Sexual Behavior in Adolescents and Young Adults: Ask, but They Might Not Tell

Obtaining a thorough history from a patient is a cornerstone of clinical medicine, but not all adolescents feel comfortable disclosing sensitive information such as sexual activity or drug use. Investigators examined the accuracy of self-reported sexual behavior in a nationally representative sample of about 14,000 young adults (mean age, 22) who underwent urine testing for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis and completed audio computer-assisted self-interviews about sexual behavior administered at home.

Six percent of participants tested positive for at least one sexually transmitted infection (STI); 89.5% of these infected participants reported having penile/vaginal sex, and 10.5% reported abstaining fr…