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12:02

Admin - Hello and welcome to MomHouston's Teen sexual health Live Chat. This is your chance to brush up on your sex ed information.

We have with us today Dr Peggy Smith, director of BCM's Teen Health Clinic and Dr Ruth Buzi, assitant professor and director of social services at the Teen Health Clinic.

Thank you so much for being with us

12:03

[Comment From RoLinder Wright]
I am an advocate of sexual health. I was a former sex ed advocate and resource at my university. Teens are not aware of the severity of HIV amongst other STD and what I have found, they filter the lack of knowledge in the college environment in which they are afforded more freedom, etc.

12:06

Dr. Peggy B. Smith - It's a very significant issue, there has been a nationwide assessment that documents your concern. Adolescents between 13 and 24 years represent 4.4% of the total cases but have 9.9% of undiagnosed cases. In other words, they have a larger percent of undiagnosed cases. For further discussion, search MMWR, June 26, 2009 58(24); 665-668.

The Teen Health Clinic has had an increasing prevalence of HIV in our adolescent population. This is a growing concern and education is imperative to prevent the spread.

12:06

[Comment From Tom]
Is telling my child to use a condom a good and safe option?

12:06

Dr. Ruth Buzi - Condoms are very important in reducing a variety of sexually transmitted infections as well as pregnancy. Teens should know that this is a good option if they choose to be sexually active. We promote the ABCs (Abstinence, Being faithful and using Condoms correctly and consistently) as a way to protect teens from a variety of negative consequences of unsafe sexual practices.

12:08

[Comment From Anixia]
I agree with RoLinder Wright, but even though they promote all the sex ad, and awarness, teens are still out there "having fun" and spreading diseases

12:08

[Comment From Guest]
My son is a teen and we made a decision at his birth not to have him circumcised. At the time, and I did the research, there was no CONCRETE evidence to support a decision to have this procedure done. So, I looked at is as genital mutilation. Now that these new studies have been done, what can I do to educate my son on preventing diseases such as HIV and AIDS?

12:08

Dr. Peggy B. Smith - As a parent, those are your rights for medical care, but I would be sure that he is aware that mode of transmission and as discussed above, the ABC model, which should help him reduce his risks of STI infection. Please be advised that there are a variety of other STI's that have significant morbidity for the adolescent population.