Oklahoma adolescents face infertility danger with sexually transmitted disease

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- State health officials are worried because youngsters between 10- and 19-years-old make up nearly 40 percent of the Oklahoma's reported cases of a sexually transmitted disease

Tuesday, October 25th 2005, 2:43 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- State health officials are worried because youngsters between 10- and 19-years-old make up nearly 40 percent of the Oklahoma's reported cases of a sexually transmitted disease called chlamydia.

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexual disease in the United State and can result in infertility in both males and females.

The Centers for Disease Control says sexually active girls and young women are especially high risk because their cervix isn't fully matured.

Michael Harmon with the state Health Department says sexually active adolescents aren't getting the education they need to protect themselves. He says one reason is a lack of sex education in schools.

Health officials from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and New Mexico will begin a two-day meeting Thursday in Oklahoma City to discuss chlamydia prevention.