Approximately 19 million new cases of STDs occurred in 2000, of which 9.1 million (48%) were among young people ages 15-24 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among American Youth: Incidence and Prevalence Estimates, 2000, Hillard Weinstock, Stuart Berman and Willard Cates, Jr. Allen Guttmacher Institute, 2004.
68 percent of teens are unconcerned about STDs Charlotte Observer, April 2004.
78 percent of new cases of genital herpes were caused by a virus found chiefly in the mouths of 16-21 year olds Oral Sex: A dangerous Teen Trend, Caroline Stanley. Ladies’ Home Journal, 2004.
One out of every two sexually active young people can expect to become infected with a STD by age 25 Sexually transmitted infection rates soar among youth, Cheryl Wetzstein. The Washington Times, 1-7 March, 2004.
Half of the 18.9 million new STD cases in 2000 were among youths ages 15-24 Sexually transmitted infection rates soar among youth, Cheryl Wetzstein. The Washington Times, 1-7 March, 2004.
Every day, 8,000 teenagers become infected by a STD Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to Be Depressed and to Attempt Suicide, Robert Rector, Kirk Johnson and Lauren Noyes. The Heritage Foundation, 3 June, 2003.
One in 25 young Americans are infected with chlamydia, which is thought to be the most prevalent bacterial STD in the USA Chlamydia infection prevalent among unsuspecting young Americas, Rita Rubin. USA Today, 12 May, 2004.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the STD syphilis decreased in the United States through the 1990s, then climbed 19% from 2000 to 2003 to about 7,100 cases. The CDC attributed the spike to a twelve-fold rise in cases among gay and bisexual men, many of whom are also infected with the AIDS virus. Mutant syphilis strain resists common cure. http://www.cnn.com/2004/health/07/08/syphilis.resistance.ap/index.html. 8 July, 2004.
Sexual activity is responsible for four out of the five most commonly reported infectious diseases in the USA USA Today Snapshots, Cristina Abello and Suzy Parker. 9 December, 2004.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common STD transmitted today by skin-to-skin contact Promiscuous Plague, Karen Testerman. The World & I, March 2004.
A girl is four times more likely to contract an STD than to become pregnant Promiscuous Plague, Karen Testerman. The World & I, March 2004.
A young mother today has had on average 2.3 STDs Promiscuous Plague, Karen Testerman. The World & I, March 2004.
Nearly half of the nation’s new STD cases occur each year among adolescents and young adults. In 2000, 9.1 million cases of STDs occurred in sexually active Americans in this age group Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2004.
One in two sexually active youth will contract an STD by age 25 State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
Less than half of high school students reported discussion of sex or STDs during their preventive health visits, and males were less likely to have such discussions State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
Chlamydia—an often asymptomatic, yet easily curable, bacterial infection—is most prevalent among persons ages 15 to 24. Guidelines for annual chlamydia screening among sexually active young women are not adequately followed. Only an estimated 30-45% of eligible young females were screened in 2003 State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
Teens from communities of color are disproportionately affected by STDs. Young African American women experience at least 14 times the reported gonorrhea rates and about 6 times the chlamydia rates of young white women. Chlamydia rates among African American men ages 15-24 were 12 times higher than rates among young white males. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
The majority of adolescents surveyed by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) believed they are tested during routine medical examinations for major STDs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, hepatitis B, herpes, HPV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
Over half of those surveyed by ASHA believed that their partner was associated with STD preventive behaviors. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
STDs and HIV
More than one million Americans are believed to be living with HIV. An estimated 40,000 new HIV infections have occurred every year since the 1990s. Daniel Yee, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 June 2005.
A million Americans are now living with the AIDS virus. Daniel Yee, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 June 2005.
In 2002, it was estimated that 3.2 million teens under the age of 15 were living with HIV AIDS, Sex & Teens. www.avert.org.
Women account for about 25% of the roughly one million Americans believed to be living with HIV. HIV striking more women in South, Steve Sternberg. USA Today. 15 June 2005.
According to a study of HIV risk factors, of the 132 women surveyed in North Carolina: HIV-positive women began having sex at 14 1⁄2 years old, a year earlier than those who were HIV negative; 97% of those who were HIV-positive reported having unprotected sex versus 83% of those who were uninfected; 2/3 of HIV-positive women reported having had other STDs, compared with the 65% of those who were HIV-negative. HIV striking more women in South, Steve Sternberg, USA Today. 15 June 2005.
There are 40,000 new HIV cases each year and as many as 950,000 people living with HIV/AIDS Study: Pattern of HIV infections shows blacks bearing the brunt, Steve Sternberg. USA Today, 2 December, 2004.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 40,000 new HIV infections each year CDC widens access to preventive HIV drugs, Anita Manning. USA Today, 21 January, 2005.
Only 116 of 270 adolescents (43%) who differentiated condom efficacy among STDs felt that condoms were very effective for HIV, although research has proven condoms to be highly effective against HIV based on lab and epidemiological findings. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
Forty percent of older adolescents surveyed by the Kaiser Family Foundation incorrectly believe that the contraceptive “pill” and “shot” protect against STDs and HIV. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
Although African Americans compromise about 13% if the U.S. population, they accounted for over 50% of new HIV diagnoses reported in 2002 and 49% of AIDS diagnoses in 2003. Among women ages 13 to 24, African American and Hispanic females account for over 75% of reported HIV infections. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
Half of all new HIV infections occur among adolescents. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
Condoms
42 percent of high school students admitted to having sex without a condom Teens, Sex & the Media. Media Scope. 2001.
Among students reporting sexual intercourse in the past three months, 43% of Hispanic teens and 37% of white teens did not use a condom at last sexual intercourse compared to only 27% of African American teens. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2003. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 2004.
One in three teens say they can get free condoms on a regular basis. Only 4% go to parents or relatives for condoms. Forty percent of these teens get their condoms from clinics, 16% from friends, and 14% from school. Where teens get free condoms. USA Today Snapshots.
Abstinence
Virginity pledgers are less likely to use contraception at first intercourse, but their likelihood of using contraception is no different from sexually active pledgers after their first sexual experience. Adolescent virginity pledges and risky sexual behaviors, Robert Rector, The Heritage Foundation, 14 June 2005.
There are over 1,000 abstinence-until-marriage programs around the United States and 1/3 of public middle and high schools say that abstinence is ‘the main message in their sex education.’ Abstinence Until Marriage: The Best Message for Teens, Bridget E. Maher. Family Research Council, 7 September 2004.
The abstinence education program Choosing the Best is 47% more effective at delaying a teen’s first sexual encounter than condom-promoting sex education programs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 2004. www.cdc.gov
Adolescents who take virginity pledges:
Are less likely to experience teen pregnancy;
Are less likely to be sexually active while in high school and as young adults;
Are less likely to give birth as teens or young adults;
Are less likely to give birth out of wedlock;
Are less likely to engage in risky unprotected sex; and
Will have fewer sexual partners
Teens Who Make Virginity Pledges Have Substantially Improved Life Outcomes, Robert Rector, Kirk Johnson, and Jennifer Marshall. The Heritage Foundation, 21 September 2004.
The decade’s 33% drop in teenage pregnancy can be attributed to sexual abstinence (53%) and improved contraceptive use (47%) Journal of Adolescent Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August, 2004. www.teenpregnancy.org.
About 11% of males and 13% of females have taken virginity pledges Tenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2002. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. December 2004.
Federal appropriations for abstinence-only education programs have exceeded $1 billion since 1982 and over $200 million was proposed by President Bush for federal fiscal year 2006 alone. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005
A 2001 study of 6,800 students showed that virgins who took an abstinence pledge were likely to abstain from sex for 18 months longer than those who did not take the pledge. Sex in the Body of Christ, Lauren F. Winner.Christianity Today, May 2005.
A 2003 Northern Kentucky University study showed that 61% of students who signed sexual-abstinence commitment cards broke their pledges. Of the remaining 39% who kept their pledges, 55% said they’d had oral sex, and did not consider oral sex to be sex. A roughly equivalent percentage of self-identified evangelical college students said they do not consider anal intercourse to be sex. Sex in the Body of Christ, Lauren F. Winner.Christianity Today, May 2005.
Teen Pregnancy
An estimated 18% of girls who are 15 years old will have a baby before age 20 The Percentage of Teens Having Sex Continues to Decline, Amber Moore. www.childtrends.org, 24 November, 2003.
The United States' birth rate among teens is the highest compared to France, Canada, Japan and Great Britain What is the Story on Teen Sexuality?, Andrea Pennington, M.D. http://health.discovery.com.
85 percent of the 1 million teen pregnancies per year in the United States are unplanned Statistics on Teen Pregnancies. www.pregnacny-info.net.
Women ages 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions Who Has Abortions? Focus on the Family. http://www.family.org/pregnancy/articles/a0030225.cfm - 22.1KB
82 percent of teens did not use birth control pills during last sexual intercourse US Teens’ Sexual Behavior Statistics. Focus on the Family. http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/abstinence/facts/a0027048.cfm, 24 July, 2003.
Each year, one in ten girls under the ages of 20 – one million per year – becomes pregnant; 40% of these pregnancies will end in abortion Stop Worrying, Start Talking. Better Homes and Gardens, 2003.
84 percent of teens say pregnancy-prevention programs should teach young people to be married before they have a child Teens want to wait for sex, Joyce Howard Price. The Washington Times, December 2003.
42 percent of teens ages 13-17 see having a baby outside of marriage as morally acceptable Teens’ Marriage Views Reflect Changing Norms, Linda Lyons. The Gallup Organization, 18 November 2003.
The highest unwed birthrates are among those age 20-24 Abstinence Until Marriage: The Best Message for Teens, Bridget E. Maher. Family Research Council, 7 September 2004.
Teen childbearing costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $7 billion per year in social services and lost tax revenue due to government dependency Abstinence Until Marriage: The Best Message for Teens, Bridget E. Maher. Family Research Council, 7 September 2004.
80 percent of women who choose to parent while they are teens will live at the poverty level for 10 years or more Promiscuous Plague, Karen Testerman. The World & I, March 2004.
Teen Sex
42 percent of guys and 33% of girls ages 15-17 have had intercourse Let's Talk About Sex, Melissa Daly. Seventeen Magazine, July 2003.
In grades 7-12, 23.4% of first sexual relationships are one-night stands Study: Teens who hurry love less likely to use birth control, Karen S. Peterson. USA Today.
25% of girls and 30% of boys have sex by age 15, 21% of 9th graders have slept with four or more partners, 50% of 17 year olds have had sex, 80% of teens have sex by age 19, 55% of teens ages 13-19 have engaged in oral sex. Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be sexually ignorant, Shannon Ethridge. Enrichment Journal. 2005.
75% of teen girls 15-19 agree that society tells girls that attracting boys and acting sexy is one of the most important things girls can do. www.teenpregnancy.org 2004.
53.2% of teens age 15-19 agree with the following statement, “It is alright for unmarried 18 year olds to have sexual intercourse if they have strong affection for each other.” www.teenpregnancy.org, 2004
Most teens believe intercourse is the only thing that constitutes as sex and other sexual activities do not count. ‘Technical Virginity’ becomes part of teens’ equation, USA Today 19 October 2005.
33 percent of guys and 23% of girls feel some or a lot of pressure to have sex Let's Talk About Sex, Melissa Daly. Seventeen Magazine, July 2003.
Two-thirds of U.S. teenagers who have had sexual relations wish they had waited longer Teens want to wait for sex, Joyce Howard Price. The Washington Times, December 2003.
28 percent of teens say they have become more opposed to early sex Teens want to wait for sex, Joyce Howard Price. The Washington Times, December 2003.
26 percent of teens think it is embarrassing to admit they are virgins Teens want to wait for sex, Joyce Howard Price. The Washington Times, December 2003.
“The generation we are looking at right now has never known a time of innocence.” How One man Unleashed the porn Plague, Andy Butcher. Charisma Magazine, November 2003.
Sexually active girls are more than three times more likely to be depressed than are girls who are not sexually active; sexually active boys are more than twice as likely to be depressed as are those who are not sexually active Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to Be Depressed and to Attempt Suicide, Robert Rector, Kirk Johnson and Lauren Noyes. The Heritage Foundation, 3 June, 2003.
Sexually active girls are nearly three times more likely to attempt suicide than are girls who are not sexually active; sexually boys are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than are boys who are not sexually active Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to Be Depressed and to Attempt Suicide, Robert Rector, Kirk Johnson and Lauren Noyes. The Heritage Foundation, 3 June, 2003.
53 percent of adolescent males have been masturbated, 49% have received oral sex, 39% have given oral sex and 11% have had anal sex Teen ‘virgins’ are having sex in many ways, Karen Peterson. USA Today, 19 December, 2000.
85 percent of teens ages 15-17 who have had sex said their decision was influenced by curiosity Virginity and The First Time. The Kaiser Family Foundation, October, 2003.
Over 50% of teens ages 15-17 believed they would marry their first sexual partner Virginity and The First Time. The Kaiser Family Foundation, October, 2003.
There is a tight connection between teen girls’ sexual behavior and dating older boys Study finds older boys are bad influence. http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/08/19/sex.drugs.boys.reut/index.html. 19 August 2004.
57 percent of teens ages 13-17 see sex outside of marriage as morally acceptable Teens’ Marriage Views Reflect Changing Norms, Linda Lyons. The Gallup Organization, 18 November 2003.
65 percent of young people have sex before they finish high school Teens’ Marriage Views Reflect Changing Norms, Linda Lyons. The Gallup Organization, 18 November 2003.
Most strongly religious students tend to hold conservative views on sex, abortion, gay rights and drugs Spiritual students mostly lean right, Mary Beth Marklein. USA Today, 28 July, 2004.
Over 40 percent of 15-year-olds are sexually active Experts in Sex Field Say Conservatives Interfere With Health and Research, Mireya Navarro. The New York Times, 11 July, 2004.
93 percent of teenagers believe that teens should be given a strong message from society to abstain from sex until at least after high school Abstinence Until Marriage: The Best Message for Teens, Bridget E. Maher. Family Research Council, 7 September 2004.
The number of teens having sex has declined by 16% over the last decade Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 2004. www.cdc.gov
58 percent of females and 40% of males ages 13-19 say they up their confidence level by changing their appearance USA Today Snapshots, Rebecca Johnson and Alejandro Gonzalez. 21 October, 2004.
Among boys 15-17, virginity rates rose from 57% in 1995 to 69% in 2004. For girls the same age, virginity was up from 62% to 70%. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov. December 2004.
Girls see over 400 advertisements per day telling them how they should look Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov
In 2002, about 47% of female teenagers (4.6 million), and about 46% of male teenagers (4.7 million) had had sexual intercourse at least once Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2002. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. December 2004.
The percent of never-married males aged 15-19 who ever had sexual intercourse declined significantly between 1995 and 2002, from 55 to 46 percent Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2002. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. December 2004.
Among the 5.5 million male and 5.2 million female teens who had not yet had sex, the main reasons for not having sex was that it was “against religion or morals” Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2002. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. December 2004.
In 2002, 30% of female teens aged 15-17 and 31% of male teens this age range had had sex, down from 38% and 43% respectively Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2002. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. December 2004.
A study from The Journal of the American Medical Association that enrolled 2,117 teenage girls and women ages 15-24 revealed that those who received emergency contraceptive pills in advance were nearly twice as likely to use them as other participants Study: Sex habits unchanged by emergency pill. USA Today. 5 January, 2005.
Nearly 3 in 10 (27%) 13-16 year olds are sexually active Nearly 3 in 10 young teens ‘sexually active.’ NBC News, PEOPLE Magazine Poll, 19 January 2005.
The first “map” of teen sexual behavior has found a chain of 288 one-to-one sexual relationships at a high school in the U.S. Midwest, meaning the teenager at the end of the chain may have had direct sexual contact with only one person, but indirect contact with 286 others Sex Map Shows Chain of Almost 300 High School Lovers, Maggie Fox. Reuters, 24 January, 2005.
34 percent of surveyed church members were worried about teen sex, and one-third worried about sex outside marriage. Sex in the Body of Christ, Lauren F. Winner.Christianity Today, May 2005.
Sexual intercourse among high school students was more common among African American teens (67.3%) than Hispanic (51.4%) and white (41.8%) teens. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2003. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 2004.
About 30% of African American teens reported a history of four or more sexual partners compared to approximately 16% of Hispanic teens and 11% of white teens. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk behavior surveillance—United States, 2003. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 2004.
Almost half of high school students nationwide and about 62% of students in the twelfth-grade have had sexual intercourse. State of the Nation: Challenges Facing STD Prevention in Youth. American Social Health Association, 2005.
The Kaiser Family Foundation found 60% of teens cited “many of their friends had already done it” as a factor influencing their decision to have sex, and a similar number believed that their peers think having sex by age 15 is socially acceptable. Sex Smarts: Virginity and the first time, J Davis: Ed. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2003. Teen pregnancy and urban youth: competing truths, complacency, and perceptions of the problem, Gallup-Black A and Wietzman BC. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2004.
Certain motives for sex, including pleasure and enjoyment (more common among male adolescents) were related to greater sexual risk-taking compared to motives such as intimacy, strengthening emotional bonds, or love. Perceived STD risk, relationship, and health values in adolescents’ delaying sexual intercourse with new partners, Rosengard C, et al. Sexually transmitted Infections, 2004.
Teenage “dating” websites that boast millions of members encourage teenage patrons to select not prom dates but partners for casual sexual escapades. Sex in the Body of Christ, Lauren F. Winner.Christianity Today, May 2005.
Fifty-two percent of American women have sex before turning 18, and 75% have sex before they get married. Sex in the Body of Christ, Lauren F. Winner.Christianity Today, May 2005.
According to a 2002 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Seventeen magazine, more than a quarter of 15 to 17-year-old girls say that sexual intercourse is “almost always” or “most of the time” part of a “casual relationship.” Sex in the Body of Christ, Lauren F. Winner.Christianity Today, May 2005.
Teen Sex and Parents
38.3% of teens say their parents are the largest influence on their sexual decision-making www.teenpregnancy.org, 2004.
49 percent of teens said their parents influenced their decisions about sex most strongly Abstinence Until Marriage: The Best Message for Teens, Bridget E. Maher. Family Research Council, 7 September 2004.
88 percent of teens ages 12-19 say it would be easier to postpone sexual activity if able to have more open, honest conversations with parents National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, September 2003.
While both parents and teens report talking to each other about sex and relationships, there appears to be a disconnect: twice as many parents than teens maintain these conversations happen often (85% to 41%) Nearly 3 in 10 young teens ‘sexually active.’ NBC News, PEOPLE Magazine Poll, 19 January 2005.
While 27% of teens report having been sexually intimate, only about half of their parents (15%) believed their teens have gone beyond kissing Nearly 3 in 10 young teens ‘sexually active.’ NBC News, PEOPLE Magazine Poll, 19 January 2005.
91 percent of teens ages 15-17 that have not had sex said they were influenced by what their parents have taught them about sex Virginity and The First Time. The Kaiser Family Foundation, October, 2003.
A new Johns Hopkins University study found that teenage African-American girls with an actively involved parent are less likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease; the study also found communication alone is not enough - parents need to be specific about boundaries on sexual behaviors. Parental Involvement Key, Study Says, Steve Jordahl. Family News In Focus, 12 July 2004.
While research indicates 84% of parents don’t think their teens are sexually active, 50% of high schoolers are U.S. Census Bureau. www.census.gov. October 2004.
A national survey of parents of high school students conducted by the Society for Adolescent Medicine found that almost 60% were concerned about the consequences of adolescent sexual behavior, but 84% of parents did not believe their own child was sexually active. New survey reveals surprising insights into parental attitudes toward teenage sexual behavior: parents share top concerns about their high schoolers. Society for Adolescent Medicine, 16 Aug 2004 <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-08/cw-nsr081004.php>.
The Heritage Foundation found that 75% of parents believe schools should teach children about abstinence and contraceptives, including condoms. What do parents want taught in sex education programs? Rector RE, Pardue MG and Martin S. The Heritage Foundation, 2004.
Oral Sex
More than half of teens ages 15-19 say they’ve had oral sex. Survey: Many teenagers have oral sex, Sharon Jayson. USA Today 9 September 2005.
77% of teens would classify oral sex as “sex,” while 43% say oral sex is not seen as being as big a deal as sexual intercourse Nearly 3 in 10 young teens ‘sexually active.’ NBC News, PEOPLE Magazine Poll, 19 January 2005.
Adolescents believe oral sex is safer than intercourse, with less risk to their physical and emotional health. A sense of intimacy appears to be lacking, Sharon Jayson, USA Today 19 October 2005.
Nine in 10 teens who have had oral sex say they know an STD can be spread through oral sex, but only 3 in 10 always use protection when they have oral sex Nearly 3 in 10 young teens ‘sexually active.’ NBC News, PEOPLE Magazine Poll, 19 January 2005.
Roughly half of young teens who have had oral sex or sexual intercourse have been involved in a casual relationship; 67 percent of those that have engaged in casual relationships often do so “to satisfy a sexual desire” Nearly 3 in 10 young teens ‘sexually active.’ NBC News, PEOPLE Magazine Poll, 19 January 2005.
55 percent of teens ages 13-19 admitted to engaging in oral sex Seventeen Magazine, 2001.
A study of 580 ethnically diverse ninth-grade adolescents showed more participants having oral sex (13.5%) than vaginal sex (13.5%), and more participants intended to have oral sex in the next 6 months (31.5%) than vaginal sex (26.3%). Participants evaluated oral sex as less dangerous and more acceptable than vaginal sex for adolescents their age. Oral Versus Vaginal Sex Among Adolescents: Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behavior, Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher, Jodie L. Cornell, Rhonda Y. Kropp, and Jeanne M. Tschann. Pediatrics, 4 April 2004.
Studies indicate that between 14% and 50% of adolescents have had oral sex before their first experience with sexual intercourse, that more adolescents have had oral sex than vaginal sex, and that few adolescents who engage in oral sex are using barrier protection. Oral Versus Vaginal Sex Among Adolescents: Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behavior, Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher, Jodie L. Cornell, Rhonda Y. Kropp, and Jeanne M. Tschann. Pediatrics, 4 April 2004.
A greater number of adolescents believe they have absolutely zero chance of contracting chlamydia and HIV from oral sex (14% and 13%) versus vaginal sex (1% and 2%). Oral Versus Vaginal Sex Among Adolescents: Perceptions, Attitudes, and Behavior, Bonnie L. Halpern-Felsher, Jodie L. Cornell, Rhonda Y. Kropp, and Jeanne M. Tschann. Pediatrics, 4 April 2004.
