The Real World

Aspire – Student The Real World

Just as the media portrays alcohol as cool and fun, and without consequences, teen sex is often shown in the same light. It’s all good, all fun, all cool, and there are no serious consequences. However, when people choose to engage in sexual activity outside of marriage, they put themselves at risk for a number of consequences. Beyond the physical concerns of pregnancy in this context, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) represent another serious concern. STD’s are diseases transmitted through various types of sexual contact.

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Can you think of a movie or TV show you saw recently in which people contracted an STD?
Would you say that:
In the TV world, STDs are:*
- Very rare
- Very common
In the real world, STDs are:*
- Very rare
- Very common

Although television shows include sexual images (or situations), there are relatively few scenes in which characters contract STDs. There are, however, increasing numbers of TV ads for STD medications. What does this tell you?*

In the real world, the number of cases of STDs that occur in America each day is approximately:*
- 5.4
- 54
- 540
- 5,400
- 54,000

Would you say that STDs usually
- go away quickly
- have long-term effects?

If someone desires to get married in the future, could having an STD be a problem?*
- Yes
- No
Explain:*

Are all people equally at risk for contracting an STD?*
- Yes
- No
Explain*

It is documented that the use of alcohol contributes to the spread of STDs. Adults who become drunk are twice as likely to become infected with an STD as those who don’t get drunk.5 What would you say is the relationship between alcohol, sexual activity, and STDs?*

Aspire – Student The Real World

STDs are commonly divided into two categories: those that can be cured (non-viral) and those that cannot (viral).
These two basic categories represent some of the most common STDs.

Non-Viral STDs

Chlamydia – Gonorrhea – Syphilis – Trichomoniasis

These diseases typically have no outward symptoms. Although they can be cured, they often remain in the body, undiagnosed and uncured. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are particularly troublesome for teen girls because they are able to move through the reproductive system, possibly causing pelvic inflammatory disease. This disease can scar the fallopian tubes and prevent or hinder passage of the egg, which may cause infertility. Although the initial STD can be cured, the damage done to the person’s body remains.^2,3,4

Viral STDs

HPV* – Herpes II – Hepatitis B/C– HIV/AIDS

These diseases cannot be cured. In the case of some viral STDs, such as HPV, a person’s immune system may or may not be able to suppress the virus. In other cases, such as genital herpes, the virus typically requires medication in order to suppress outbreaks. Ads on TV for herpes medication do not claim to cure herpes because they cannot – it is incurable. Rather these medications claim to help control the symptoms of the disease. The vast majority of cases of viral STDs today are HPV and herpes II. (*HPV – Human Papillomavirus)^2,3

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STDs are commonly divided into two categories: those that can be cured (non-viral) and those that cannot (viral). These two basic categories represent some of the most common STDs.

Non-Viral STDs

Chlamydia – Gonorrhea – Syphilis – Trichomoniasis

Viral STDs

HPV* – Herpes II – Hepatitis B/C– HIV/AIDS

STDs are commonly divided into two categories: those that can be cured (non-viral) and those that cannot (viral).
These two basic categories represent some of the most common STDs.