First things first: there is no right or wrong age to lose your virginity. The only factors that matter when it comes to having sex for the first time is that both you and your partner are ready, you both have consented, and you’re using protection. And while what you see on TV and in the movies might tell you otherwise, everyone’s first time is very different. You might see *fireworks* or feel nervous.
Though the decision to have sex is completely up to you, it’s okay to wonder when and how others did it for the first time. While it’s hard to know exactly the average age that people have their first sexual encounter (there isn’t a lot of research on this stat), there are some interesting surveys that suggest a rough average. In 2018, Zava, an online health consulting service previously known as DrEd, surveyed 500 Europeans and 500 Americans to find out what their “sexual journeys” were like. At the time, the study found that the average age of virginity loss is 17.4, whereas the average age of sexual awakening (“a sudden realization of sexual feelings and urges”) is 15.2. Planned Parenthood also says that the average age for teens’ first time is 17.
While the average age might be around 17, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of sexually active teens is consistently declining. More teens are putting off sex than ever before. The CDC’s 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) shows that almost 40 percent of U.S. high school students have had sex, and that number has declined from nearly 48 percent in 20o7. Additionally, about 10 percent of students have had four or more sexual partners in 2017, compared to almost 15 percent 10 years prior. At the time, this was the lowest percentage reported since the CDC began conducting the YBRS in 1991.
In 2019, the CDC’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior survey found that the number of high school students who have had sex decreased once again, to 38 percent.
But while the percentage of sexually active high schoolers has been on a steady decline, the CDC 2019 report found that of the 27 percent of teens who had sex in the past three months, 46 percent did not use a condom. This means that almost half of the teens having sex are at risk for sexually transmitted infections. The stat is an alarming one, and whether it’s your first or twentieth time engaging in sexual activity, it’s always important to practice safe sex. You can purchase condoms at your local drugstore or convenience store. Affordable or even free condoms are available at Planned Parenthood, local health clinics, and likely your doctor’s office, college, or university health center.
And despite what the “average” age may be that teens lose their virginity, there is absolutely no pressure for you to be restricted to the stat. Having sex for the first time is a big step, and there is no rush at all — make sure that you are 100 percent ready before making the decision.
Yerin Kim is the Assistant Editor for Snapchat Discover at Seventeen, covering beauty, sex & health, lifestyle, and entertainment. Originally from New Jersey but raised in Seoul, she is a proud Syracuse grad who loves fluffy puppies and a good Instagram opp. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram!
Leah Campano is an Associate Editor at Seventeen, where she covers pop culture, entertainment news, health, and politics. On the weekends, you can probably find her watching marathons of vintage Real Housewives episodes or searching for New York City’s best almond croissants.
