New Data: Most Teens Use Contraception the First Time They Have Sex
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data Wednesday that shows fewer teens, especially younger teens, are having sex, and the majority of those who become sexually active use contraception the first time they have sex.
The data also shows that in the past few years, since it has become easier to access, more teens say they have used emergency contraception.
There has been a relatively steady decline in the percentage of teens who have ever had sex over the past 25 years. In 1988, 51 percent of females and 60 percent of males ages 15-to-19 reported having had sex compared to 44 percent of females and 46 percent of males in 2011-2013. Much of this decline reflects the behavior of younger teens who are delaying sex.
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