After an extensive study, researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine are now calling from STD screening in teen girls as well. Doctors might now push STD testing more aggressively after the study carried out has revealed that about 50% of the teenage girls living in various US cities fall prey to at least 1 STD within 2 years of becoming sexually active.

The study basically focused on identifying common infections and diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomoniasis, in as many as 381 girls between the age groups of 14 and 17. The tests' results also revealed that repeat infections were common among all the subjects studied.

"With relatively little sexual experience, they are exposed to these infections fairly early on. And that's because there is a lot of it circulating. Unless you are in a place where there is no sexual activity -- and suburbs are not immune to that -- then I think this message applies to all", said Dr. J. Dennis Fortenberry, the study's lead author.

According to researchers, STD screenings should begin within a year of the first intercourse and should be then repeated 3 to 4 times a year.

Details of the study have been reported in the December issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.