Let’s face it – when you’re a teenager it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by sex. It’s everywhere! Movies, magazines, music, and television are just the tip of the iceberg. Have you ever noticed the covers of popular magazines usually have a featured article about sex? Shows like “Gossip Girl” and “The OC” portray teenagers with sensational sex lives. Many popular music videos feature men and women in sexual situations.
And movies (“Superbad,” “Road Trip,” “American Pie,” to name a few) depict sex scenes or detailed sexual content. With the media’s constant focus on sex it’s hard to determine what is real and what is exaggerated. The hype sets a tone which leaves many teens asking – is everyone really doing it???
The truth is not everyone is doing it. Statistics show that less than half (48 percent) of high schools students have had sex. Although some reports make today’s teens seem wild and risky, the truth is that teens are waiting longer to have sex than in the past, and the rate of teenage childbearing has fallen. As always, there is a group of kids who have sex, but is it everyone? No.
Gossip spreads, and some teens bend the truth when asked about what they did with whom. Lying about sexual experiences might make some teens think they’re cooler, more mature, and unique – but it most likely will have negative consequences down the road and ruin reputations or boomerang and get back to parents.
And waiting to have sex is definitely worth it. But there is a right time, and right person, for your first time. Research shows that most teens who had sex say that they wish they had waited longer. And the younger the teens are when they first had sex, the more they regret it. And if you think that having sex will solidify your relationship, usually it’s just the opposite – most first-time teen sexual relationships last six months or less and are a one-time event. So, while not everyone is doing it, those who are don’t seem to be too proud of the consequences.
Teens these days know a lot about the minefield of unprotected sex, which include sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancy.
How much do you know about safe sex? Take this quiz to find out.
Be smart: Recognize the risks and wait to have sex until you’re mature and responsible enough to handle it. And don’t be ignorant: know when you – or your partner – can get pregnant (when ovulating); about birth control pills (you have to take them at the same time everyday), and condoms (yes, they can break!).
Today, fewer than half of all high school students have had sex: 47.8 percent as of 2007, according to the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, down from 54.1 percent in 1991.
The best rule of thumb if you think everyone is having sex – but you – is to talk to those you trust about it. Your close friends and parents will be honest with you. Disregard the gossip you hear from your friends. And try to keep Internet research to a minimum because there is a lot of misinformation on the Web about sex. Sex can be a beautiful thing. But knowing the facts about sex – and thinking before you act – can be even better than what you see in the movies.
This article has been reviewed by BodiMojo expert Tara Cousineau, Ph.D.
