Over the past few decades, nationally representative surveys have accumulated a wealth of data on levels of adolescent sexual activity. Thanks to such surveys, we know how the proportion of 15-19-year-olds who have ever had intercourse has changed over the years. Similar data exist on age at first intercourse, most recent sexual intercourse and current contraceptive use.

Yet all of these measures focus on--or relate to the possible results of--vaginal intercourse. This is natural, given that attention to adolescent sexual activity arose initially out of concerns over the far-reaching problems associated with teenage pregnancy and childbearing. More recently, infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), particularly with HIV, has fueled further public and scientific interest in teenage sexual behavior.

But to what extent does adolescent sexual activity consist of noncoital behaviors--that is, mutual masturbation, oral sex and anal intercourse--that are not linked to pregnancy but involve the risk of STDs? Some of these activities may also be precursors to vaginal intercourse. Yet, health professionals and policymaker

Some topics in this essay:
Resource Iowa, University Minnesota, Helms R-NC, Kathleen Toomey, Sex Abstinence, John Cobb, Abstinence Education, School Baltimore, Rebecca Maynard, Washington Post, oral sex, sexual activity, sexual intercourse, adolescent health, health professionals, sexual behavior, range behaviors, abstinence education, adolescent health professionals, oral intercourse, public health, adolescents oral sex, adolescent sexual activity, according stan weed, considered oral sex,