04:24
Faizan
Contrary to what many teens might believe, not everyone is "doing it." About half of all U.S. teens are not sexually active. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9.7 percent of high school students surveyed in 2011 said they'd engaged in sexual intercourse at least once.
Statistics
The 2011 CDC questionnaire found that nearly 34 percent of high school students reported having sexual intercourse in the previous 90 days. Nearly 40 percent of these students said they didn't use a condom the last time they were sexually active. A whopping 76.7 percent of teen girls said they were not using oral contraceptives or Depo-Provera -- an injected medication that prevents pregnancy for up to 3 months -- to guard against pregnancy during their most recent sexual encounter.
Reasons Teens Have Sex
Teens are under monumental pressure to have sex, Denver pediatrician Dr. Ron Eagar, tells HealthyChildren.org, a website published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A teen's steady boyfriend or girlfriend might hound the other to have sex and friends and classmates are eager to know whether their peers are "getting any." Attending parties where alcohol or drugs will be available can lead to unintended sex. A teenager might feel like he's in a race to lose his virginity, adds Eager. A teen is more inclined to have sex if he has a strained relationship with his parents, hangs out with teens who endorse and encourage sexual activity and fail to recognize the importance of getting a good education.
Why Teens Wait
Concerns about an unplanned pregnancy or catching a sexually transmitted disease are two of main reasons some teens say "no" to sex, explains KidsHealth.org, a website published by the Nemours Foundation. Other teens don't have sex because of their religious beliefs or because it goes against their personal beliefs. Some adolescents are aware that they aren't emotionally equipped to be involved in a sexual relationship.
Considerations
Remind your teen of the importance of practicing safe sex, regardless of whether you are uncertain she is sexually active. Express your feelings in a nonthreatening, open and honest manner. As a parent, encourage your teen to come to you with questions or concerns about sex, notes MayoClinic.com. A regular physical exam offers a supportive environment for your teen to to talk to her doctor about sexually transmitted diseases, practicing safe sex and what might be the best form of birth control.
Statistics
The 2011 CDC questionnaire found that nearly 34 percent of high school students reported having sexual intercourse in the previous 90 days. Nearly 40 percent of these students said they didn't use a condom the last time they were sexually active. A whopping 76.7 percent of teen girls said they were not using oral contraceptives or Depo-Provera -- an injected medication that prevents pregnancy for up to 3 months -- to guard against pregnancy during their most recent sexual encounter.
Reasons Teens Have Sex
Teens are under monumental pressure to have sex, Denver pediatrician Dr. Ron Eagar, tells HealthyChildren.org, a website published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A teen's steady boyfriend or girlfriend might hound the other to have sex and friends and classmates are eager to know whether their peers are "getting any." Attending parties where alcohol or drugs will be available can lead to unintended sex. A teenager might feel like he's in a race to lose his virginity, adds Eager. A teen is more inclined to have sex if he has a strained relationship with his parents, hangs out with teens who endorse and encourage sexual activity and fail to recognize the importance of getting a good education.
Why Teens Wait
Concerns about an unplanned pregnancy or catching a sexually transmitted disease are two of main reasons some teens say "no" to sex, explains KidsHealth.org, a website published by the Nemours Foundation. Other teens don't have sex because of their religious beliefs or because it goes against their personal beliefs. Some adolescents are aware that they aren't emotionally equipped to be involved in a sexual relationship.
Considerations
Remind your teen of the importance of practicing safe sex, regardless of whether you are uncertain she is sexually active. Express your feelings in a nonthreatening, open and honest manner. As a parent, encourage your teen to come to you with questions or concerns about sex, notes MayoClinic.com. A regular physical exam offers a supportive environment for your teen to to talk to her doctor about sexually transmitted diseases, practicing safe sex and what might be the best form of birth control.
Posted in: Teen Dating & Sex
