The implications that contagion of an STI (sexually transmitted infections) would have on an adolescent may be physical, due to the consequences of the disease; or psychological, because of the way it can affect you emotionally.
Before analyzing these implications, it must be explained that STIs, also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are those that are spread through the sexual act, due to the exchange of fluids that occurs during it.
The best known are gonorrhea, herpes or, more seriously, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus or AIDS).
Implications
Adolescents are a risk group for the spread of these diseases. This is due to the lack of information they have about prevention methods, as well as the difficulties they may find in getting them.
In addition, at those ages there is a psychological feeling of invulnerability, which makes them more reckless.
The consequences of contagion of an STI can be physical or psychological. The most relevant aspects of each one will be detailed below:
Physical implications
Adolescence is the time when human beings begin to discover their sexuality. This causes the first sexual relations to begin, in many cases without adequate protection.
Some of these implications are, for example, the damage that the sexual organs can suffer, with ulcers or herpes in the area. Fevers or other symptoms such as blindness may also appear, in the case of gonorrhea or chlamydia.
Likewise, the sterility of the infected person is a risk that some of these diseases carry.
More serious infections can lead to cervical cancer or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; in the worst of cases, these diseases can lead to death.
What further complicates the issue is that in some of these diseases, visible symptoms do not appear until the infection has developed over time, so the solutions are complicated.
Psychological implications
Although the physical consequences of these types of infections are more serious, there are also a number of psychological implications that must be taken into account.
If for adults there are difficulties in accepting or telling that they suffer from one of these conditions, in the case of adolescents this multiplies.
This concealment is not only negative emotionally, but it also causes the cure to be delayed, aggravating the effects.
Cases of depression can be found for this reason. The young man is not capable of managing the situation without daring to tell his parents. This, in the most serious cases, can lead to suicide.
These cases are more frequent in women than in men, since they also think that they can be more criticized for having sex.
Finally, it has been proven that having suffered from an STI in adolescence complicates the emotional development of the person, which causes problems to appear in maintaining new relationships.
References
- Batista Anache, Sandris. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and adolescence. (2009). Retrieved from eumed.net
- Andrés Domingo, P. Sexually transmitted infections. Obtained from pediatriaintegral.es
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexual Risk Behaviors: HIV, STD, & Teen Pregnancy Prevention. Retrieved from cdc.gov
- Larissa Hirsch, MD. About Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Retrieved from kidshealth.org
- Stephanie Watson. Teens and STDs: Get the Facts. Retrieved from teens.webmd.com