Teens and Sex
By: Jessica • Research Paper • 1,518 Words • November 22, 2009 • 864 Views
Essay title: Teens and Sex
Today teens don’t wait to here the risk. They think sex is the cool thing to do today. Teens are surrounded by the images and think its okay. Teens should be aware of the facts about sex and the risks with teen sex that could ruin a young person’s life.
When it comes to teen sex there is a difference between what teens think and what facts show. Teens should not have sex because they are not ready. Girls most likely will not be emotionally and intellectually ready for sex until they are at least seventeen to eighteen years old or even in to their twenty’s (Roleff 58). Overall teens are not mature and ready to have sex (12).
Some teens have not yet had sex because they realize they are not old enough. One in five teens does not have sex (agi-usa.org 1). Thirteen to fourteen year olds do not know as much about sex as fifteen to sixteen year olds do (2). Some reports say 87% of teens have not yet had sex. (Tauber 5). Ninety-One percent of fifteen to sixteen year olds say thirteen to fourteen year olds should not have sex (5).
Some teens do not have sex because they realize the risk. It is reported that 74% of teens say they do not have sex because they are afraid of getting pregnant. Others’ say 54% they do not have sex because they have not met the right person yet (msnbc.com). Very few teens, only 21%, report not having sex because they do not have the opportunity (msnbc.com). Seventy-two percent of Catholic teens are less likely to say yes to sex (Tauber 7). Twenty-seven percent of teens have had oral sex (Tauber 1).
Many teens today are having oral sex instead of intercourse. Seventh and eighth grade girls will say they are virgins even though they have had oral sex more than 50 times. They say it is just like a kiss goodnight (Roleff 37). Middle schoolers have even been caught having oral sex on the school bus (Tauber 1). Teens today less are having sex but more are having oral sex (Roleff 28).
Teens will perform oral sex so they can still remain virgins. Teens today feel if they engage in oral sex they are still virgins (Roleff 28). Fifty-four percent of teens who perform oral sex are still vaginal virgins (Tauber 4). Forty-three percent of teens think sex is more of a deal than oral sex (5).
Teens have oral sex to avoid having sex. Teens think oral sex is better than sex because it can not get them pregnant (Tauber 3). However, sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can be spread by having sex can also be spread by oral sex (Wingert 1). Forty percent of teens have oral sex to avoid having sex. (4).
Some teens will not perform oral sex. Sixty percent of 13 and 14 year olds actually know what oral sex is (Tauber 3). Only 12% of teen report having yet had oral sex (Tauber 5). Oral is bigger today as a sexual issue than in the past generations (Roleff 31).
There are various reasons that teens do not have sex. Sixty-eight percent of teens think a person should love the partners before having sex (Tauber 5). Teens think sex is about having a boyfriend or girlfriend not to enjoy the experience (Foxnews.com 1).
Although Sex is more common with 15 and 16 year olds than it is with 13-14 year olds, Sex is becoming more common in the younger ages (Tauber 6). Studies have shown that 15-16 year olds are more sexually active than 13-14 year olds (msnbc.com 1). However, 10 and 11 year olds go on dates in 5th grade and they are also having sex (Roleff 34). Twenty-seven percent of 13-16 year olds have had sex or been with someone sexually (msnbc.com 1). Some children have engaged in sex before they were even teens (Roleff 33).
There are various reasons that teen do have sex. Thirty-six percent of teens had sex because they were curious (3). By the time they are seniors in high school, Two-thirds have had sex (Roleff 18). Thirty-four percent of teens say they had sex because of sexual desire (Tauber 3). Seventy percent of boys experience sex at the age 15. (1). In general teens begin experiencing sex in the mid to late teens (agi-usa.org 1).
Casual sex is becoming more common with teens. One-fourth of seniors in high school have had four or more partners (Roleff 18). Forty-six percent of teens that have had sex had casual sex (Tauber 5). Almost half of teens are or have been involved in casual sex (2). Teens that have casual sex only had sex in the first place because they say they met the right person (Tauber 3).
Many feel that sex education makes teens think its okay to have sex (Roleff 73). Boys and girls are both likely to have the same amount of sex (Tauber 2). Yet sex is just as common with girls as it is with boys (Tauber 6).
One of the many risks of having teen sex is getting an STD. If a person uses a condom and birth control, he or she may still get infected with an STD (Wingert 1). Teens get STDs more easily than adults because of the lack of use of condoms while engaging in