Considering adopting an older child or a teenager from the foster care system? Then you need to be prepared to talk to your teenager about sex and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Teenagers in foster care are more likely to be sexually active than their peers are and less likely to use protection.

A common STD, which is caused by bacteria, is Chlamydia. Any person, male or female, can contract Chlamydia by having sexual contact with an infected person. There may be no symptoms to indicate an infection. Symptoms that may occur are a burning feeling during urination or an abnormal discharge from the vagina or penis.

Chlamydia can infect the urinary tract in both men and women. Babies born to mothers infected with Chlamydia can contract eye infections and pneumonia from it. Chlamydia can infect the epididymis, the tube that carries sperm, in men, which can cause pain, fever, and occasional infertility.

Antibiotics can cure Chlamydia and using condoms can decrease the risk of contracting this sexually transmitted disease. Over two percent of Americans between 14 and 39 years old have a Chlamydia infection, based on a study of 6632 Americans between 1999 and 2002. The CDC recommends routine screening of females age 25 and under for Chlamydia since a person may be unaware of the infection.

An article in the Child Welfare League of America contained the following information about teenagers in foster care and sex.

“In one major study on sexual activity among youths in foster care, it reported that 41.1% had had intercourse, 40.5% were recently sexually active, and 56.8% had intercourse while in the current family foster home.

In a 1992 survey, 86% of all teens age 15 and older in the custody of the Vermont Department of Social and Rehabilitate Services reported that they were sexually active….reported that of the sexually active teens in foster care, only 38% reported using any type of contraceptive regularly.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Home Page
STDs and Pregnancy - Fact Sheet
Order Publications Online

STD information and referrals to STD Clinics
CDC-INFO
1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
In English, en Español

CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN)
P.O. Box 6003
Rockville, MD 20849-6003
1-800-458-5231
1-888-282-7681 Fax
1-800-243-7012 TTY
E-mail: info@cdcnpin.org
American Social Health Association (ASHA)
P. O. Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3827
1-800-783-9877

Related topics
Herpes - Common STDs Your Teenager Should Know About
Teen Nicotine Use
How to Get Your Older Adopted Child to Talk to You
Immunization for Cervical Cancer
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