Even the more commonplace non-HIV STDs, like gonorrhea and herpes, trail behind AIDS in mentions. Teens' knowledge about non-HIV STDs is uneven. Most know STDs can be spread despite the absence of symptoms and that some STDs may be symptom-free for an extended period. But many are unaware about other transmission facts and most know very little about the prognosis of specific non-HIV STDs. Sexual education courses are teens number one source of information on STDs.
Parents are a distant second.
Teens who say they learned a lot about STDs in health class are somewhat more knowledgeable than others. Talking with health care professionals is also beneficial. Teens who say they have gotten a lot of information about STDs from doctors tend to know a bit more about non-HIV STDs than other teens. Among sexually active teens, those who have talked with a health care professional about STDs are more likely to raise the subject with their sexual partners. Teens evaluate their personal risk of STD infection in much the same way as adults who have never been married.