Study finds STDs in a quarter of U.S. teen girls

by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio,
Nanci Olesen, Minnesota Public Radio

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that almost one in four teenage girls in the U.S. has a sexually transmitted disease. The first-of-its kind study found that 24 percent of girls age 14 to 19 has at least one of four common STDs. By far the most common infection was human papillomavirus, an infection that can lead to cervical cancer.

The results of this study are a wake-up call to a lot of parents. Minnesota Public Radio's Family Desk reporter Nanci Oleson talks to host Tom Crann about the findings and their implication.

More from MPR

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• Health Dept. recommends against requiring HPV vaccine
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• HPV vaccines going unused in South Dakota
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• Parents debate HPV vaccination
  February 22, 2007
• Public health officials, parents at odds over HPV vaccine
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Resources

• Read more about the study on Nanci Olesen's "How's The Family" blog