Many teens today are sexually active. Many teens aren't. It all depends on individual choice. Unfortunately though, teens who are sexually active have some very harsh realities to deal with. Sex is dangerous, not just because of sexually transmitted disease that can be embarrasing and uncomfortable but because of AIDS. Sex can kill you and that's a fact many teens today don't want to deal with. Pregnancy is no longer the only thing to fear from engaging in unprotected sex.
Teen Sexuality Facts:
infants born to teen moms are more likely to have health problems
teen pregnancy is more likely if the teens parents didn't finish highschool, were teen parents themselves or had low income
only 49.5% of pregnant teens graduate from highschool
one of every eight teens are infected with a sexually transmitted disease
of teens who were receiving routine health care at the Cleveland Free Clinic, 86% were sexually active
the average age of first intercourse is 15.7 years for boys and 16.2 years for girls
Students who have had intercourse in highschool:
40% of ninth graders
47% of tenth grader
57% of eleventh graders
72% of twelvth graders