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This ad-hoc observational study, conducted in the metropolitan area of Berlin during 2004, revealed that the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections in female urban adolescents self-presenting at their gynaecologist without (n=397) or with (n=124) symptoms of CT infection was 5.5% (95% CI 3.7-8.2%) and 9.7% (95% CI 5.6-16.2%), respectively. The prevalence of CT infection was significantly dependent on the number of lifetime sexual partners. Condom use was inconsistent, and lack of knowledge about CT infections and associated health risks predominated in this cohort. The data indicated a need for health education concerning CT to be targeted at female adolescents.

Adolescents enter puberty early and many have sexual intercourse at a young age. That sexual intercourse can have side effects with life-long consequences is still a taboo field. In Germany, we do not have figures about the prevalence of the most frequently occurring sexually transmitted diseases in young people. Therefore the Medical Association for the Promotion of Women's Health (AGGF) initiated a prevalence study on infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in girls younger than 18 years in Berlin (n=266). After informed consent, information was given in 92 school classes. Thereafter in 30 offices of gynecologists the girls were offered a PCR test for the detection of CT free of charge. The results--10% of the 17-year-old girls had an acute chlamydial infection after an average of 19 months of sexual activity--suggest that in Germany there is a hidden epidemic among adolescents. Adolescents are not adequately informed about the risks of CT infection; medical counseling is both desired and effective.

Zu sam men fas sungDie Pil len ein nah me im Lang zy klus sche ma wird nicht nur für me di zi ni sche In di ka tio nen emp foh len, son dern auch als fort schritt li che Mög lich keit für einen selbst be stimm ten Um gang auf ge klär ter Frau en mit ih ren ge ne ra ti ven Funk tio nen aus ge lobt. In der Kon sequenz wird die Menst ru a ti on auch als ob so let be zeich net. Ist das wirk lich so? Oder findet in den Lang zy klen nur der Trend zur Zu rich tung des weib li chen Kör pers und weib licher Le bens ent wür fe nach männ li chem Mo dell eine Fort set zung?Die al ten Ta bus sind le ben dig und be ein flus sen selbst die ärzt li che Be ra tung und Behand lung. Auch heu te noch wer den Mäd chen im Rah men die ser Ta bus auf ge klärt und kön nen das, was sie an sich be mer ken, nicht deu ten. Oh ne hin füh len sie sich in ih rem auto no men Kör per ge fühl den Jun gen ge gen über zu rück ge setzt und brau chen viel Zeit und kom pe tente In for ma tio nen, um die Menst ru a ti on als zu ih rem Kör per ge hö rig zu ak zep tieren und ein um fas sen des weib li ches Selbst wert ge fühl zu ent wi ckeln. Dass es da mit nicht zum Bes ten steht, lässt sich an den stei gen den Zah len ess ge stör ter, rau chen der und un gewollt schwan ger wer den der Mäd chen ab le sen. Durch eine po si ti ve Men strua ti onsper zep tion ge win nen Mäd chen an Selbst ge fühl, Selbst ak zep tanz und Selbst zu frie den heit. Schlüs sel wör terLang zy klus sche ma · Pil le · Men strua ti onsper zep ti on · Selbst wert ge fühl · Mäd chen Per cep tion of men stru a tion and ex tend ed cy cles Ab stractTak ing the "pill" in a pat tern of ex tend ed cy cles is not only rec om mend ed for med i cal indi ca tions, but is also por trayed as a pro gres sive way for en light ened wom en to deal with their re pro duc tive func tions. In this con text, men stru a tion is de not ed as be ing ob so leteis this true, and if so, would it mean progress for girls and young wom en, or do the ex tended cy cles re pres ent an oth er fac et in the trend to shape the fe male body and fe male ways of life ac cord ing to the male mod el? Not men stru a tion it self is ob so lete, but our deroga tory and dis dain ful deal ings with this event and with the re pro duc tive po ten tial of wom en at a time when per son al fan cies are giv en prece dence over per son al com mit ment.The old taboos are alive and in flu ence even med i cal ad vice and treat ment. Con tem porary ed u ca tion re mains with in the con text of these taboos. As a con se quence, girls are at a loss to un der stand their vi tal func tions. They need time and com pe tent in for ma tion in or der to ac cept men stru a tion as an in te gral part of their life, and to de vel op fem i nine self-es teem. The ris ing num ber of eat ing dis or ders, smok ing habits and un in tend ed pregnan cies in girls re veal the deficits. A pos i tive per cep tion of men stru a tion in ten si fies selfaware ness, con fi dence and self sat is fac tion in girls. Key wordsPat tern of ex tend ed cy cles · Pill · Per c...

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