Of 56,000 adults polled in a large new survey, only 39 percent reported always asking whether new sex partners have HIV or other STDs. The online survey, conducted by MSNBC.com and Zogby International, garnered one of the largest responses ever to a U.S. sex survey.

Nearly one-third said they never discuss a prospective partner's sexual health status. Among those with less than a high school education, almost 50 percent never talk about STDs with a new partner. Even so, the majority of survey respondents considered themselves knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and other STDs.

Responses to the MSNBC/Zogby survey were anonymous, with participants ages 18-70 answering questions about their sexual practices, frequency of sex, knowledge about the spread of STDs, and demographic information such as age, ethnic background, and sexual orientation. The survey was conducted Sept. 12-16.

Approximately 48 percent of women claimed always to check a partner's STD status, compared to 33 percent of men. African Americans (44 percent) tend to discuss the issue more than Hispanics (38 percent) or whites (40 percent).

At least 50 percent of participants, especially younger ones, worry about contracting herpes from oral sex; however, about 42 percent did not know their current partner's HIV status.

Alcohol and drugs were the biggest factors for unprotected sex among men and women in every demographic subgroup except Asians. Nearly two-thirds of other respondents said they have had unsafe sex while drinking. Of Asians, more than 50 percent reported never having had unsafe sex under the influence of alcohol.

Almost 25 percent of men and 13 percent of women reported more than 25 partners in their lifetime. Women were slightly more likely than men to report between six and 10 partners. Thirty-four percent of men and 38 percent of women reported only one to five partners. Most respondents said they were in long-term monogamous relationships. Persons with less than a high-school education were nine times more likely than college graduates to have paid for sex.

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