This resource examines issues surrounding sexual health in adolescent and young adult (AYA) males and highlights gaps in care and the need for more education about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV in this population. Studies show that about half of all new STI diagnoses are in adolescents and young adults. In adolescent males, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rates of genital gonorrhea, genital chlamydia, and primary and secondary syphilis have increased in recent years.
A major contributor to these trends is the fact that use of sexual and reproductive health care services by young males is low. The reasons are multiple, principal among them being how poorly defined the components of young men’s sexual and reproductive health care are and how little attention they historically have received. Data also indicate that primary care providers are much less likely to take sexual health histories from male than female patients or to counsel them on the use of condoms. Also, STIs in males are more likely to be asymptomatic, which leads to delayed diagnosis.
The principal purpose of this resource is to educate parents about the dangers to health and wellbeing that young adult males may face if they lack support and care for or education about STIs and HIV.