Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/CharlesFTurner

Objectives. This study assessed factors related to chlamydial infection among young men in the United States. Methods. Data were from interviews of nationally representative samples of 470 men aged 18 to 19 years (teenagers) and 995 men aged 22 to 26 years (young adults) and from urine specimens tested by means of polymerase chain reaction. Results. Although a majority of the men reported occasional unprotected intercourse, only a minority perceived themselves to be at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Chlamydial infection was detected in 3.1% of the teenagers and 4.5% of the young adults. A minority of those infected had symptoms or had been tested for STDs; very few had been diagnosed with STDs. Conclusions. Chlamydial infection is common but usually asymptomatic and undiagnosed. Primary and secondary prevention efforts should be increased, particularly among young adult men. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1140–1143)

The percentage of teenage males who have ever had sexual intercourse has declined since 1988, while the use of contraception at first intercourse among teenage males increased, according to new data from the 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males. These findings parallel trends for teenage girls measured in the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. The consistency of results for teenage boys and girls provides greater confidence in the findings from both surveys. These data are compatible with the recent decline of births to teenage girls. In general, they indicate that American youth have become more responsible in both their sexual and contraceptive behaviors.

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