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 *
Relationships
74% of female teens and 51% male
teens had a first partner with whom
they were in a relationship **
55% by 18
More than half of U.S. teenagers
reported having had sexual
intercourse by age 18 **
Not Ready
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 pregnant **
The Facts-Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
50%
Adolescents ages 15-24 account for
nearly half of the 26 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 ***
58% HIV
diagnoses were among
young people (aged 13-34)
in 2021**
*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.