Becoming a teenager is a very turbulent time in more ways than one. Not only are you going through all these physical changes, but your emotional wellness also takes a major hit. Does any girl suddenly grow breasts, start periods and get hair in weird places without being a little bit affected by it? You’re becoming an adult – both physically and emotionally – and that’s a pretty scary thing. There’s also a certain amount of responsibility attached to this new body you’re developing. Kids don’t have to give much thought to taking care of their wellbeing – especially considering the fact their parents do it for them – but as a teenager you need to start thinking about your body and how to take care of it.
This is no more true than when it comes to your sexual health, especially with regard to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Young people aged less than 25 years experience the highest rates of STIs in the UK, with the peak age for girls being between the age of 19 and 20. The worst news is that not only are people your age getting infected, but it’s happening to individuals more than once! Official statistics show that, of all 16-19 year olds diagnosed with an STI in 2009, at least 11% of women and 12% of men will become re-infected within a year. It’s really important to look after your body and this includes looking after your sexual health by staying free from STIs.
But why are STIs such a big deal? If you have an STI and you let it go untreated, this may lead to some serious health consequences and even prevent you being able to have children in the future. The problem with STIs is that they don’t often present with any obvious symptoms, meaning that you could have one without even realising. As we’ve already discussed, this is something you’ve never had to deal with before, which is why teenagers don’t give much thought to their sexual health. However, just like the rest of your body, your vagina can be affected by infections, sickness, stress or antibiotics.
With regards to infections, it’s easy to catch an STI off someone who has already been infected. Like I’ve said, the symptoms of an STI aren’t always obvious, and so your partner may not know he has one, and could pass it on to you through oral, vaginal or anal sex. That said, there are a few signs for women that an STI might be present. These include itching, soreness, unusual discharge, swelling or pain. Sometime even cold and flu symptoms may indicate an STI. Therefore, if you experience any of the above symptoms, or you have unprotected sexual contact with someone else, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible, and get tested for STIs.
Another important sexual health strategy to take up is to get a Pap smear on a regular basis. You should start having Pap smears two years after the first time you have sex, AND after you turn 18, and then every two years after that. During the Pap smear test, your doctor will take a sample of cells from your cervix so that he or she can detect if there are any changes to the tissues or cells in your cervix or womb. Human Papillomavirus is one of the most common causes of these changes, and is also responsible for causing genital warts. Pap smears are done by doctors and nurses all the time, so there is no need to feel embarrassed.
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