Parents have a tendency to overestimate how much sex teenagers are having, but the reality is concerning for different reasons. Movies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and American Pie still scare the living daylights out of prudish parents today. Newer movies, such as Blockers , have only made matters worse. But concerns about teens having sex for the first time are not necessarily backed by the data. And not every adolescent is in a pact to lose their v-card before college. In fact, the average age of losing your virginity in the U.
Having sex for the first time is a huge milestone in a lot of people's lives. Many of us spent our teenage years talking about whether we were ready, what it would be like, and who had and hadn't done it. But it may be time to rethink the way the way we talk about the concept of losing our virginity. Though it can be a significant moment in someone's life, the rhetoric about "losing" and "giving it up" is heteronormative, and it sends the wrong message.
What Percentage Of Teens Are Having Sex In High School?
Seventeen picks products that we think you'll love the most. We may earn commission from the links on this page. First things first: there is no right or wrong age to lose your virginity.
Cora Breuner, a professor of pediatrics at Seattle Children's Hospital, who reviewed the findings. The study found that only 42 percent of girls and 44 percent of boys aged 15 to 19 reported having sex at least once. And Breuner said that finding is nothing new.