Final answer:
About one in six U.S. adolescents experience an STI each year, with chlamydia and gonorrhea being particularly common. STIs are more prevalent due to risky behaviors, lack of knowledge, and asymptomatic cases among the adolescent population.
Step-by-step explanation:
About one in six U.S. adolescents experience a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) each year. The prevalence is higher among adolescents due to a higher likelihood of taking risks, a lack of knowledge about how STIs are spread, and myths surrounding STIs. Among teenagers and young adults, chlamydia and gonorrhea are notably common infections, with chlamydia being the most prevalent STI in the United States. Furthermore, many STIs can be asymptomatic, which means they do not cause any noticeable symptoms, and thus can remain undiagnosed, leading to higher statistics for the incidence of these infections in the population.
It's important for young people to be educated about safe sexual practices, including the proper use of condoms to reduce the risk of STI transmission; however, it is crucial to note that while condoms significantly reduce the risk, they do not completely prevent the transmission of all STIs.