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Article: Rites of passage.(teenagers and initiation of sexual activity)
- Article from:
- Sex and America's Teenagers
- Article date:
- January 1, 1994
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Guttmacher Institute. 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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Sex is part of virtually everyone's life. For adults and teenagers alike, having sex can have positive or negative consequences. On the positive side, it can bring pleasure; draw a couple closer together; and lead to a desired pregnancy and wanted children. In different circumstances, however, having sex can engender a sense of shame or guilt; push a couple apart; raise unrealistic expectations of further commitment and marriage; or be a form of abuse. It can also result in an unintended pregnancy or infection with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), including human immunodeficiency virus (HJV).
Ironically, while sex is one of the most intimate of behaviors, ...