Everyone who has sex is at risk for sexually transmitted diseases. This includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and straight youth and adults of all races.

Young people are especially at risk for STDs:

• 70% of all cases of chlamydia in Washington State are in the 15-24 age group
• Genital herpes among 12- to 19-year-old whites is now five times higher than it was 20 years ago
• 15-19 year old women and 20-24 year old men have the highest rates of gonorrhea in the U.S.

If you have sex, you are at risk. Young gay and bisexual men are particularly at risk for HIV and other STDs. In the last year, STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis have been increasing among gay and bisexual men. Young lesbian and bisexual women can also catch STDs from other girls, although you are more likely to catch them if you have sex sometimes with guys-especially if those partners are your gay and bisexual male friends.

Everyone, regardless of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity, can be safest by abstaining from oral, anal and vaginal intercourse. Everyone who does have sex can reduce the risks by:

• using condoms for vaginal and anal sex
• having sex with only one person who only has sex with you--and then not having sex until you have gone with that person for at least three months and both getting tested for HIV and other STDs before you do
• getting hepatitis B vaccinations (an STD you can prevent with shots!) getting regular, thorough STD checkups, even if you have no symptoms
• keeping an eye out for symptoms and getting treated for them quickly
• talking with your partners about sex and STDs
• being proud of who you are and believing that you are WORTH keeping healthy.

• Lesbian and bisexual women and STDs
• Gay and bisexual men and STDs
• Public Health's HIV homepage
• Public Health's STD homepage