Sexual Behavior And Identity In Young Americans

The CDC released a new report today, "Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction and Sexual Identity in the U.S.," which looks at sexual activity in young Americans -- some 13,500 of them, age 15 to 44. Among the big highlights? Abstinence is up among teens and 20-somethings, which could have implications for the state of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S.

The new study (which also looks at sexual attraction "trends" among 18 to 44-year-olds) comes on the heels of the biggest-ever sex health study, published last year in the Journal of Sexual Medicine (and sponsored by the makers of Trojan condoms), which revealed facts like the number of sexually active teenage males dramatically increases between the ages of 14 and 17.

So why should we care about the sexual behavior trends of this particular age group?

According to the CDC, the new data, compiled between 2006 and 2008, should prove particularly useful to public health researchers who want to better understand and target populations that are at high risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections -- i.e., teens. The center estimates there are some 19 million new cases of STIs in the U.S. every year -- over half of which occur among people age 15 to 24.

Which is why it's notable that abstinence seems to be on the rise among Americans within that age range. Bill Albert, chief program officer for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, told U.S. News and World Report that he is encouraged by the news that more teenagers and 20-somethings are abstaining. He says that the general view among adults has been that teenagers are having more and more sex, but the new data appears to contradict that.

Anjani Chandra, a health scientist with the National Center for Health Statistics, which helped compile today's report, told CNN that she has a slightly different take on the new information. By abstaining from vaginal intercourse, many teens think they're being safer and they certainly eliminate the risk of an unplanned pregnancy. But, Chandra says, if they engage in oral sex -- which the findings show many of them do -- they're still at risk for STIs.

One such STI that can spread through oral sex is HPV, the virus that can lead to genital warts and cancer in both men and women. Recent research suggests that HPV has infected 50 percent of men in the U.S. Scientists are currently working on tests that can help detect the virus in its early stages.

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Abstinence Is Up

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Researchers found that in 2002, around 22 percent of males and females between 15 and 24 reported that they'd never engaged in sexual contact but in 2006 and 2008, that changed. About 27 percent of men and 29 percent of young females reported they'd never had a sexual encounter.

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Researchers found that in 2002, around 22 percent of males and females between 15 and 24 reported that they'd never engaged in sexual contact but in 2006 and 2008, that changed.

About 27 percent of men and 29 percent of young females reported they'd never had a sexual encounter.

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Comments

[Susan Simmons Beck]

08:33 PM on 03/21/2011

Abstinence may be "up" but I wouldn't trust it as a form of birth control. WAY too high of a failure rate.

[George McCasland]

08:09 AM on 03/16/2011

Oral sex can also result in pregnancy.
http://dads-house.org/SexEducation

[aofh]

12:04 AM on 03/12/2011

Is it abstinence or high-tech gadgets? Maybe more kids are just not interested.

[Energy of Mind Therapy]

09:23 PM on 03/09/2011

What to do when your sex drive wanes in a long term relationship, as it inevitably will, from the "natural wisdom" perspective:

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/03/what-to-do-when-our-sexual-appetite-wanes--yogesvara-sarasvati/

For counseling services from this perspective, including detailed, tailored suggestions for diet, exercise, yoga, meditation, daily routine, etc. all to help you cultivate health, happiness and total sanity, see: http://www.energyofmindtherapy.com

Best Wishes,
Energy of Mind Therapy

[irwindaguru]

09:36 PM on 03/08/2011

It's great to hear that more young people are choosing abstinence. Instead of pushing abstinence maybe we should be pushing marriage. No one wants to be abstinent forever. Abstinence should be a temporary state until you find the person you want to marry. If you really think you're in love enough to have sex, then you should be in love enough to get married first.

Planning for marriage puts abstinence in its proper context.

You can read more on this in my book:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/44437016/Teenagers-Say-the-Darndest-Things

Irwin

[George McCasland]

08:12 AM on 03/16/2011

Marriage is not a good idea for teenagers.
http://dads-house.org/Whats-The-Right-Age-2-Marry
http://dads-house.org/SexEducation

[w84it]

05:36 PM on 03/08/2011

Here's the key: "if they engage in oral sex -- which the findings show many of them do -- they're still at risk for STIs"

Many teenagers do not regard oral sex as "sex". There's also something else they think they can do and still be a "virgin". I'll leave it to your imaginations.

[George McCasland]

08:13 AM on 03/16/2011

Also, the boys think the girls cannot get pregnant from oral sex.
http://dads-house.org/SexEducation

[babybecks]

11:03 AM on 03/06/2011

"Abstinence is up among teens and 20-somethings"

Or maybe they're just not admitting to actually doing it?

Let's not teach teens about s e x and then hope and pray they don't do it. Great advice!

[George McCasland]

08:14 AM on 03/16/2011

Or teach the boys the whole truth.
http://dads-house.org/SexEducation

[endymian]

07:16 AM on 03/06/2011

i made the mistake of listening to joe in the morning on msnbc to hear chat about this study. amazing how these talking heads could twist the facts to support their conservative views.

since margaret sanger and then the sex revolution of the 1960's , the right has argued that both contraception and sexual freedom would create more reckless sexual behavior and increase unwanted adult and teen pregnancies.

the chat on joe yesterday identified the shift to less sex, as a shift to more conservative values and behavior among young adults.

wait one minute!! not so quickly believed!

the left has argued for years that if you liberalize the sexual environment, as tons of studies and comparisons with liberalized sexual environments in holland and scandinavia have shown, that teen pregnancies decline, because as sexual repression lessens in these countries, adolescents and young adults who are more comfortable with their sexuality and do not "feel" it as forbidden fruit, are more careful in their sexual behavior.

now after almost a century or increased sexual liberalism has produced the change predicted by the left, we must suffer the right wing yahoos telling us, that its conservative to be more mature about ones sexual nonsense, no, no and again no----its more liberal, because liberal attitudes towards sex makes for less driven, less repressed sexual desires that need acting out!

[detroitblkmale30]

10:52 PM on 03/04/2011

So much for the notion that abstinence is univerally unrealistic.. This even suggests that rationale for it exists outside of religious reasons.

[carmenalex]

11:16 PM on 03/04/2011

ummm. this talks about "reported" incidents....people lie. I was asked once...on a poll. I lied and said I was a vigin. I lost my virginity at 15...im now 31

[detroitblkmale30]

11:33 PM on 03/04/2011

ummmm Some do, not all my friend. Besides why lie? its not like the peer pressure these days is in the direction of abstience. Using your logic you also have to account for the people who lied in the opposite direction. These surveys account for such deviations so still pretty reliable measure.

[Nathaneal Green]

11:41 AM on 03/05/2011

Thanks

[Sailor Barsoom]

04:27 PM on 03/04/2011

Actually, only *perfect* abstinence is 100%. A *perfect* condom would also be 100%. The problem is that condoms aren't perfect, and neither is abstinence. Both can break, and abstinence breaks easier than latex.

[detroitblkmale30]

11:04 PM on 03/04/2011

interesting way of looking at it. Except one cant possibly get pregnant or an STD when they are practicing abstinence, one can however get pregnant or an STD using a condom.

[Sailor Barsoom]

04:14 PM on 03/04/2011

Yes, rainbow parties were a hoax, as anybody would know who bothered to give it much thought.

I'm not going to define or describe rainbow parties here; you can look it up if you don't know. But are reasons to doubt:

a) Where do these middle-school-aged oral orgies take place? Are their parents renting space? Is the neighborhood tree house really big? Stories always mentions "" of participants, typically aged ten through fifteen.

b) What's in it for the girls? No part of their bodies is getting rainbowed. Apparently today's 'tween girls are exceptionally generous, expecting (and receiving) nothing in return.

c) Can the blue lipstick ring be skipped? Because if the parties happen as described, all the boys are going to have blue balls anyway. Think about it: each girl places her lips on him, but she can't move up and down, or else the rainbow will be smeared. He can't move his hips or he smears the rainbow. Even handjobs and masturbation are out, because it will smear the rainbow.

Really, it was a sexy hoax (if you don't think about it too much), but a dumb one. With all the media hype, SOME group of young people has probably gotten around to trying it (thanks Oprah!), but I guarantee you none tried it more than once.

[Sailor Barsoom]

03:30 PM on 03/04/2011

Hold up: ALL of the teenage girls going to the doctor with a re throat have chlamydia? NONE of them have ragweed allergies, the common cold, or a corn chip go down the wrong way? Please be careful with the use of the word "all."

[lldem1]

03:08 PM on 03/04/2011

health insurers are finally tuning into this behavior. Most insurers in most states now ask if you have any type of STI/STD. I have seen the rate increase for STIs/STDs greater than the rate increase for smoking.

In a recent seminar one underwriter stated he expects insurers to double rates for STIs/STDs in the next 20 years. It's a captive audience. STDs do not go away. it's a life of medication and/or control. People with STDs get sick more often, they miss more work than their counterparts, and live more recklessly (healthwise).

And they great thing? You can't complain about the rates because you did it to yourself.

Safe sex folks. It's not that difficult.

[kb7834]

04:19 PM on 03/04/2011

"I have seen the rate increase for STIs/STDs greater than the rate increase for smoking."

Arent smoking rates decreasing?

[MomfromTexas]

02:54 PM on 03/04/2011

Why are they divided in an age group that is 15-24? There's a big difference between being 15 and being 24.

[Buford]

03:07 PM on 03/04/2011

Not so much. Go to the local mall on Saturday afternoon, and you'll see plenty of 15-yo's who look/act 24, and quite a few 24-yo's who look/act 15.

[SilentSolidarity]

03:15 PM on 03/04/2011

Um, the Millennial generation? And like Buford said, nowadays childhood lasts a bit longer. :)

[MomfromTexas]

03:39 PM on 03/04/2011

If childhood is lasting till you are twenty-four, we have a big problem in this country. I had already been out on my own for six years and married by the time I was twenty-four.

[Buford]

02:43 PM on 03/04/2011

I wonder how that chick in the stock photo of the bookstore window feels about being associated with the 'Most Teens Try Oral Sex Before Intercourse' headline..?

[MaryMay]

02:50 PM on 03/04/2011

I'm laughing as I write this to say, "Good question!"

[MaryMay]

02:52 PM on 03/04/2011

And speaking of stock photos, HP for a year used the same picture of unemployed people standing in a line over and over for every unemployment article. I finally had to ask, "Hasn't that man in the trench coat found a job yet?!"

[Buford]

02:55 PM on 03/04/2011

'Most Men in Trenchcoats Prefer Oral Sex to Standing in Line for a Job'