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Article: Correlates and consequences of early initiation of sexual intercourse.
- Article from:
- Journal of School Health
- Article date:
- November 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 American School Health Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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For the past two decades, sexual intercourse among U.S. adolescents has resulted in increases both in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancies.[1] A greater proportion of adolescent females are sexually active today than in the past, and age at first intercourse is dropping.[2] Early age at first intercourse is associated with an increased number of sex partners, a greater risk for STDs,[3] and an increased risk for cervical neoplasia.[4] Pregnancies occurring among school-age females result primarily from adult male/teen-age female intercourse; seven in 10 births to teen-age women were fathered by men older than age 20.[5] Negative effects from early ...