Just under half know herpes is incurable, and only three in ten know HPV is chronic. Even fewer teens know gonorrhea and chlamydia are curable. Adults are better informed about the prognosis of herpes, gonorrhea and chlamydia, but are just as ill-informed as teens about the HPV virus. Teenage boys and girls are equally ill-informed about the prognosis of these different diseases. Fortunately, many teens recognize their lack of knowledge.
Teenage boys name the same problems, but do so less frequently.
Teens are also unsure whether STDs have long-term effects on males. A False Sense of Confidence American teens 15-17, like adults of reproductive age, are confident they know most of what there is to know about STDs. Girls are slightly more likely than boys to say they know a lot. Teens from higher income homes also tend to believe they are more knowledgeable. To some extent teen s confidence in their knowledge about STDs may be justified.