A recent study by federal health officials found a quarter of teenage girls are infected with a sexually transmitted disease. One Norwalk doctor says though some of the diseases are not curable, they are preventable.

Federal officials based their findings on a survey of 838 women between the ages of 14 and 19. The study found one in four teens are infected with at least one STD, including HPV, Chlamydia, genital herpes and trichomoniasis.

Doctors say the reason behind the statistics is many teens don?t use protection during any type of sexual activity. Norwalk Hospital?s Dr. Peter Dodds says HPV in particular is on the increase. He says there are treatments for HPV, but there is currently no cure.

Dodds says a way to prevent getting any STD would be to use a condom.

National Study of STDs Among Teen Women