Teens tend to be less comfortable than adults talking about sexual topics. For many teen respondents, answers to survey questions about their comfort level in talking about sexual issues are only speculative. Sexually experienced teens are somewhat more open to the idea of discussing sexual topics than those who have not yet had sex, though many still balk at the idea. Among sexually experienced teens, those who have had conversations about sexual issues tend to benefit from the experience, at least as far as their comfort level with these topics is concerned. But on a Personal Level Talking about STDs with Partners Sounds Fairly Easy Teens tend to think differently of themselves than others.
Experience talking about sexual issues also appears to make a difference.
When asked how comfortable they would feel telling sexual partners that they in fact had an STD, a different picture emerges. Telling past sexual partners is an even more upsetting prospect. Teens are even more uncomfortable than adults with prospect of telling current and former partners about an STD infection. Teens of all demographic groups feel informing partners would be uncomfortable. Among sexually experienced teens, having talked about STDs with sexual partners does not make the specter of telling past or present partners they actually have an STD any easier.