Thanks to the anti-strib blog (Anti-Strib: Let’s Test Your Logic) for the comments on the growing numbers of STDs in the U.S., particularly amongst women aged 15-24. The post is correct- sex is dangerous and we should be warning kids of the dangers and telling them to wait.

In the mean time, women (and men) should pay attention to the CDC Report on trends in sexually transmitted diseases. (Click here to read)

While the country has recently discovered schools in Portland, Maine have been distributing birth control to students in middle school, this practice has been in place around the country for years. In MN, there is no minimum age at which children can access birth control through public clinics, often run in collaboration with the schools.

A growing number of girls are getting Depo shots in junior and senior high. While no one knows what sort of impact these massive doses of hormones might have on these young women in the long run, a short term consequence is the reality that girls will be pressured by the young man )or sadly young men) in their lives to get the shot to avoid pregnancy. Once the girls are on the shot these same young men are even less likely to wear a condom. A result- more STDs.

Another thing to think about- up to 20% of these young women who acquire an STD could end up infertile because of scarring by the infection. I am sure the schools are explaining this and other risks to the kids in school...