Aims: To determine the lifetime occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among a cohort aged 21.
Methods: Participants were interviewed at aged 21 as part of a multidisciplinary health and development study. Questions on STDs and sexual behaviour were presented by computer.
Results: Of the cohort members known to be alive, 92% responded. Among the sexually experienced 8.6% of the men and 17.3% of the women reported ever having had an STD. Genital warts and chlamydial infection were the commonest STDs among the men, and chlamydial infection, genital warts, and genital herpes among the women. General practice was the commonest place for treatment, and only a minority of people were treated at sexual health clinics. The risk of having an STD increased steeply with the lifetime number of sexual partners.
Conclusions: STDs are common problems among young New Zealanders, especially women. The rate was as high as the US. Prevention should be directed at increasing the use of condoms, but education aimed at reducing the number of sexual partners and delaying the onset of sexual involvement should be considered seriously. A more coordinated approach to treatment is required to take into account the diversity of settings where STDs are treated. Surveillance of STDs needs to be extended, as currently the only data are from sexual health clinics.