Mandatory STD/HIV Testing in High Schools.
It is a scary thought to think that one in four Americans will contract an STD at some point in their life. Although STD awareness has risen in the past years, it is not where it should be. Out of approximately 15 million new cases of STDs each year, one in four occur in teenagers. It is a growing problem that does not receive the attention it should. Raising STD awareness and by having mandatory STD/HIV testing in high schools could bring those frightening statistics lower. Anything that can be done to prevent the spreading of STDs in America's youth must be done.
Most STDs cause no noticeable symptoms and can only be diagnosed through testing. Unfortunately, testing is not made easily available to most teenagers. Teenagers do not want their parents to find out they are having sex. This prevents them from going to their family doctor. To get tested the teenager has to go to a testing facility and pay for each STD they want to be screened for. In high school teenagers usually do not have the money to pay these fees, which can be in upwards of $120 for each test. If the testing were offered for free, then a lot more teenagers would be getting tested.
Free screening procedures would increase the rate of young Americans getting tested for STDs, but there are still some issues. Getting teenagers to actually go get tested is a hard thing to accomplish. If a teenager in high school is known to have a STD, they are looked at as "dirty". In fear of someone finding out they are infected with an STD, they would rather risk not knowing for themselves. Being ridiculed in high school is not something any student wants. This definitely strays a student away from going to get tested and finding out that they have an STD.
As parents one can hope that their child is not having sex at a young age, but the truth is teenagers are having sex. Teenagers are contracting STDs everyday because of the lack of STD education.