Through June 2001, HIV surveillance data from the CDC suggest that more than one-half of all HIV-infected teen males are infected through sex with men. A small percentage of males appear to be exposed by injection drug use and/or heterosexual contact. The same data suggest that one-half of all adolescent females who are infected with HIV were exposed through heterosexual contact and a very small percentage through injection drug use.
Approximately one quarter of the 15 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reported in the United States each year are among teenagers. This is particularly significant because if either partner is infected with another STD, the risk of HIV transmission increases substantially.
• If one of the partners is infected with an STD that causes the discharge of pus and mucus, such as gonorrhea or chlamydial infection, the risk of HIV transmission is three to five times greater.
• If one of the partners is infected with an STD that causes ulcers, such as syphilis or genital herpes, the risk of HIV transmission is nine times greater.
Oral sex is considered a low risk activity. However, you can become infected if you have a break in your skin in or around your mouth. Breaks in the skin can be caused by injuring your gums as you brush or floss your teeth or a tooth that was pulled.
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