October 14, 2014 – Contraception and STIs

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Anchor lead:  Teenagers need to think about infection as well as pregnancy prevention, Elizabeth Tracey reports

When given education and free access, most teenage women chose IUDs or implants for contraception, a recent study showed. But these methods don’t protect against sexually transmitted infections, and that remains an area of concern.  Maria Trent, an adolescent sexuality expert at Johns Hopkins, shares her thoughts.

Trent: That’s not going to go away.  People are still going to need to use condoms, to prevent sexually transmitted infections if they choose to have sexual intercourse.  I think that counseling girls on effective use of condoms, communication with your sexual partner, making sure your sexual partner knows how to use condoms, and also talking about whether or not the relationship is one in which they’re the only people in it, having those kinds of negotiations I think is important.  I think having health providers as well as people in your life you can talk to about those things sometimes really actually helps young people.  :31

Trent says accurate information and access can also improve condom use.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.