Sexually transmitted diseases do not play a part in many youngadults' everyday lives, but they do for some.
About 15 million new STD cases are reported annually, accordingto the Centers for Disease Control. And of the new reported casesbased on various age groups, 15 to 19-year-olds make up for 25percent, and 20 to 24-year-olds account for 42 percent.
"Chlamydia is the most reported STD and genital herpes (HSV2)has risen 30 percent over the past few years," said Carolyn Speros,assistant professor of nursing. "Herpes is kind of a hiddenepidemic because no one wants to talk about it."
For one 21-year-old college student, who asked to remainanonymous, genital herpes is a distressing aspect of everydaylife.
Infected three years ago as a result of unprotected sex, she nowsays she now knows STDs are real.
"It is not just something you hear about, it's very real," shesaid. "You just think it could never happen to you. But now I knowI'm not invincible from it."
With the spread of the AIDS virus worldwide, extreme precautionsmust be taken against HIV and all other STDs.
In 2003 alone, 5 million people contracted AIDS globally,according to CNN.com.
Experts also say at least half of all new HIV infections in theUnited States involve people age 25 and under.
The symptoms for most STDs are unnoticeable, but regularcheckups by a physician can detect any sign of disease.
"Chlamydia, which is most common and curable, usually occurswith few symptoms," said Speros. "However, genital herpes couldcause sores or outbreaks, and there is no cure for it."
Herpes' incurability is one of the problems the studentinterviewed has a hard time accepting.
"I feel awful knowing that my future husband will have to acceptthis part of me, and possibly be at risk himself," she said. "But Imade a wrong decision, and now I must live with theconsequences."
Preventive measures can be taken to insure new infectionsminimize.
"A monogamous relationship is very important, along with opencommunication," said Speros. "Open communication is definitely keywith any sexual partner, and of course, so are condoms."
