Sexual health education empowers young people to prevent infections

Please attribute all quotes to Irene Stafford, MD, associate professor and board-certified maternal-fetal medicine physician with UTHealth Houston. 

Why sexual health matters 

For many adolescents and young adults, life revolves around new experiences, greater independence, and new relationships. It's also a time when sexual health becomes more important than ever. Yet conversations about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can still feel uncomfortable or embarrassing. The truth is, they shouldn't.

STIs are incredibly common. Nearly half of all new cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis occur among teenagers and young adults. These infections can affect anyone who is sexually active, regardless of their background, relationship status, or how healthy they otherwise feel.

One of the biggest challenges is that many STIs cause no symptoms at all. You or your partner may feel completely healthy and still have an infection without knowing it. That's why routine testing is so important. Screening allows infections to be identified early, treated promptly, and helps prevent transmission to others.

Untreated STIs can lead to important health problems. In women, infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent many of these complications.

Prevention, protection, and confidential care 

Practicing safer sex is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk. Using condoms consistently and correctly significantly lowers the risk of many sexually transmitted infections. It's also important to have open, honest conversations with partners about sexual health, STI testing, and protection before becoming sexually active. While these conversations may feel awkward at first, they are a normal and healthy part of any relationship.

Don't let embarrassment keep you from talking with your healthcare provider. Sexual health is health, and your provider is there to help, not to judge. If you have symptoms, think you've been exposed to an STI, or simply want routine screening, ask. Many STIs are easily diagnosed and treated, especially when caught early.

For teenagers and young adults in Texas, it's also important to know that STI testing can often be obtained confidentially. Privacy protections allow many adolescents to seek testing and treatment without fear that their health information will be shared inappropriately. 

Prevention goes beyond testing. Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most effective ways to prevent several cancers and genital warts. If you haven't completed the HPV vaccine series, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you're eligible.

Prevention tools and reducing the stigma 

There are also new tools available to help prevent certain STIs. For individuals at increased risk of HIV, preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe medication that can reduce the risk of getting infected with HIV. In addition, some people at higher risk for some STIs may be candidates for doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP). When taken within three days after sex, it has been shown to reduce the risk of syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Of course, you should always talk with your healthcare provider about whether they may be appropriate for you.

Perhaps the most important message is this: Sexual health should never be a source of shame. Getting tested, asking questions, using protection, and seeking care when something doesn't feel right are all acts of self-care.

By normalizing these conversations and reducing stigma, we can help protect not only our own health but also the health of our partners and communities.

Taking care of your sexual health is simply part of taking care of yourself.