Definitions are important!
Whether we are parents, professionals, teens or seniors, we all need to pay attention to the definitions of words. Because, using words can get confusing when we think we are talking about the same thing and we are actually addressing two very different issues. Most of the time, in sexuality education and research, the word "sex" means sexual intercourse.
Teen Sexual Activity
§ On average, at least 7,000 American teens experience their first sexual intercourse every day. Few experience intercourse before the age of 13, but most do have sex by 20 years of age.1
§ Nationwide, 46.8 percent of students (K-12) have had sexual intercourse.2
§ Before the age of 19, 70 percent of females and 65 percent of males have had sex.3
§ By the age of 24, 89 percent of males and 92 percent of females have had intercourse with a sexual partner of the opposite sex.4
§ More than fifty percent of youth (ages 15-19) have had oral sex.5
Teen Pregnancy
§ Statistically, 31 percent of young women become pregnant at least once by age 20.6.
§ The 2004 teen pregnancy rate fell to the lowest level ever reported since National Vital Statistics Reports began in 1976.7
§ Among all pregnancies, teen pregnancies dropped from 15 percent in 1990 to 12 percent in 2004.8
§ In 2005, the number of births for 15-19-year-olds declined to 414,593—the fewest reported since 1946.9
STI (sexually transmitted infection)
§ There are 19 million new cases of STIs reported per year; half of which occur among 15-24 year olds.10
o 19 million is equal to the combined populations of
§ STIs cost the
For more information regarding specific STIs:
§ Chlamydia: http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/Chlamydia-Fact-Sheet.pdf
§ Gonorrhea: http://www.cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea/gonorrhea-fact-sheet.pdf
§ Genital Herpes: http://www.cdc.gov/std/Herpes/Herpes-Fact-Sheet.pdf
§ Genital HPV: http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/hpv-fact-sheet.pdf
§ Syphilis: http://www.cdc.gov/std/syphilis/syphilis-fact-sheet.pdf
§ Trichomoniasis:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/Trichomoniasis-Fact-Sheet.pdf
§ The link between STDs & HIV:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/stds-and-hiv-fact-sheet.pdf
§ Basic HIV information: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm
References
1 M. Regnerus, M., Forbidden Fruit: Sex & Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers, (
2”Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-
3E. Terry-Humen, J. Manlove, S. Cottingham, “Trends and Recent Estimates: Sexual Activity Among
4 William Mosher, Anjani Chandra, Jo Jones, “Sexual Behavior and Selected Health Measures: Men and Women 15-44 Years of Age,
5“Science says: Teens and oral sex,” The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy September 2005, <http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/SS/SS17>(2 May 2008).
6Saul D. Hoffman, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, October 2006,
< http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/pubs/BTN_Full.pdf > (2 May 2008).
7Stephanie
(May, 2008).
9Stephanie
10 H. Weinstock, S. Cates,
11 CDC (2008), “2008 National STD Prevention Conference Draws Nation’s Public Health Leaders Together to Confront Sexually Transmitted Diseases,” http://www.cdc.gov/stdconference/2008/media/lead-release.htm (April 30, 2008).
