Maybe it will be you. Nearly two-thirds of all STDs occur in people younger than 25. STDs are infections that result from having unprotected sex with someone who has the infection, or who is carrying the bacteria or viruses that cause the infection. In many cases, the infections don't cause immediate symptoms, although a person is still contagious and can transmit the infection to a partner. The risky behaviors you practice as a teen can show up years later and cause a life-threatening illness.
Information is the next best defense.
Learn everything you can about STDs and how to protect yourself. Remember, you can't tell if someone has an STD just by looking at them. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the two most common sexually transmitted diseases among teen-agers and young adults, and syphilis affects more people between the ages of 15 and 30 than any other age group. Condoms do not offer protection against all STDs. HPV can be found on the dry skin surrounding the groin and stomach.