TEEN SEXUAL HEALTH INFORMATION
The Facts - Sexual Activity:
17 Years Old
On average, young people in the
United States have sex for the first time
at about age 17 *
50% by 18
More than half of U.S. teenagers
reported having had sexual
intercourse by age 18 **
Going Steady
74% of female teens and 51% male
teens had a first partner with whom
they were “going steady” **
Age 15-19
From 2011-2013, among never-
married females and males aged 15-19,
13% of females and 18% of males had reported
having had sexual intercourse
before age 15 *
99%
reported having used some
form of contraception. The most
commonly used method among
female teens: condom (97%),
withdrawal (60% )
and the pill (56%) **
Not Ready
Among those teens who
had not yet had sex, the most common
reasons for abstaining were:
“it was against religion or morals,”
“haven’t found the right person yet,” and
“don’t want to get (a female) pregnant.” **
The Facts-Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
50%
Adolescents ages 15-24 account for
nearly half of the 20 million new cases of
STDs each year ***
2 in 5
sexually active teen girls have had
an STD that can cause infertility
and even death ***
21% HIV
diagnoses were among young people
(aged 13-24) in 2017; 87% were young
men and 13% were young women **
*According to the Guttmacher Institute (2017)
**According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017)
***According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2019)
Videos That Can Help:
Communication Resources:
Sexual Behavior: Choices and Risks Conversation Starters/Scenarios
Actual phrases and situations that can be used to introduce the topic of sexual behavior and offer opportunities to open a dialogue with your kids.
Sexual Behavior: Choices and Risks Framework Outline
This outline shows how
this vignette fits into a healthy
conversation framework.
Body Image & Sexual Bullying: Framework to Help Discussions
When parents initiate a discussion or an opportunity arises to talk, here are some helpful steps for healthy and meaningful conversations.