While sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect individuals of all ages, STDs take a particularly heavy toll on young people. CDC estimates that youth ages 15-24 make up just over one quarter of the sexually active population, but account for half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted infections that occur in the United States each year.
https://www.cdc.gov/std/life-stages-populations/adolescents-youngadults.htm
During 2016–2017, the rate of reported gonorrhea cases increased 15.5% for persons aged 15–19 years and 12.8% for persons aged 20–24 years (Table 21). In 2017, among women https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats17/adolescents.htm
Nationally, the highest rates of P&S syphilis in 2016 were observed among men aged 20–34 years,among men in the West, and among Black men
https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats16/syphilis.htm
Incidence and prevalence estimates suggest that young people aged 15–24 years acquire half of all new STDs1 and that one in four sexually active adolescent females has an STD, such as chlamydia or human papillomavirus (HPV).2 Compared with older adults, sexually active adolescents aged 15–19 years and young adults aged 20–24 years are at higher risk of acquiring STDs for a combination of behavioral, biological, and cultural reasons. For some STDs, such as chlamydia, adolescent females may have increased susceptibility to infection because of increased cervical ectopy. Cervical ectopy refers to columnar cells, which are typically found within the cervical canal, located on the outer surface of the cervix. Although this is a normal finding in adolescent and young women, these cells are more susceptible to infection. The higher prevalence of STDs among adolescents may also reflect multiple barriers to accessing quality STD prevention and management services, including inability to pay, lack of transportation, long waiting times, conflict between clinic hours and work and school schedules, embarrassment attached to seeking STD services, method of specimen collection, and concerns about confidentiality (e.g., Explanation of Benefits for services received mailed to parents or guardians) https://www.cdc.gov/std/stats17/adolescents.htm
HPV was the most common infection (18.3%), followed by chlamydia (3.9%). Moreover, in the year after having their first sexual experience and with only one sex partner, 19.2% of the teens developed an STD, Gottlieb’s group found. To counter these problems, teens need to have early sex education, Gottlieb noted
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=107896
Health,science 2019 