ahead to prevent pregnancy, they still may be vulnerable
to sexually transmitted infections if they do not use condoms
consistently and correctly. Most youth have little knowledge
of STIs and their symptoms. Many do not seek treatment, or they
attempt to treat themselves first and only later seek treatment
at a clinic.
The risk for STIs is greatly increased for anyone who has multiple
sexual partners or if their partner has multiple partners. Young
people who start sexual activity at earlier ages are more likely
to have more than one partner, thus increasing chance of exposure
to STIs.
Young women are more susceptible to STIs than young men because
of biological factors, especially cervical ectopy. This is a
normal condition that is present in most female adolescents.
Also, females are more often asymptomatic than males. In some
countries, young people are at high risk because economic or
family problems force them to seek work in the sex industry.
Other young adults are at risk because they may be coerced into
sexual relations. Young women may be targeted by older men because
these women are believed to be free of STIs.
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