Oh my! I hope everyone has heard about the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week: one in four teen girls is likely to have at least one sexually transmitted disease (STD). HPV is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in teen girls (18 percent), but chlamydia was prominent (4 percent), as was trichomoniasis (2.5 percent) and herpes (2 percent). Nearly half of the African-American girls and 20 percent of Caucasian and Mexican-American girls were infected.

HPV is the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer in females. More than 80 percent of the people who are sexually active, and have had more than one sexual partner, have HPV, though it may not be active. It can be treated, but not cured.

Left untreated, STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to fertility problems. STDs like HPV and herpes can increase risk for getting HIV as well. On top of that, HPV can increase your risk for cervical abnormalities that can eventually lead to cervical cancer. STDs can travel together. Herpes and chlamydia infections also increase the likelihood that HPV will cause cervical abnormalities.

If you are sexually active, protect yourself. Know your partner's history and use condoms! If you are female, older than 11 and have not had your HPV vaccinations (there are three), ask your parents why not. The CDC recommends starting HPV vaccinations (for girls) at 11 to 12 years old, and most insurance companies cover the shots now. The recommendation also says that the series should be done before a young woman becomes sexually active. Recent studies have also shown that it really does reduce abnormalities seen on pap smears.