ABSTRACT
Sexually active adolescents continue to be the highest risk group for nearly every sexually transmitted disease (STD). Figure 17.1 utilizes data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STD Surveillance 2005, after adjusting for prevalence of sexual activity. It demonstrates that sexually active adolescent women 15-19 years of age have the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea. 1 Figure 17.2 examines data from 2001 to 2005, reporting rates in all 15-19-year-old teens, regardless of sexual activity. 1 In Figure 17.2 , rates have risen slightly for both teen females and males, but some of this apparent increase may be from the use of noninvasive testing or greater use of diagnostic tests with highest levels of sensitivity.
