Based on the Guttmacher Institute fact sheet, less than 2% of teens engaged in sex when they turned 12. However, by the time they aged 15 onwards, the prevalence goes significantly higher. Almost 15% of these teens had sex by the time they are 17 and 68% when they reach 19. About 11% of females with ages between 15 and 19 had sex.
Because teens have become more sexually active over the years, the Preventive Services Task Force of the United States issued new guidelines with regard to screening for sexually transmitted diseases.
Today they are encouraging sexually active women from 15 to 24 years old to undergo screening for gonorrhea and Chlamydia, two of the most common infections affecting women.
In 2011, more than 300,000 teens from 15 to 19 were diagnosed with Chlamydia and about 59,000 suffered from gonorrhea.
These two sexually transmitted infections usually do not exhibit any signs. Thus, it is highly possible for young women to carry the same disease even during their child-bearing age, leading to life-threatening complications including ectopic pregnancies and infertility.
In the same manner, the task force strongly suggests mature or older women at a high risk of sexually transmitted diseases to go through regular screenings for the same infections. These include women who engage in sex with multiple partners or proceed with intercourse without adequate protection.
Women who have already undergone screening are more than likely going to be asked to come back if they develop new risks or if they are pregnant and have been tested positive. After treatment, they have to go back for a re-test.
They did not issue any new or special screening recommendations for men.
