We have turned teens into factories that produce STD’s. Our world surrounds teens with soft and no so soft erotic in magazines, newspapers, music, television, and even video games. These images are designed to stroke the hormone bloom occurring inside the bodies of pubescent teens.

With their bodies in high gear sexually, they are primed for experimentation. The natural curiosity of young people plays right into this scenario. Mother Nature has provided them with the tools for sex, and society implicitly gives them the know how. Add in a touch of lax parental supervision. The outcome is very predictable. If sex happens often enough with multiple partners, an STD infection is almost a sure thing.

At best, sex education seems dull and stodgy next to the opportunity for testing the waters when with the right partner in a private place. Even armed with information about condoms and the danger of STD’s, the human sex drive will push many to seize the moment without due caution or protection.

Most teens view herpes as an inconvenience rather than a disease. Their philosophy is that since it will not kill you, it is not so bad. It is much better than an HIV infection and only slightly worse than other STD’s that can be cured with a shot or medication. They reason that with drugs and due care, herpes is no big deal. Even commercials aired by drug manufacturers play into this mentality.

It is no surprise that one of the more prevalent sexually transmitted infections in teens would be herpes. Until recently, the incidence of herpes in teens and especially white teens was growing exponentially. With teens on the pill and other female controlled forms of birth control, many teen girls seem to believe that sex is now safe. Only after symptoms of herpes begin to be manifested a few weeks later do they realize the folly of their choice.

Since herpes is considered an incurable disease for now, these teens have received a life sentence to live with the illness and risk passing it to others along the way. They will have to confess to any serious partner and especially to a future spouse that they carry the herpes virus. While perhaps not like admitting to having HIV, it still may be enough to ruin many relationships.

The solution is difficult to formulate. Schools, governments, and churches have sought for the right answer. Obviously, limiting the opportunity for teens to engage in sexual activity is the ultimate choice. Abstinence is hard to enforce and to do. Everyday, teens prove this many times.

Probably parents have the best chance of improving this problem. However, with most families today needing both parents to be employed to make ends meet, parental supervision can be a nearly impossible task.