Teenage sexuality is always an interesting premise for researchers and experts. Observing and learning about the sexual and reproductive development among teenagers and adolescents offer a considerably understanding of changing times and also of the various phases of evolution that the human species go through. But on the flip side, teenage sexuality is a sensitive issue and a risky premise. Overactive teenage sexuality and especially among those who are not cautious of their actions can lead to more cases of HIV, STDs and teenage pregnancy. Experimental and unsafe teenage sexual relations can have adverse consequences, both from the perspective of general health and psychological health.
Interesting Statistics About Teenage Sexuality
Among the teenagers who are between 12 and 14 years old –
1. About twelve percent of them are sexually active. 5% of teenagers aged 12 are sexually active. 10% of teenagers aged 13 are sexually active and 20% of teenagers aged 14 are sexually active. This piece of teenage sexuality statistics can be surprising when one takes into account the fact that less than 50% of all teenagers between the age of 12 and 14 actually have gone on a date. The more surprising or discomforting reality is that the teenage sexuality statistics over several years have clearly indicated an upward trend.
2. An interesting reality derived from contemporary teenage sexuality statistics is that girls between the age of 15 and 19 are less likely to have sex, which is possibly because of the fear of becoming pregnant, getting infected with sexually transmitted diseases or HIV or simply because they are more informed and mature. But the bad news is that more girls between the age of 12 and 14 have become sexually active in recent years. In other words, chances of a girl losing virginity at the age of 12 to 14 is higher now than ever before, whereas it was 16 to 19 for a long time in the past.
3. More teenagers are opting for more than one sex partner today. 25% of those aged between 12 and 14 years old reported to be sexually active have sex with more than one person in a period of one year or two years.
4. Teenage couples that are of the same age have a 13% chance of indulging in sex. When one teenager is 2 years older, then that chance increases to 26%. If one of the partners is 3 years older, then that chance increases to 33% and if a young teenager (12-14) dates an old teenager (15-19), then the chance of indulging in sex goes up to 47%. In other words, almost half of all teenagers who date people four years older or more will have sex. This applies to all teenagers dating someone who may or may not be a teenager but is four or more years older. This reality is further emboldened by the fact that more than 10% of young teenagers date or get involved in a relationship with another teenager who is at least three years older.
5. An equal number of boys have sex to satiate their curiosity and to attend to their sexual desires. A similar statistic pertains to younger teenage girls. 33% of boys are curious and 33% of boys want to satiate their sexual cravings. 10% of girls have curiosity while another 10% have sexual desires.
6. A few pleasant factors emerge when one explores the reasons why some teenage boys and girls don’t indulge in sex or wait for it. Virgin teens consider themselves to be too young to have sex. Many of them are worried about pregnancy while a healthy number is weary of getting infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Teenagers having Christian parents and those who have been brought up with stringent religious values are also less likely to have sex.
7 Regarding the difference between boys and girls, boys are more likely to have sex than girls. Girls tend to stay away from sex consciously, due to fear of pregnancy and parents’ disapproval. Boys are also conscious of these but to a much lesser extent.
8. An interesting piece of teenage sexuality statistics pertain to the habit of smoking, drinking and taking drugs. Sexually active teenagers are four times more likely to indulge in marijuana, five times more likely to smoke and six times more likely to indulge in a drink or two. This comparison is relative to virgins or those who are not very sexually active.
Among the teenagers who are between 15 and 19 years old –
9. More than half of them completely abstain from sex. This was the finding of a nationwide survey conducted by CDC. While this inference was pretty pleasing, there were some concerning findings as well. The same report stated that more than 9% of all boys and 3.4% of all girls in high school had indulged in vaginal intercourse before they had turned 13. Among African Americans, the percentage was even higher – 7% for girls and 21% for boys.
10. Almost half of all older teenagers, those in high school or twelfth grade, are likely to have sex. Out of them, a staggering one fourth of all boys and girls are expected to have sex with as many as four partners, or more. To the positive side, the number of boys and girls in their older teenage years having sex or being sexually active has gone down. Today, more than two out of three teens in high school are not sexually active.
Almost half a million teens give birth every year. The number is lower in certain years and higher in some years. Half million childbirths due to unplanned teenage pregnancy is neither good for the mother and the child nor is it unavoidable.
Teenage sexuality statistics are available to understand how the teens take to their adolescent days, what they feel, what they do and how they develop into adults. However, teenage sexuality statistics do not pertain to the form of sexuality that is prevalent among teens today. It is difficult to arrive at any number which indicates sexuality trends, for instance, how many young boys and girls are actually gay or possibly transgender. Teenage sexuality statistics, till date, pertain to conventional boy and girl sexual relations, which lead to vaginal intercourse. Any other form of intercourse is not recorded and there are no accounts. Kids still don’t have to disclose their sexuality if they are gay or transgender and thus there is no way of knowing the genders of teens from teenage sexuality statistics.
The Results of These Facts
While teenage sexuality statistics as mentioned above may be a bit alarming, there are more reasons to rejoice than to worry. Over the last two decades, teenagers across the world have become more aware of their sexuality and are better informed about the consequences of having unsafe or unprotected sex. Although there is plenty of room to improve the societal norms and to negate peer pressure, there is significant positive development in this context. More teenagers are aware of the consequences of having sex, from psychological to health, financial to societal. More teenagers are becoming conscious of the adverse effects of casual sex. These are certainly wonderful signs which blunt teenage sexuality statistics may not reflect.
The truth is that only a minority of teenagers across all ages are having sex or indulging in relations with multiple partners. Most are either staying away from relations altogether or not having sex even if they are seeing someone.
During several surveys, including the one conducted by the CDC, it has emerged that most teenagers who have casual sex are only interested in it to be loved or to satiate their sexual desires. An urge to feel loved or be wanted is the primary reason. The act of being with multiple people or any such emotion doesn’t influence them to have casual sex. However, many indulge in casual sex because they do not wish to get embroiled with the obligations of being in a relationship with a person.
The teenage sexuality statistics also shed light on how parents can prevent their kids from having sex during their tender growing up years. Most parents feel that their teenage children are honest and frank with them and that they will be the ones the kids will come back home to when they have to talk about something as important as sex and relationships. But the fact is to the contrary. Teens do not feel as comfortable as their parents think their wards to be. Most teens will not consult or go to their parents for advice. They expect the parents to take the first step and even then many teens are not comfortable with talking about sex. While teenagers are comfortable talking about sex with their friends, the peers or classmates can seldom teach them anything, since they are not learned enough themselves. Parental intervention and involvement works wonders when it comes to education on sex or even the awareness of when, where and why not to have sex.
While teenage sexuality statistics offer some insights into what should be done, what is wrong and what all are right; there is another perspective which is the thoughts of teenagers that must be taken into the consideration.
1. 85% of teens do not endorse casual sex. 70% of all teens do not endorse having sex in school, not even in high school. They want sex to be exclusive in committed relationships and many rue having had sex in high school.
2. Most young boys and girls think that others are having sex and it is that peer pressure or societal expectation, which drives them to have sex whereas others are not having sex, only a small number of boys and girls do, and there is no societal expectation or peer pressure in the true sense.