TALK TO YOUR DAUGHTERS!!!!

Once again, I should have just avoided the news today because I can feel my blood pressure slowly rising to a smooth simmering boil.

Have you Mamas heard about this?

A national study, conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed that 1 in 4 teenage girls (an estimated 3.2 million!) between the ages of 14 and 19 has a sexually transmitted disease. One in four!

That same survey found that nearly 50% of African American teens has an STD. Fifty percent? WHAT!?! THAT'S INSANE!

Ok ... deep breaths. Calm ... Calm ... Oooohhmmmm....

It's no shocker that teens are having sex at a younger age. Honestly, what do we expect? They're bombarded with sexual talk and imagery on television, on the internet, in magazines, in music, and you can be sure that it's the #1 topic in the halls at school. We KNOW this already. And please, I am in no way saying that we should excuse kids for having sex because they're surrounded by it and can't control themselves, but the point today is that they ARE having sex, and we already KNOW this, so the question I'd like to pose is…

WHY is NO ONE talking to these kids about protecting themselves?

This study only tested for 4 diseases: herpes, chlamydia, human papillomavirus or HPV, and trichomoniasis. It doesn't even account for diseases like, syphilis, gonorrhea, and HIV.

The implications of this study are pretty damn scary. Young girls who are experimenting with their bodies in ways that they're simply not ready for, may end up suffering severe consequences for it. Chlamydia and HPV can be present in the body for years with no symptoms, and can lead to infertility and cancer. That's a HUGE price to pay for a few minutes of youthful ignorance.

Once again, I have to make the point that comprehensive sex-education programs in the schools starting in the elementary grade levels and continuing into and throughout high school is SO necessary. How many times do we need to get smacked in the head for it to sink in?