title: Educating teenagers about sex in the United States.
abstract: Most teenagers received formal sex education before they were 18 (96% of female and 97% of male teenagers). Female teenagers were more likely than male teenagers to report first receiving instruction on birth control methods in high school (47% compared with 38%). Younger female teenagers were more likely than younger male teenagers to have talked to their parents about sex and birth control. Nearly two out of three female teenagers talked to their parents about “how to say no to sex” compared with about two out of five male teenagers. Most teenagers received formal sex education before they were 18 (96% of female and 97% of male teenagers). Female teenagers were more likely than male teenagers to report first receiving instruction on birth control methods in high school (47% compared with 38%). Younger female teenagers were more likely than younger male teenagers to have talked to their parents about sex and birth control. Nearly two out of three female teenagers talked to their parents about “how to say no to sex” compared with about two out of five male teenagers.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Vital Statistics, Reproductive Statistics Branch , Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, USA.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abma
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Copen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012736:Sex Education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D019529:Sexuality; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States