Quiz on Adolescent Reproductive Health 12. In nearly every country, the peak age of infection in girls is lower than in boys.
Young women are physiologically more vulnerable to STDs and also more vulnerable to coercion.
Women's reproductive systems expose a greater surface area of sensitive tissues to a greater variety of pathogens during intercourse. Other practices such as female genital mutilation can also create the likelihood of recurrent genital tract infections and other disorders that increase the risk of STD infection. Due to the low status of women, especially those who are young and poor, women are more susceptible to situations where they are unable to negotiate sexual activity or contraceptive use. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse, rape and early marriage in areas where HIV infection is widespread. This reflects the conviction among many adult men that they will have less risk of HIV exposure if they engage in sexual intercourse with girls and very young women.