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Manchester (pte018/31.03.2005/11:00) - People that develop later in life could be more vulnerable to high-risk sexually transmitted diseases, according to new research. As the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk reports, the risk of being infected seems to be more closely linked to the age a person reaches sexual maturity than starting to have sex when young. According to researchers from the University of Manchester http://www.man.ac.uk , girls who mature early may be protected to some extent by their hormones. The results of the research are published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The researchers studied 127 young women from three sexual health clinics. All of them had started having periods within the preceding five years or were aged 17 years and under. The women were screened for genital infections, including chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV) and bacterial vaginosis. Almost two thirds of the young women tested positive for HPV, half of which were the high-risk types associated with the development of cervical cancer. Over half of those infected with HPV had at least one other infection. Around one in four tested positive for Chlamydia, which can cause infertility.
The researchers found that specific behaviour patterns had specific effects on particular infections. A recent new partner or use of a condom was associated with a lower risk of chlamydial infection, while the use of emergency contraception doubled the risk. Sex during a period also increased the risk of bacterial vaginosis, while smoking conferred protection against HPV. However, sexual maturity had a significant impact on all three infections. More sexually mature women were significantly less likely to have any of the infections. The association held good even after other factors, such as number of sexual partners, were taken into account. According to the researchers, the key may be that girls who reach sexual maturity early have high levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen. According to researcher Loretta Brabin, this may help reduce the risk of infection by accelerating physical development.
"Our findings dispel the myth that vulnerability to sexual infection is all about the age of onset of sexual activity and high risk behaviour," said Brabin. "No young woman should indulge in risky sexual behaviour - particularly as this research suggests that they are more likely to contract sexual infections," she added. According to Simon Barton, of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection is influenced by a number of factors, including a person's genetic make-up and whether they already have other infections. "It is important that young women entering a new relationship do emphasise the use of contraception," he said.
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