HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life.

When used correctly and consistently, condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV infection.

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can infect people of any gender. It can cause infections in the genitals, rectum, and throat. Gonorrhea may not cause symptoms so it is important to get tested if you are at risk. It can be cured with antibiotics.

Decrease your risk of getting gonorrhea by using condoms correctly every time you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can have serious complications when left untreated, but it is simple to cure with the right treatment. You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore on the penis, vagina, or anus, in the rectum, or on the lips and in the mouth.

You can get syphilis by direct contact with a syphilis sore during vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Sores can be found on the penis, vagina, anus, in the rectum, or on the lips and in the mouth.

If you are sexually active, you can lower your chances of getting syphilis by using condoms correctly every time you have sex. Condoms prevent transmission of syphilis by preventing contact with a sore. Since sores can appear in areas not covered by a condom, they do not offer complete protection and contact with these sores can still transmit the disease.

The CDC has recommendeds that everyone aged 13-64 years should be tested for HIV at least once in their life. Some people at greater risk for getting HIV should get tested more often.

HIV-infected people who know their infection status can seek medical treatment to keep HIV infection from progressing to AIDS, and can take actions to prevent infecting others.

Providing comprehensive sex education in public schools is effective in preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in youth. Comprehensive sex education—which includes information about healthy relationships, pregnancy and STD prevention, body image, and gender identity and sexual orientation—does this by reducing sexual risk taking. Students who receive comprehensive sex education are more likely to wait to have sex, have sex less often, have fewer sexual partners, and use some sort of contraceptive method.

Many states require certain content to be covered when sex education is provided in schools. Some states require teaching about condoms or contraception.

Providing comprehensive sex education in public schools is effective in preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in youth. Comprehensive sex education—which includes information about healthy relationships, pregnancy and STD prevention, body image, and gender identity and sexual orientation—does this by reducing sexual risk taking. Students who receive comprehensive sex education are more likely to wait to have sex, have sex less often, have fewer sexual partners, and use some sort of contraceptive method.

Many states require certain content to be covered when STD/HIV education is provided in schools. Some states require teaching about condoms or contraception.

This indicator is drawn from School Health Profiles, a system of surveys developed by CDC to assess school health policies and practices at the state and local level. School Health Profiles evaluated the teaching of four topics related to condom use: 1) efficacy of condoms; 2) importance of using condoms consistently and correctly; 3) how to obtain condoms; and 4) how to correctly use a condom.

Teen birth rates have been on the decline more than a decade, hitting an all-time low in 2012. Despite the fact that declines have occurred across all states and racial/ethnic groups, there continue to be large disparities between states.

Teen childbearing has many negative economic, social, and health impacts. It is a major factor in low school achievement and low income for teen mothers.