Adolescents and sexually transmissible diseases

Health care providers who provide care for adolescents should be aware of s everal issues specifically relating to sexually transmissible diseases (STD s) because the rates of many STDs are highest among the adolescent populati on. Adolescents are at the greatest risk for acquiring STDs because they fr equently have unprotected intercourse, biologically are more susceptible to infection, and face many obstacles to utilization of health care. The styl e and content of counseling and health education for adolescents should be adapted specifically for this unique population.