The Centers for Disease Control recently released a new study that estimates half of the 20 million, newly diagnosed sexually transmitted infections in the United States occur among young adults ages 15-24, which suggests America’s youth is not practicing safe sex.

With April being Sexually Transmitted Diseases Awareness Month, safe sex practices are in the spotlight. The CDC’s analysis on STIs reflects the growing recklessness of today’s youth, seeing as the sexually active lot accounts for nearly half of a whopping 110, 197,000 cases of the venereal diseases. According to the American Social Health Association, more than half of all people will have an STI at some point in their life. What’s worse, 1 in 3 sexually active adults will have contracted one of the venereal diseases by the age of 24, meaning college students are highly at risk.

Women especially are at risk for contracting STIs, though the number of infections is relatively evenly distributed between men and women, with women accounting for 51 percent and men 49 percent. However, women are more likely to show symptoms than men.

Aside from the jeopardy of acquiring HIV, those with STIs have worse health complications than those without, such as infertility. Some STIs, like herpes, have no cure. Imagine trying to tell a partner about having an STI – not a pleasant thought.

One disease, in particular, accounts for the majority of STI cases: human papillomavirus. Most cases tend to resolve themselves, but the cases that do go untreated could lead to cervical cancer in women, the CDC said. Though HPV is the most commonly contracted STI, chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most prevalent in 15- to 24-year-olds. Both are curable, but any permanent damage caused by the diseases cannot go undone.

Instead of spewing out more statistics, here are a few tips the CDC and UA’s Student Health Center offer for STI prevention:

• Use protection

• Practice abstinence.

• Get vaccinated. There are vaccines that prevent HBC and some types of HPV.

• Get tested regularly.

UA students can get tested at the SHC or can go to the Alabama Department of Health at 2350 Hargrove Road East for free testing. STI screenings and treatment can prevent transmission to others.