Age at menarche, at first intercourse, and at first pregnancy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
SEARCH · PubMed Health
Results for “First Intercourse”
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
First intercourse, contraception and first pregnancy in Flanders: changes during the past 30 years.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
Childhood precursors of age at first intercourse for females.
Age at first intercourse for a sample of adult white women using variables measured during childhood is predicted. Childhood predictors were measured at birth, and ages 5 and 9-11, using existing public-use data on the women. Median age at first intercourse for the sample was 17.5 years. Early family predictors, early developmental characteristics, and temperamental characteristics during childhood together could predict about a fourth of the variance in age at first intercourse. The strongest predictors were motor skills and nightmares at age 5, church attendance with family at age 9, and domineering and mature personality at age 9.
Adolescent↗
Correlates of first intercourse among women in Jamaica.
This study examines retrospective reports of factors anticipated to impact first intercourse in a random sample of 897 Jamaican women, and contributes to our understanding of the relationship between sexual risk, knowledge, and economic and demographic correlates of first intercourse. A relationship between initiation of intercourse prior to the age of consent (16 years) and factors occurring at or around the time of first intercourse was found. Early initiators were more likely to have had less early family stability and to have experienced menarche at a younger age than late initiators. Although early initiators of intercourse were more likely to report lower socioeconomic status, less STD knowledge, and greater numbers of pregnancies, they were no more likely to report more sexual partners than women who engaged in first intercourse after the age of consent, and had a greater number of long-term relationships. Regardless of age of first intercourse, women need to be made aware of the risks of sexual contact so that they can make informed decisions about the consequences of sexual activity. Overall, results are consistent with work conducted in other parts of the Caribbean and America regarding the age at which young women engage in first intercourse. Findings suggest the need for further work exploring expectations at first intercourse such as marriage, economic support, or relationship stability. Implications of these findings are discussed within the context of economic and structural factors that both increase and decrease risks.
Adolescent↗
First intercourse among young Americans.
In 1979, 50 percent of women aged 15-19 and 70 percent of men aged 17-21 living in metropolitan areas of the United States reported that they had ever had sexual intercourse. The average age at which young women had their first sexual experience was 16.2, compared with 15.7 among the men; women tended to have their first intercourse with a partner nearly three years older than themselves, whereas men had their first intercourse with a partner less than one year older. Blacks generally experienced first coitus at a younger age than did whites. Young women's first coitus generally occurred with someone toward whom the respondent felt a commitment; more than six in 10 young women said they had been going steady with or engaged to their first sexual partner. In contrast, fewer than four in 10 young men said that they had been engaged to or going steady with their first partner, and more than one in three said that they and their first partner had been friends. Young men were more than twice as likely as young women to have had first intercourse with someone they had only recently met. Seventeen percent of the young women and 25 percent of the young men surveyed said that they had planned their first intercourse; women who had been going steady with their first partner were most likely to have planned intercourse, while the young men who had met their first partner shortly before intercourse took place were the most likely to have planned the act.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adolescent↗
Young women's degree of control over first intercourse: an exploratory analysis.
CONTEXT: While policymakers and researchers alike often seem to believe that young women's decision to initiate sexual intercourse is conscious and free of ambiguity, the actual degree of control that such young women exert over first intercourse has rarely been explicitly examined. METHODS: The 1995 National Survey of Family Growth asked all women who had experienced intercourse to rate, on a 1-10 scale, the wantedness of their first intercourse; they were then asked whether the experience was voluntary. Logistic regression analysis of data for women aged 15-24 who had experienced first premarital intercourse was performed to test the effect of background factors and wantedness scores on contraceptive use at voluntary first intercourse. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of women aged 13 or younger at the time of their first premarital intercourse report the experience to have been nonvoluntary, compared with 10% of those aged 19-24 at first premarital intercourse. About one-quarter of respondents who reported their first intercourse as voluntary chose a low value (1-4) on the wantedness scale. Women whose first partner was seven or more years older than themselves were more than twice as likely as those whose first partner was the same age or younger to choose a low value (36% vs. 17%). Women whose partner had been seven or more years older were also less likely than other women to have used contraceptives at first intercourse. After the introduction of controls for demographic and background factors, partner age discrepancy and relationship status, wantedness of voluntary first intercourse was not independently related to the odds of contraceptive use at that intercourse. CONCLUSION: Characterizing women's first intercourse as simply voluntary or nonvoluntary is inadequate. Measures that take into account degrees of wantedness may help elucidate relationships between sexual initiation, contraceptive use and teenage pregnancy. The fact that substantial numbers of young women voluntarily participated in a first sexual experience about which they felt ambivalent or negative deserves the attention of program planners and service providers.
Adolescent↗
'Don't know' and 'didn't think of it': condom use at first intercourse by Latino adolescents.
We examined the specific reasons Latino adolescents did or did not use condoms at first intercourse and their specific reasons for their perceived risk for contracting HIV. Latino adolescents (n = 618), ages 11-19, completed a face-to-face interview that included information on demographics (sex, age, family-status (lives with both natural parents versus other family structure) and country of birth) and sexual behaviour. The respondents cited 'don't know' (25.9%), 'not available' (25.9%) and 'didn't think of it' (23.5%) as the most frequent reasons for not using condoms at first intercourse. Anyone can get it (41.8%), unknown knowledge of partner's serostatus (24.7%) and unprotected sex (23.8%) were the top three reasons for perceiving oneself as being at risk for contracting HIV. Sexually active adolescents were more likely to perceive themselves at risk for contracting HIV than adolescents that had not had sex. Males were significantly more likely to report using condoms for protection at first intercourse than females. The remaining demographic factors were not significantly related to use of condoms at first intercourse nor to perceived risk for contracting HIV.
Adolescent↗
[AIDS and contraception--increased use of condoms at the time of first intercourse among Norwegian adolescents].
This paper describes use of contraception at first intercourse among Norwegian adolescents and sheds some light upon whether the HIV-epidemic has influenced the use of contraception. The data stem from a population-based survey of 3,000 17-, 18- and 19-year-olds. The response rate was 60.9%. A total of 1,172 persons had experienced intercourse and constitute the material. A total of 42.2% reported having used a condom, 8.5% the p-pill, 17.6% practiced withdrawal, and 31.0% did not use any contraception at their first experience of intercourse. Use/non-use of contraception was associated with educational aspirations, age at first intercourse and consumption of alcohol. Condom use was associated with age, educational aspirations, parental education, consumption of alcohol and discussing contraception with parents and peers. The higher proportion of condom use at first intercourse among the 17-year-olds (47.5%) as compared with the 19-year-olds (34.3%) can probably be ascribed to the HIV-epidemic.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Transition-marking behaviors of adolescent males at first intercourse.
This study examined male transition-marking behaviors from adolescence into adulthood at the time of first intercourse. These include alcohol and drug use and sexual intercourse, and the companion behaviors of contraceptive use and planning of intercourse. The major findings were similar to those the authors described in a previous study as typifying female adolescents. Alcohol use at first intercourse was unrelated to use of contraceptives at that time, but was inversely related to whether the first intercourse was planned (i.e., those who did not drink were much more likely to plan). Planning was also positively related to contraceptive use, but the relationship was less strong than for female cohorts.
Adolescent↗
The relationship context of contraceptive use at first intercourse.
CONTEXT: Despite widespread efforts to increase contraceptive use to prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases among sexually active adolescents, most prior work examining adolescent contraceptive use does not explicitly recognize that sexual decision-making inherently involves both partners in a couple. METHODS: An analytic sample of 1,593 females who first had intercourse during adolescence (prior to age 18) was drawn from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. Logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression techniques were used to model the effects of sexual partners' characteristics and relationship type on contraceptive use at first intercourse and contraceptive method selected at first intercourse. RESULTS: Approximately 31% of respondents used no contraceptive method at first intercourse. Roughly half (52%) of adolescents who had just met their sexual partner used no method, compared with 24% of those who were going steady. Whereas 75% of teenagers who practiced contraception at first intercourse used a condom, 17% relied on the pill. In multivariate models, net of other variables, adolescents who had just met their partner had 66% lower odds than those who were going steady of practicing contraception at first intercourse. Individual-level factors that influenced contraceptive use at first intercourse were age at first intercourse, race or ethnicity family type, parents' education, grades in school and receipt of birth control education prior to first intercourse. Differences between respondents and their partner in age and race or ethnicity mostly were not significantly related to method use at first intercourse. One exception was that adolescents who first had sex with a man six or more years older had reduced odds of practicing contraception. Type of relationship was significantly associated with method selection only among adolescents who were just friends with their first partner, who had higher odds of using "other" methods rather than the condom. Variables associated with pill use rather than condom use were age at first sex, race, family type, mother's education and school grades. CONCLUSIONS: Further efforts to understand contraceptive choice among adolescents should focus on relationship features. Research on the decision-making process surrounding contraceptive use may benefit from treating this as a partner decision and not just as a decision made by one member of the couple. Further research examining the qualities of the relationship may provide important clues for understanding adolescent contraceptive choice.
Adolescent↗
Number of sexual partners and age at first intercourse in subsequent generations of Italian males and females.
Trends in the number of sexual partners and in age at first intercourse were analyzed using data on 706 men and 1206 women drawn from the hospital control groups of two case-control studies conducted since 1981 in Northern Italy. The overall lifelong mean number of sexual partners was 7.5 +/- 12.8 for men and 1.4 +/- 1.8 for females. The mean number of sexual partners was 6.0 for men born between 1910 and 1919, and 7.3, 9.0, 6.3 and 5.5 for subsequent 10 year birth cohorts. Mean age at first intercourse was 20.7 for the cohort born in 1910-19 and was fairly stable in men born after 1919, ranging from 18.4 to 18.8. Women had a substantially lower number of sexual partners than men in each subsequent birth cohort. However, the mean number of sexual partners increased from 1.1 in the 1910-19 cohort to 1.2, 1.2, 1.4 and 2.3 in subsequent birth cohorts, and the mean age at first intercourse decreased from 23.6 years to 23.1, 22.7, 21.3 and 19.7. These figures should be considered with caution, on account of the non-representativeness of the sample and of a possible under-reporting of number of partners by women. Still, Italian women, although not necessarily men, report substantially fewer sexual partners than northern European on American ones.
Adolescent↗
Proximity of first intercourse to menarche and the risk of human papillomavirus infection: a longitudinal study.
Cross-sectional studies have suggested that compared with women who delay the start of their sexual career, those who first have intercourse soon after menarche are more susceptible to cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and thus have a greater risk of cervical neoplasia. We describe, using longitudinal observations, how the risk of infection with HPV varies with the interval between menarche and first intercourse in 474 women aged 15-19 recruited within 12 months of first intercourse and before the acquisition of a second sexual partner. One hundred forty-five women became HPV-positive; the cumulative risk of HPV infection 3 years after first intercourse was 45.0% (95% CI = 37.9-51.2). In univariate analyses, the hazards ratio (HR) of HPV infection increased significantly with age at first intercourse (HR = 1.212 per year; 95% CI = 1.050-1.398), partner age (HR = 1.084 per year; 95% CI = 1.045-1.125) and when women reported a sexually experienced partner (HR = 2.794; 95% CI = 1.804-4.326); the interval between menarche and first intercourse was a significant predictor of infection, with an increase in the HR of 12.9% for every year of increase in this interval (95% CI = 2.1%-24.9%). In a multivariate analysis, compared with women who first had intercourse within 3 years of menarche, those who postponed first intercourse beyond this time had a greater risk of infection (HR = 1.581; 95% CI = 1.113-2.245) after controlling for age and sexual experience of partner.
Adolescent↗
Guilt about first intercourse: an antecedent of sexual dissatisfaction among college women.
First sexual intercourse is often viewed as a rite of passage to adulthood. While one's initial coital experience may lead to affirmation of self-identity, it is disappointing for many, resulting in feelings of guilt and shame. If guilt feelings do emerge, the likelihood of future sexual dissatisfaction is greatly increased. In particular, women with high levels of sexual guilt tend to perceive less sexual arousal, resulting in less enjoyment from their sexual encounters. The purposes of this investigation were to identify those factors correlated with feeling guilty about first sexual intercourse and to examine the influence of guilt about first intercourse on current sexual satisfaction. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to never-married college women, with the subsample for this investigation consisting of 570 women. Significant variables correlated with guilt at first sexual intercourse include uncommunicative mother and father figures, overstrict father figure, uncomfortableness with sexuality, physiological and psychological sexual dissatisfaction with first intercourse, guilt feelings about current intercourse, and psychological sexual dissatisfaction. These findings have substantial implications for sex researchers, sex therapists, family therapists, and sexuality educators who wish to promote healthy sexuality, through both attitudes and behavior.
Adolescent↗
[Is early first intercourse a risk factor for cervical cancer?].
Sexual behavior has long been known to be a risk factor for cervical carcinoma. Certain sexual risk factors are related to an increased risk of chronic infection of the cervical transformation zone with high-risk human papilloma viruses (HPVs). Numerous retrospective analyses consider early first intercourse a probable risk factor for later development of cervical carcinoma. Since risk factors are associated, it is unclear whether early first intercourse is an independent risk factor for cervical neoplasia. Few comprehensive retrospective studies are available. It is possible that the cervical transformation zone is particularly vulnerable to infection between menarche and the age of sixteen. During this phase there are a large number of undifferentiated cells at the periphery of the metaplasia, practically at the surface of the cervix. It seems that this area is particularly susceptible to HPV infection. There are also indications that there is no secondary immune response to HPV at the time of early first intercourse, making the immune response to HPV less efficient. Other possible risk factors for cervical cancer include genetic predisposition, nutrition, smoking, Chlamydia or HSV-2 infections, drug abuse, oral contraception, immune suppression and early first pregnancy. Education appears important to encourage responsible sexual behaviour in young people.
Adolescent↗
Age at first intercourse in an Australian national sample of technical college students.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to broaden the current body of knowledge regarding the sexual behaviour of young Australians by examining the age and correlates of age of first intercourse in a national sample of Technical and Further Education apprentices. METHOD: In 1995, students at randomly selected technical colleges in Australia were surveyed on HIV-related issues. Questionnaires were administered to a stratified cluster sample of automotive, hairdressing and commercial cookery apprentices. Respondents were asked the age at which they first had heterosexual vaginal or anal intercourse. RESULTS: Of 4,055 respondents aged 15-24 years, 3,848 answered the question; 3,195 (83%) had had intercourse. Males and females did not differ significantly. Median age at first intercourse was 16 (range 12-23). In multivariate analysis, older age at first intercourse was associated with: greater age at interview; higher school education; church attendance; and State of residence. The model, however, accounted for only 14% of the variance in age at first intercourse. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: In this sample, those apprentices who completed secondary school became sexually active later on average than those who left before the end of Year 10. For sex education to occur before sexual initiation, it needs to be offered in primary schools and the first year of high school (aged 11-13 years). Further, as technical college students are likely to initiate sex earlier than their age mates still at school, colleges may be in a position to take responsibility for the continuing sexual education of this group, especially for those students entering college at 15 or 16 years of age.
Adolescent↗
Factors influencing first intercourse for teenage men.
Analyses of a nationally representative survey of 1,880 15- to 19-year-old men were conducted to examine factors associated with (a) the age when first sexual intercourse occurred and (b) whether a condom or other contraceptive method was used at first intercourse. Discrete time-event history models assessed factors influencing their age until first intercourse. Black males began sexual activity significantly earlier than white or Hispanic males. Males who had been held back in school also began sexual activity earlier. If a respondent's mother had been a teenager when she first gave birth, or if his mother was employed during his childhood, he was more likely to initiate intercourse early. A variety of combinations of AIDS and sex education topics were examined for their association with one's age at the time of first intercourse: two topics were associated with earlier intercourse, and one was associated with delays in first intercourse. Logistic regression models examined correlates of using a condom or any effective male or female method of contraception at first intercourse: having received education about birth control was marginally associated with increased probability of using a condom or any effective male or female contraceptive method at first intercourse. These findings indicate the relevance of integrated approaches to school-based sex and AIDS education in delaying intercourse and promoting use of contraceptive methods.
Adolescent↗
Age at first intercourse is inversely related to female cortisol stress reactivity.
The relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and salivary cortisol stress reactivity (to the Trier Social Stress Test; TSST; consisting of public speaking and mental arithmetic) was examined in healthy subjects (43 females and 36 males; ages 19-38). Women reporting earlier first intercourse had less intense cortisol increases in response to the stressor (a non-significant trend was observed for males), and faster recovery from the stressor. Results were not confounded by age, oral contraceptive use, depression scores, smoking status, or body mass index. It is concluded that earlier first intercourse is associated with less reactivity to and faster recovery from stress as indexed by this endocrine measure. Results are discussed in terms of genetic and psychological influences on first intercourse and implications for coping with interpersonal stress.
Adult↗
Coerced first intercourse and reproductive health among adolescent women in Rakai, Uganda.
CONTEXT: Although there is increasing recognition of the scope and significance of sexual coercion experienced by adolescent women in developing countries, evidence on its consequences for reproductive health remains limited. METHODS: A sample of 575 sexually experienced 15-19-year-old women were interviewed in 2001-2002 as part of the ongoing Rakai surveillance project in rural Uganda. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were used to investigate associations between coerced first intercourse and selected reproductive health behaviors and outcomes. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of young women reported that their first sexual intercourse had been coerced. After the effects of respondents' demographic characteristics were accounted for, young women who reported coerced first intercourse were significantly less likely than those who did not to be currently using modern contraceptives, to have used condoms at last intercourse and to have used them consistently during the preceding six months; they were more likely to report their current or most recent pregnancy as unintended (among ever-pregnant women) and to report one or more genital tract symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Coerced first intercourse is an important social and public health problem that has potentially serious repercussions for young women's reproductive health and well-being. Interventions to improve adolescent women's reproductive health should directly address the issue of sexual coercion.
Adolescent↗