Early exposure to sex increases STIs risks – Physician

Dr. Adebisi Olasunkanmi, the Senior Medical Officer, Oyo State Hospital Management Board, has said that early exposure to sex can increase the chances of an individual contracting sexually transmitted infections.
Olasunkanmi told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday that an early unprotected sexual practice was common amongst adolescent population.
According to him, a recent study showed that the proportion of adolescents who engaged in unprotected sex with multiple partners was highest amongst those aged between 15 and 24.
He said that of this group, only about 22 per cent to 33 per cent had adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS.
He said: “Although adolescents are often regarded as the healthiest segment of any population, many in this group are confronted with multiple issues which undermine their health.
“As adolescents become physically and sexually mature, their interests in sex increases naturally.
“Early sex is a risk factor for STIs because those who have sexual debut early, have longer period of exposure to different sexual partners during their lifetime.”
He said that sexually active adolescents, due to an immature reasoning capability, tend to choose partners who are at greater risk of STIs such as prostitutes.
“Physical and emotional maturity, needed to appreciate the consequences of sexual activity, often lag behind sexual maturity, which is true in most adolescent cases,” he said.
According to him, major interventions for adolescents should focus on enabling them to make successful transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Olasunkanmi advised parents to play a proactive role in the reproductive health education of their adolescents.
“Both formal teaching and living by example are required to reinforce the positive messages that will enable adolescents counter many of the rumors that they receive from peers,” he said.