Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a major public health concern and can result in both immediate and future sequelae for affected individuals. The association between prior STD and future infertility is well-established. We sought to determine 1) if inner-city African- and Mexican-American women with an STD were concerned about future fertility, 2) socio-demographic differences between the concerned vs. unconcerned, 3) the impact of concern on baseline high-risk behavior (although all women were at risk, evidenced by their baseline STD, some were significantly higher risk than others), and 4) if concern could be learned through behavioral intervention. 709 inner-city Mexican- and African-American women with an active (17%) or recently treated (83%) STD enrolled in an IRB-approved randomized trial of a behavioral-cognitive intervention to reduce STD recurrence.1 It addressed possible effects of STDs on future fertility, among other topics. Mean age was 21.1 years (range 14-43, 53% <20, 80% <25). All women were interviewed and screened for STDs at 6 & 12 months. Current analyses focus on women concerned about future fertility vs. the unconcerned. Statistical analyses were done with SPSS software. Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression were used. Significance was set at p <.05. Approximately half the sample reported a concern for future fertility at baseline. There were no group differences in ethnicity, marital status, mean gravidity, employment status, and education. However, mean age and parity were significantly lower among the concerned; the latter were also more likely to be pregnant at baseline (controlled in analyses). Concerned women had fewer sexual partners in the last 12 months (2.46 vs. 3.66, p<.001) and during their lifetimes (9.92 vs. 12.15, p<.02); moreover, they were less likely to have concurrent partnerships (16.8% vs. 28.7%, p<.02). They also had slightly fewer prior STDs (1.09 vs. 1.31, p=.09). There were no baseline differences in concern between study (51.6%) and control (52.4%) groups. At 12 months, more women in both study (94.5%) and control (89.4%) groups reported concern; however, the study group (controlling for baseline values) increased significantly more (p=.01). Considering that most women were already treated (and presumably counseled) at baseline and many had prior STDs, it is surprising that only half expressed concern about future fertility. Participants’ mean age was only 21, giving them many years of future childbearing. Lack of concern was not due to disinterest in future fertility as evidenced by the very large percentages expressing concern at 12 months. It appears that being in the study (everyone received comprehensive baseline counseling) and particularly being in the intervention group made a large difference. This suggests that STD counseling should be more thorough and include specific risks regarding future fertility problems, especially in young women. Concern about future fertility appears to impact risk profile. Concerned women, although still at risk, were significantly less likely than the unconcerned to have multiple partners (highly associated with infection2) and concurrent relationships. We are now examining the impact of baseline concern on follow-up behavior. This is important to know, as we have shown that concern for future fertility can be learned. 1 NEJM 1999, 340:93 2 STDs 2004, 31:401