National Health Statistics Reports

Number 104  June 22, 2017

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Use Among 

Teenagers in the United States, 2011–2015 

by Joyce C. Abma, Ph.D., and Gladys M. Martinez, Ph.D., Division of Vital Statistics

Abstract

Objective—This report presents national estimates of sexual activity and 

contraceptive use among males and females aged 15–19 in the United States in 

2011–2015, based on data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). For 

selected indicators, data are also presented from the 1988, 1995, 2002, and 2006–2010 

NSFGs, and from the 1988 and 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males, which was 

conducted by the Urban Institute. 

Methods—NSFG data were collected through in-person interviews with nationally 

representative samples of men and women aged 15–44 in the household population of 

the United States. NSFG 2011–2015 interviews were conducted between September 

2011 and September 2015 with 20,621 men and women, including 4,134 teenagers 

(2,047 females and 2,087 males). The response rate was 72.5% for male teenagers and 

73.0% for female teenagers.

Results—In 2011–2015, 42.4% of never-married female teenagers (4.0 million) 

and 44.2% of never-married male teenagers (4.4 million) had had sexual intercourse 

at least once by the time of the interview (were sexually experienced). These levels of 

sexual experience among teenagers are similar to those seen in 2002 and 2006–2010 

data. Longer-term trends, from 1988 to 2011–2015, show declines in the percentage 

of teenagers who were sexually experienced. Female teenagers’ use of a method of 

contraception at first sex increased from 74.5% in 2002 to 81.0% in 2011–2015. Male 

teenagers’ use of a condom at first sex increased from 70.9% in 2002 to 79.6% in 

2006–2010 and remained stable at 76.8% in 2011–2015. Overall, in 2011–2015, 5.8% 

of female teenagers had used a long-acting reversible method (intrauterine device or 

implant).

Keywords: adolescents • birth control • teen pregnancy risk • National Survey of 

Family Growth

Introduction

Monitoring sexual activity and 

contraceptive use among teenagers 

is important because of the health, 

economic, and social costs of pregnancy 

and childbearing among the teen 

population (1,2). Although teen 

pregnancy and birth rates have been 

declining since the early 1990s and 

reached historic lows at 22.3 per 1,000 

females aged 15–19 in 2015 (3), U.S. 

rates are still higher than those in other 

developed countries. For example, 

in 2011, the teen birth rate in Canada 

was 13 per 1,000 females aged 15–19, 

which was less than one-half of the 

U.S. rate (34 per 1,000 females aged 

15–19) in the same year. Also in 2011, 

the rate in France was 7 and the rate in 

Germany was 5, both of which were 

less than one-quarter of the U.S. rate 

(4). In addition, while declines have 

occurred for Hispanic, non-Hispanic 

black, and non-Hispanic white teenagers, 

differences between these groups 

persist, and pregnancy rates are at least 

twice as high for non-Hispanic black 

and Hispanic teenagers as they are for 

non-Hispanic white teenagers (5). As a 

result of the concern with these higher 

rates of teen pregnancy and births, as 

well as differences by race and ethnicity 
Page 2 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

and other socioeconomic characteristics 

(3,6), a large number of federal, state, 

and local teen pregnancy prevention 

programs have been launched over the 

past few decades. In 2014, the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC) declared teen pregnancy one of 

seven “Winnable Battles,” highlighting 

the importance of reducing teen 

pregnancy and birth rates (7). 

In addition, concern remains high 

over the incidence of HIV and other 

sexually transmitted infections (STIs) 

among young people. Sexually active 

adolescents aged 15–19 and young adults 

aged 20–24 are at higher risk of acquiring 

STIs than adults. Reasons for this include 

behavior, physiology, and factors related 

to health care access and services (8). 

Prevalence estimates suggest that one in 

four sexually active adolescent females 

has an STI, such as chlamydia or human 

papillomavirus (HPV) (8). According to 

the most recent estimates, the total direct 

medical cost of STIs in the United States 

among all ages was $15.6 billion (9). 

Women and men aged 15–24 account 

for a large portion of these costs because 

they acquire nearly one-half of the 20 

million new STIs in the United States 

each year. 

This report presents recent data on 

the sexual activity and contraceptive 

use of males and females aged 15–19 in 

the United States, using data from the 

2011–2015 and earlier National Surveys 

of Family Growth (NSFG) and the 1988 

and 1995 National Surveys of Adolescent 

Males (NSAM) (Text Table, Tables 1–9, 

and Figures 1–7), updating statistics 

presented in prior similar reports (10–13).

Methods 

Data source 

This report is focused on combined 

NSFG data from 2011–2013 and 

2013–2015, resulting in a data file of 4 

years of interviews spanning 2011–2015. 

These two datasets together contain a 

total of 20,621 interviews: 11,300 with 

women and 9,321 with men, all aged 

15–44. These interviews include 4,134 

with teenagers: 2,047 females and 2,087 

males aged 15–19. NSFG is administered 

through face-to-face interviews and 

represents men and women aged 15–44 

in the household population of the United 

States, including persons temporarily 

living away from the household in a 

college dormitory, sorority, or fraternity 

(14). Further details on the sample 

design, variance estimation, and 

fieldwork procedures for the most recent 

NSFG surveys were published previously 

(14–16). Earlier NSFG surveys presented 

here include the 1988, 1995, and 2002 

periodic surveys and the 2006–2010 

continuous survey (17). Also presented 

are statistics from the 1988 and 1995 

NSAM, a national panel survey of nevermarried male teenagers conducted by the 

Urban Institute that is administered faceto-face and designed to yield information 

parallel to that for female teenagers 

from NSFG (18). The earliest surveys 

align approximately with the beginning 

of the decline in teen pregnancy rates. 

Because the teen pregnancy rate peaked 

in 1990, after which it fell 50% through 

2010 (5), it is informative to examine 

national trends in both sexual activity 

and contraceptive use among teenagers 

during a time period starting as close to 

the peak as possible. For both NSFG and 

NSAM, 1988 is the survey point closest 

to the peak in teen pregnancy rates. 

Presenting data from the 2002 

and 2006–2010 surveys in addition to 

2011–2015 allows for examination of 

more recent trends (through the 2000s) 

in sexual activity and contraceptive use. 

Monitoring changes in these measures is 

important for gauging whether progress is 

being made toward the goals of reduction 

in pregnancy and STI risk behaviors.

In addition, changes in the overall 

use of contraceptive methods and the use 

of specific methods are influenced by 

frequent changes in the development and 

discontinuation of specific contraceptive 

methods and their accessibility. 

All respondents were given written 

and oral information about the survey 

and informed that participation was 

voluntary. Adult respondents aged 18–44 

were asked to sign a consent form but 

were not required to do so. For minors 

aged 15–17, signed consent was required 

first from a parent or guardian, and 

then signed assent was required from 

the minor: If either the parent or the 

minor declined to give written consent 

or assent, the minor did not participate 

in the survey. The overall response rate 

for the 2011–2015 NSFG was 71.0%. 

The response rate was 73.0% for female 

teenagers and 72.5% for male teenagers.

Measurement of sexual 

activity, contraception, and 

related measures

Sexual activity is measured in 

two ways: Whether the respondent has 

ever had sex and whether he or she has 

had sex recently. If a respondent has 

ever had sexual intercourse, they are 

referred to as “sexually experienced.” 

This is ascertained through a “yes or 

no” question in the male and female 

questionnaires that is consistent across 

all survey years. Female respondents 

who had ever been pregnant or had ever 

cohabited with or been married to a 

person of the opposite sex are not asked 

and are coded “yes” (19). The measures 

capturing recency of sexual intercourse—

whether a respondent has had sex in the 

past 12 months and past 3 months—

are based on the reported date of last 

sex with the last sexual partner. The 

probability of having had sex by specific 

ages is based on a question asking 

respondents how old they were the first 

time they had sexual intercourse with a 

male or female (presented as probabilities 

of having had sex by each age in the teen 

years, described in the next section). The 

relationship with the first sexual partner 

at first sex was based on a question 

asking respondents to choose from 

eight different categories to describe 

the relationship at that time: “had just 

met,” “just friends,” “going out once in 

a while,” “going steady,” “cohabiting,” 

“engaged,” “married,” or “something 

else” (19). The measure of “reasons for 

not yet having had sex” is based on a 

question asking respondents who had 

never had sexual intercourse, “What 

would you say is the most important 

reason why you have not had sexual 

intercourse up to now?” and includes the 

response categories “against religion or 

morals,” “don’t want to get pregnant/

get a female pregnant,” “don’t want 

to get a sexually transmitted disease,” 

“haven’t found the right person yet,” “in 

a relationship, but waiting for the right 

time,” and “other.” 
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017 Page 3

Ever-use of specific contraceptive 

methods was ascertained from a series 

of questions asking, for each specific 

method, whether the respondent had ever 

used it for any reason. Respondents were 

asked about the following methods: pill, 

male condom, (partner’s) vasectomy, 

Depo-Provera or Lunelle injectable, 

(partner’s use of) withdrawal, fertility 

awareness methods (specifically: 

calendar rhythm method, Standard 

Days Method or CycleBeads, and 

sympto-thermal method), contraceptive 

patch, contraceptive ring, emergency 

contraception, contraceptive implant, 

diaphragm, female condom, foam, jelly 

or cream, cervical cap, suppository, 

contraceptive sponge, intrauterine device 

(IUD), and other method. For females, 

use of contraception at first sex was 

determined from a question asking when 

their first contraceptive method use 

occurred in relation to first sex (19). The 

first contraceptive method ever used was 

also asked in a separate question. For 

males, use of contraception at first sex 

was determined from a question asking 

whether he or his partner used a method 

at first sex and if so, which method. 

Contraceptive use at last sex was based 

on a question asking if a contraceptive 

method was used at the last sex with 

the last sexual partner and if so, which 

method. The question on the respondent’s 

feelings about a hypothetical pregnancy 

asked female respondents: “If you got 

pregnant now how would you feel?” 

and males: “If you got [your wife/your 

partner/a female] pregnant now how 

would you feel?” Respondents chose 

from these categories: “very upset,” “a 

little upset,” “a little pleased,” and “very 

pleased” (19).

Demographic variables used 

in this report 

The data on sexual activity and 

contraceptive use presented in this 

report are shown with respect to several 

key demographic characteristics of the 

respondent: age, race and Hispanic 

origin, family living arrangement at 

age 14, parental living arrangement at 

interview, mother’s age at her first child’s 

birth, and mother’s education. 

All tables showing data by race and 

Hispanic origin classify respondents 

according to the most recent (1997) 

guidelines for federal surveys from the 

Office of Management and Budget (20), 

except Table 1, which shows race and 

Hispanic origin classified according to 

the 1977 guidelines (21). This reporting 

standard was used in prior reports on 

this topic and is the only classification 

that allows comparison to the 1988 and 

1995 NSAM data. Statistics based on the 

two classification standards differ only 

minimally; the questions on the NSFG 

and NSAM have always been from selfreports and have allowed the choice of 

more than one category. (In reference 

11, see text tables and Appendix Tables I 

through XIV.)

 Three measures of the teenager’s 

family of origin are included because 

they have well-documented influences 

on sexual activity and use of 

contraception among teenagers, partly 

through their strong correlation with 

family socioeconomic status: mother’s 

educational attainment; the age when 

the mother had her first child; and 

family structure (parental presence or 

absence in the teenager’s household). 

Regarding family structure, the focus is 

primarily on those with two biological 

or adoptive parents compared with other 

arrangements. Two such measures are 

included and the choice between them 

is based on the nature of the outcome or 

indicator being shown: 

a) Family structure at age 14 

addresses the living arrangement during 

the beginning of the teen years, before 

many have had sexual intercourse, and 

is used in tables presenting an event 

occurring at an undetermined time in the 

teenager’s past (for example, “ever had 

sexual intercourse”). 

b) Parental living arrangements at 

the time of the interview, based on a 

roster of household members, was used 

when the outcome of interest was closer 

to the time of the interview (see Table 2

for an example).

Statistical analysis 

All estimates in this report are 

based on sampling weights that are 

designed to produce unbiased estimates 

representative of the 122 million men and 

women aged 15–44 in the United States, 

including the approximately 19 million 

teenagers aged 15–19 in the population. 

To take into account the complex 

sampling design of NSFG, most statistics 

for this report, including sampling errors, 

were produced using the survey analysis 

procedures in SAS software, Version 9.4 

(www.sas.com). Each table in this report 

includes the standard error for each point 

estimate as a measure of its precision.

In addition, PROC LIFETEST was 

used for Table 2 to calculate life table 

probabilities of first sexual intercourse 

by each age up to 20, using respondents’ 

reports of their age at first intercourse. 

It represents data for women who were 

aged 15–24 at the time of the interview. 

The age was expanded to increase the 

sample size for the events that happened 

during their entire teen years. Even 

though the ages used in the analysis 

include those over 19, the data are 

presented only for first intercourse that 

occurred between the ages of 15 and 20 

(to include data for the complete year of 

age 19 for all respondents). 

Most tables and figures present 

statistics for teenagers of all marital 

statuses, while a few present statistics for 

never-married teenagers. Because 

Figures 1 and 6 include the year 1988, 

they are limited to never-married 

teenagers to allow for consistency 

with the 1988 NSAM, which included 

only never-married teen males. Table 1

is limited to never-married teenagers for 

comparability with Figure 1, and Table 8

is limited to never-married teenagers for 

comparability with Figure 6. Table 9 and 

Figure 7 are limited to never-married 

teenagers because they present a measure 

of motivation to avoid pregnancy, which 

is most relevant for teenagers who are not 

married. In 2011–2015, as in past NSFG 

survey years, very few teenagers had ever 

been married: 1.0% of females and 0.3% 

of males. Therefore, the estimate of nevermarried teenagers who have ever had 

sexual intercourse is expected to be very 

similar to the estimate for the population 

that would include married teenagers. 

All tables show estimates for

2011–2015, the most recent survey. Tables 

on sexual activity and contraceptive use 

also show recent trends by including data 

from the 2002 and 2006–2010 NSFGs. 
Page 4 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

Figure 1 (percentage of teenagers 

who ever had sex) and Figure 2

(contraceptive use at last sex) show 

longer-term trends that include 1988 and 

1995 in addition to the 2002, 2006–2010, 

and 2011–2015 time periods.

Significance of differences among 

subgroups was determined by standard 

two-tailed t tests. No adjustments were 

made for multiple comparisons. The 

difference between any two estimates 

is mentioned only if it is statistically 

significant. Lack of comment regarding 

any difference does not mean that 

significance was tested and ruled out. 

Otherwise, terms such as “similar” or 

“no significant differences” are used 

to indicate that the estimates being 

compared were tested and found not to 

be significantly different. A weighted 

least squares regression method was 

used to test the significance of trends 

that involved more than two time 

points or more than two age groups. 

When this method was used, terms that 

refer to percentages that “increased” 

or “decreased” indicate that there 

was a significant difference over time 

or across age groups. When a linear 

trend was not identified, or to evaluate 

potential changes due to a policy or 

newly available contraceptive product, 

the estimates between two specific time 

points were compared using a t test.

In this report, percentages are 

not shown if the sample denominator 

is fewer than 75 cases or if the 

numerator is fewer than 5 cases. 

When a percentage or other statistic 

is not shown for this reason, the table 

contains an asterisk (*) signifying that 

the “figure does not meet standards 

of reliability or precision.” For most 

statistics presented in this report, the 

numerators and denominators are much 

larger. This report presents descriptive 

statistics on trends and differences 

in the sexual and contraceptive 

experiences of teenagers in the United 

States through 2011–2015; these 

results, based on cross-sectional survey 

data, are not intended to demonstrate 

cause-and-effect relationships.

Results

Sexual activity among 

teenagers

Sexual experience

Table 1 and Figure 1 present the 

percentage of never-married female 

and male teenagers who have ever 

had vaginal sexual intercourse with an 

opposite-sex partner. Table 1 shows 

the three most recent survey periods: 

2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015, and 

the Text Table shows race and Hispanic 

origin at these three time points. Figure 1

shows five time points spanning 1988 to 

2011–2015. 

In 2011–2015, 42.4% of

never-married teen females and 44.2% 

of never-married teen males had 

experienced sexual intercourse at least 

once. These percentages were similar 

for never-married teenagers across 

all three time points between 2002 

and 2011–2015. However, significant 

changes occurred within specific race and 

Hispanic origin groups: Never-married 

non-Hispanic black female teenagers 

experienced a decrease in the percentage 

who were sexually experienced between 

2002 (56.9%) and 2011–2015 (46.6%), 

and never-married non-Hispanic white 

males experienced an increase between 

2006–2010 and 2011–2015, from 36.7 to 

42.8% (Text Table).

Regarding the longer-term trend 

shown in Figure 1, from 1988 to

2011–2015, the percentage of nevermarried teen females who had ever had 

sexual intercourse declined from 51.1% 

in 1988 to 42.4% in 2011–2015. For 

never-married males, the percentage 

who were sexually experienced declined 

between 1988 (60.4%) and 2011–2015 

(44.2%).

For female teenagers in 2011–2015, 

no significant differences were seen 

in the percentages who were sexually 

experienced among never-married 

Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, and

non-Hispanic black female teenagers 

(Table 1). This was also the case in 

2006–2010 and is a change from 2002 and 

earlier surveys when higher percentages 

of non-Hispanic black female teenagers 

were sexually experienced compared with

non-Hispanic white female teenagers, 

as described in prior reports in this 

series (10–12). For male teenagers, in 

2011–2015, 58.6% of never-married 

non-Hispanic black males aged 15–19 had 

ever had sexual intercourse, a significantly 

higher percentage than the 45.7% among

Figure 1. Trends in the percentage of never-married males and females aged 15–19 who 

have ever had sexual intercourse: United States, 1988–2015 

 

 

 

 
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017 Page 5

never-married Hispanic males and the 

42.8% among never-married non-Hispanic 

white males in this age group. This 

difference between non-Hispanic white 

and black males has persisted through all 

five survey periods (10–12). The absence 

of a difference in the percentage of 

teenagers who were sexually experienced 

between Hispanic males and non-Hispanic 

white males in 2011–2015 is a change 

from 2006–2010, when the percentage 

for Hispanic males was higher than the 

percentage for non-Hispanic white males. 

Table 1 also shows sexual experience 

among teenagers by family structure 

(parental living arrangements) at age 

14, their mother’s age at her first child’s 

birth, and their mother’s education. 

For both male and female teenagers, 

a significantly lower percentage were 

sexually experienced if they lived with 

both parents when they were 14 and, 

for males, if their mothers gave birth 

to their first child at age 20 or over. 

For example, in 2011–2015, 36.8% of 

female never-married teenagers who 

lived with both parents at age 14 were 

sexually experienced compared with 

50.8% among those who were living in 

any other family structure at that age. 

A similar pattern was observed among 

male teenagers: 39.4% of those who lived 

with both parents at age 14 were sexually 

experienced compared with 51.9% 

among those who lived in any other 

family structure.

The percentage of male teenagers 

who were sexually experienced varied 

by the amount of education their mothers 

had attained. For those with mothers 

who did not have a high school diploma 

or General Educational Development 

high school equivalency diploma (GED), 

46.7% had had sex compared with 41.0% 

among those whose mothers had at least 

some college. For female teenagers, no 

differences in the percentage who were 

sexually experienced were observed 

between maternal education groups. For 

females, this is a change from past years, 

when a higher level of maternal education 

was associated with lower percentages of 

those who were sexually experienced for 

both female and male teenagers (12).

Age at first sexual intercourse: 

Probability of first sex, by each age

In 2011–2015, males were more 

likely than females to have had sexual 

intercourse in the early teen years 

(ages 15 and 16) (Figure 2, Table 2). 

By age 17, the probabilities of having 

had sexual intercourse were similar 

for males and females. For example, 

by age 15, 16% of males had ever had 

sexual intercourse compared with 11% 

of females, but by age 18, 55% of male 

and female teenagers had ever had sexual 

intercourse. The probability of having 

had sexual intercourse by age 18 was 

higher for non-Hispanic black teenagers 

(compared with non-Hispanic white 

and Hispanic teenagers), those who did 

not live with both biological parents at 

age 14, those whose mothers were teen 

mothers, and those whose mothers did 

not attend any college (those with a high 

school diploma or less than a high school 

diploma compared with those whose 

mothers completed at least some college).

Relationship with first partner

Data on the circumstances of 

first intercourse aid in understanding 

what underlies current differentials 

and potential future changes in sexual 

activity. These circumstances can be 

associated with contraceptive use, as 

shown in later sections of this report. 

For teenagers, the nature of the 

relationship with the first sexual partner 

varies widely. In 2011–2015, the majority 

of teenagers had their first sexual 

intercourse with someone with whom 

they were “going steady” (Table 3), but 

the percentage was higher for female 

(74.1%) than for male (51.1%) teenagers. 

Thirteen percent of female teenagers 

and 27.3% of male teenagers had their 

first sex with someone with whom they 

were “just friends.” Differences by race 

and Hispanic origin were seen in the 

percentage of male teenagers whose first 

sex was with someone with whom they 

were “just friends.” Non-Hispanic black 

teen males were more likely (40.5%) than 

non-Hispanic white teen males (20.7%) 

Text Table. Never-married females and males aged 15–19 who have ever had sexual 

intercourse, by Hispanic origin and race: United States, 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015

Characteristic

Number

(thousands)

Percent

(standard error)

Female

Hispanic origin and race and year

Hispanic or Latina

2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,447 37.4 (3.6)

2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,849 42.1 (3.3)

2011–2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,129 41.4 (3.2)

Non-Hispanic white

2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,099 45.1 (2.6)

2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,150 41.9 (2.4)

2011–2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,057 44.3 (2.6)

Non-Hispanic black

2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,496 56.9 (3.0)

2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,691 46.4 (3.0)

2011–2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,540 46.6 (3.3)

Male

Hispanic origin and race and year

Hispanic or Latino

2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,603 54.8 (4.3)

2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000 46.0 (3.0)

2011–2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,253 45.7 (2.7)

Non-Hispanic white

2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,462 40.8 (2.5)

2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,405 36.7 (2.2)

2011–2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,332 42.8 (2.2)

Non-Hispanic black

2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,468 63.3 (4.4)

2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,673 58.4 (3.0)

2011–2015. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,555 58.6 (3.0)

NOTE: Sexual intercourse is defined as vaginal sexual intercourse between opposite-sex partners.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015. 
Page 6 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

and Hispanic teen males (27.7%) to have 

had first sex with someone with whom 

they were “just friends.” For female 

teenagers, no significant difference by 

race and Hispanic origin was seen in 

the percentage who were “just friends” 

with their first sexual partner at their first 

sexual intercourse. 

Among female teenagers, younger 

age at first sex was associated with a 

higher likelihood that they were “just 

friends” with their first sexual partner. In 

2011–2015, 21.9% of female teenagers 

who were age 14 and under at first sexual 

intercourse were “just friends” with their 

first partner compared with 8.8% of 

those who were aged 15–16 at first sex. 

Among male teenagers, those who were 

aged 15–16 at first sex were less likely 

to be “just friends” with their first sexual 

partner (18.3%) than those who were 

14 and under (38.7%) or aged 17–19 

(29.3%) at first sex. Compared with those 

whose first sex was at ages 15–16, male 

teenagers who were 14 and under at first 

sex were more likely to have first sex 

with someone they had just met. 

Reasons for not having had sex 

Teenagers who have not yet had sex 

make up more than one-half of the teen 

population (57.6% of females and 55.8% of 

males). Data on their reasons for not having 

had sex aids in understanding the context of 

teen decision making about sexual activity.

In 2011–2015, the most common 

reason female teenagers chose for not 

having had sex, among the categories 

provided, was that it was ‘‘against religion 

or morals’’ (Table 4). A total of 35.3% of 

female teenagers who had not yet had sex 

chose this as their main reason, followed 

by “haven’t found the right person yet” 

(21.9%) and “don’t want to get pregnant” 

(19.3%). Among male teenagers, the most 

common reasons cited for not having had 

sex were “against religion or morals” 

(27.9%) and “haven’t found the right 

person yet” (28.5%), followed by “don’t 

want to get (a female) pregnant” (21.2%). 

Recent sexual activity 

Recency of sexual activity is an 

important component for monitoring the 

risk of pregnancy and STIs. Having had 

sex in the past 3 months or past 12 months 

are commonly used indicators of “current” 

exposure, and having had sex in the past 

3 months is commonly used to define the 

“sexually active” population at a given 

point in time. 

As shown in Table 5, in 2011–2015, 

38.9% of female teenagers and 39.5% 

of male teenagers had sexual intercourse 

at least once in the past 12 months. This 

prevalence did not change significantly 

from 2002 for male and female teenagers. 

Regarding the percentage who were 

sexually active (had sex) in the past 3 

months, no significant change was seen 

between 2002 and 2011–2015 for male 

teenagers. Among female teenagers, the 

percentage decreased between 2002 and 

2006–2010, from 35.7% to 31.3%, while 

no significant change occurred thereafter 

(30.2% in 2011–2015). Among female 

teenagers, the percentage who were 

sexually active in 2011–2015 varied little 

among Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, 

and non-Hispanic black females. For 

male teenagers, however, non-Hispanic 

black teenagers had higher percentages of 

those who were sexually active (39.9%) 

compared with both Hispanic (28.2%) and 

non-Hispanic white (27.8%) teenagers.

Male and female teenagers aged 

18–19 were more than twice as likely to 

have had sex in the past 3 months and 

within the past 12 months compared 

with teenagers aged 15–17. For 

female teenagers living in a household 

with both parents present, a smaller 

percentage—19.0%—had had sex in 

the past 3 months compared with 31.3% 

and 33.9% for those from both stepparent and single-parent households, 

respectively. For male teenagers, 

having a mother who gave birth to her 

first child during her teen years was 

associated with a significantly higher 

percentage who were sexually active. 

For male teenagers whose mothers had 

less than a high school degree, 33.6% 

were sexually active compared with 

those whose mothers had at least some 

college (25.9%).

Contraceptive use among 

teenagers 

Tables 6, 7, and 8 show findings on 

three different measures of contraceptive

use among teenagers: having ever used a 

method, method use at first intercourse, 

and method use at the most recent 

intercourse. Tables 6 and 7 are limited 

to teenagers who have ever had sexual

intercourse. Table 8, presenting recent 

contraceptive use, is limited to sexually

active teenagers, defined as those who 

had had sex in the 3 months before the 

interview. These tables show three time 

periods: 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015.

Figure 2. Cumulative probability of having had sexual intercourse by age 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 

and 20 for females and males aged 15–24: United States, 2011–2015

 

 

 
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017 Page 7

Ever-use of a contraceptive 

method

Table 6 and Figure 3 show the 

percentage of sexually experienced females 

aged 15–19 who had ever used each of 

several methods of birth control. From 

2002 to 2011–2015, virtually all sexually 

experienced female teenagers had used 

some method of contraception, and this 

increased across these time periods, from 

97.7% in 2002 to 99.4% in 2011–2015. 

This level has been sustained since the 

earliest published data in this series, for 

1995, when it was 96.2% (10). The most 

commonly used method among teenagers 

in 2011–2015 remained the condom 

(reported by 97.4% of teen females), 

followed by withdrawal (59.7%) and 

the pill (55.5%). The use of hormonal 

contraceptive injectables remained 

relatively stable between 2002 and 

2011–2015. In 2011–2015, 17.3% of all 

female teenagers had ever used injectables 

(17.2% used Depo-Provera and 0.04% used 

Lunelle, which was discontinued in 2002).

Some changes in contraceptives ever 

used by female teenagers can be seen in 

Table 6. Use of the contraceptive patch 

increased significantly, from about 1.5% 

in 2002, when it was newly introduced, 

to 10.3% by 2006–2010, then dropped off 

significantly to 1.8% by 2011–2015. The 

use of emergency contraception increased 

between 2002 and 2011–2015, from 8.1% 

to 22.9%. IUD and implant contraception 

were redesigned in the early 2000s. 

Together known as long-acting reversible 

contraception or LARC, they were not used 

sufficiently among the teen population to 

make reliable estimates prior to 2006–2010. 

In 2006–2010, 2.5% of teenagers had ever 

used the IUD and 0.6% had used implants. 

By 2011–2015, 5.8% of teenagers had ever 

used LARC, with 2.8% having used the 

IUD and 3.0% having used implants.

Contraceptive use at first sexual 

intercourse 

Table 7 and Figure 4 present 

contraceptive use at first sexual intercourse 

by sexually experienced females and 

males aged 15–19. Among teen females 

in 2011–2015, 81.0% used a contraceptive 

method at first sex, an increase from 74.5% 

in 2002. The most common method used at 

first intercourse was the condom. Among 

females, 74.6% reported condom use at 

first sex, up from 68.0% in 2006–2010. 

This continues a longer-term upward 

trend since 1988 when 50.4% of females 

used condoms at first intercourse (10–12). 

The use of dual methods at first sex, that 

is, a condom combined with a hormonal 

method, increased significantly from 13.1% 

in 2002 to 18.5% in 2011–2015. This trend 

follows the patterns of condom and pill use, 

because these are the two most commonly 

combined methods: The pill was also 

commonly used at first sex (19.5% among 

teenagers in 2011–2015).

Figure 3. Methods of contraception ever used among females aged 15–19 who had ever had 

sexual intercourse: United States, 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015

 

 

 

 

 

 
Page 8 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

Significant differences exist in 

contraceptive use at first sex for female 

teenagers by race and Hispanic origin. 

Non-Hispanic black teen females in 

2011–2015 had the lowest percentage 

using contraception at first sex (62.2%), 

followed by Hispanic (78.8%) and

non-Hispanic white (87.2%) females. 

This pattern by race and Hispanic origin 

was the same for the use of the condom 

and pill. For condom use, this is similar to 

the pattern that existed in 1988 and 2002, 

when non-Hispanic black females’ use 

of condoms at first sex was significantly 

lower than that of non-Hispanic white 

females (10–12). 2006–2010 was the 

only time period covered in this report 

when non-Hispanic black female 

teenagers’ condom use at first sex was 

not different from that of non-Hispanic 

white female teenagers (12). In the case 

of other hormonal methods, although 

not as commonly used at first sex as the 

pill and condom, a higher percentage of 

non-Hispanic black teen females used 

these methods (7.4%) compared with 

non-Hispanic white (2.7%) and Hispanic 

(1.8%) females. These methods include 

the implant, injectables, contraceptive 

patch, contraceptive ring, and 

emergency contraception.

Differences exist for teen females’ 

use of contraception at first sex by their 

age at first sex (Figure 4). Younger age 

at first sex is associated with a lower 

percentage using contraception at 

first sex: For teen females age 14 and 

under at first sex, 70.7% used a method 

compared with 84.2% among those aged 

17–19 at first sex. The percentage using 

contraception among those aged 15–16 at 

first sex was similar to the percentage for 

those aged 17–19 at first sex.

Among sexually experienced teen 

males, the percentage using contraception 

at first sex remained consistent with prior 

years: 83.6% of sexually experienced 

male teenagers in 2011–2015 used 

contraception at first intercourse, 85.4% in 

2006–2010, and 82.0% in 2002. Sexually 

experienced teen males’ use of the condom 

at first sex increased significantly between 

2002 to 2006–2010 and remained stable 

up to 2011–2015, when the percentage 

was 76.8%. Male teenagers’ use of dual 

methods (a condom combined with a 

partner’s hormonal method) increased 

between 2002 and 2011–2015 from 10.4% 

to 18.8%. Documenting changes between 

recent survey periods in teen males’ use 

of the condom at first sex permits better 

comparison of these trends with rates 

of births, pregnancies, and STIs among 

teenagers over the same time periods. 

Table 7 also shows differences 

between race and Hispanic origin groups 

in males’ use of contraception at first sex. 

Non-Hispanic white males reported higher 

levels of method use at first sex compared 

with Hispanic and non-Hispanic black 

males, a pattern that was also seen for 

condom use, (partner’s) pill use, and dual 

method use. 

A positive association between age 

at first sex and method use at first sex 

was seen for male teenagers. Among 

male teenagers who had first sex at age 

14 and under, 71.3% used a method, 

which was lower than the 86.7% among 

those who first had sex at ages 15–16 

and lower than the 94.7% among those 

who first had sex at ages 17–19. 

The nature of the relationship 

between a teenager and their oppositesex partner at first sex is associated with 

whether or not contraception is used for 

male teenagers (Figure 5). Among male 

teenagers, if their first sexual partner was 

someone who they had just met or were 

just friends with, 76.4% used a method 

of contraception compared with 88.4% 

among those whose first partner was 

someone they were going out with once 

in a while, going steady with, cohabiting 

with, engaged to, or married to. The 

same pattern is seen for female teenagers, 

although the difference in percentages 

falls short of statistical significance.

Contraceptive use at last sexual 

intercourse in the past 3 months

Table 8 shows the percentage of 

never-married female and male teenagers 

who used a method of birth control at last 

sexual intercourse among those who had 

had sexual intercourse in the 3 months 

before the interview (were “sexually 

active”). Contraceptive use overall at last 

intercourse among never-married sexually 

active females increased between 2002 

and 2011–2015. In 2002, 83.2% of nevermarried sexually active female teenagers 

used a contraceptive method at last sex 

compared with 89.9% in 2011–2015. This 

continues a longer-term trend of gradual 

increase (Figure 6): Between 1988 and 

2011–2015, the percentage increased 

from 79.9% to 89.9%. Percentages 

using each of the specific methods 

presented were similar over the three time 

periods. The condom remained the most 

commonly used method in 2011–2015 

among never-married female teenagers Figure 4. Use of contraception at first sex among males and females aged 15–19 who had 

ever had sexual intercourse, by age at first sex: United States, 2011–2015

 

 

 
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017 Page 9

at last sex: 56.5% used a condom, 31.5% 

used the pill, and 12.6% used other 

hormonal methods.

No significant differences by 

race and Hispanic origin were seen in 

never-married female teenagers’ use of 

any method at last sex (Table 8). This 

continues a reduction in the gap between 

non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic 

white teenagers that existed in 2002 

and earlier years (10–12). However, 

the use of specific methods at last sex 

varies significantly: Non-Hispanic white 

female teenagers had higher percentages 

using the pill at last sex (39.3% 

compared with 20.8% and 13.3% 

among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black 

teenagers, respectively); dual method 

use (condom plus hormonal method) had 

the same pattern.

Among never-married male teenagers, 

the percentage who used a method of 

contraception at last sex increased from 

1988 to 2011–2015 (Figure 6). However, 

the changes in the recent time period from 

2002 to2011–2015 were not statistically 

significant. 

Regarding specific contraceptive 

methods (Table 8), the percentage of 

never-married sexually active males 

reporting their partner’s pill use increased, 

from 31.0% to 39.9% between 2002 and 

2011–2015, and the use of dual methods 

increased from 23.9% to 35.0% during 

this same period. No changes were 

observed from 2002 to 2011–2015 in 

the percentage using the condom, other 

hormonal methods, or other methods. 

Among never-married males, 94.9% used 

a method of contraception at last sex and 

75.5% used a condom at last sex. 

Condom use at last intercourse 

varies by race and Hispanic origin for 

never-married sexually active teen 

males, with non-Hispanic black males 

having higher percentages who used the 

condom (84.4%) than Hispanic males 

(68.0%). Never-married sexually active 

males’ reports of pill use mirror those 

of females: Non-Hispanic white males 

reported higher levels of their partner’s 

pill use than their non-Hispanic black 

and Hispanic counterparts. Non-Hispanic 

white and non-Hispanic black males 

reported a higher percentage using dual 

methods than their Hispanic counterparts.

For never-married sexually active 

male teenagers, the age at which they 

had their first intercourse is associated 

with using a condom at their last sex. 

Among never-married sexually active 

males who first had sex at age 14 and 

under, 66.9% used a condom at last sex 

compared with 82.1% of those who first 

had sex at ages 17–19. This pattern is 

consistent with females’ experience: 

Among never-married sexually active 

female teenagers whose first sex was 

at age 14 and under, 34.7% reported 

(partner’s) condom use compared with 

63.0% among those whose first sex was 

at ages 17–19.

Figure 5. Use of contraception at first sex among males and females aged 15–19 who 

had ever had sexual intercourse, by relationship with first sexual partner: United States, 

2011–2015 

 

 

 

Figure 6. Trends in use of contraception at last sex among never-married males and females 

aged 15–19 who had sexual intercourse in the past 3 months: United States, 2011–2015

 
Page 10 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

Feelings about a hypothetical 

pregnancy

Teenagers’ reaction to a hypothetical 

pregnancy has been shown to be 

associated with the risk of having a 

teen birth (22). This measure helps to 

shed light on teenagers’ motivation to 

avoid pregnancy, a potentially important 

influence on pregnancy risk behaviors. 

Table 9 shows that in 2011–2015, among 

never-married teenagers aged 15–19, 

a larger percentage of females than 

males reported that they would be very 

upset if a pregnancy occurred: 60.5% of 

females compared with 46.1% of males. 

Teenagers who had never had sex and 

younger teenagers aged 15–17 were more 

likely than other groups to report that 

they would be very upset if they became 

pregnant or got someone pregnant. In 

addition, female teenagers aged 15–19 

who lived with both biological parents 

at age 14 were more likely than those 

who did not live with both parents to 

report that they would be very upset if 

they became pregnant. Non-Hispanic 

white male teenagers were more likely 

to be very upset (54.7%) than Hispanic 

(30.0%) and non-Hispanic black (32.0%) 

teenagers. Among females, non-Hispanic 

white teenagers were more likely (65.6%) 

than Hispanic teenagers (51.8%) to report 

that they would be very upset if they 

became pregnant.

In contrast, while no differences 

were noted between male and female 

teenagers in the percentage who reported 

they would be “very pleased” in response 

to a pregnancy, there are differences by 

other characteristics. Female teenagers 

aged 18–19 were more likely to be very 

pleased (6.7%) than teenagers aged 15–17 

(2.1%). Among male teenagers, those 

who had ever had sex were more likely 

to be very pleased (7.9%) than those who 

had never had sex (4.6%). Hispanic male 

teenagers were more likely to be very 

pleased (9.9%) than non-Hispanic white 

male teenagers (4.7%). 

Female teenagers’ reactions of 

being upset or being pleased at the 

prospect of a pregnancy are associated 

with their use of contraception. Figure 7

shows that among those who would be 

very upset or a little upset, 95.6% used 

contraception at last sex compared with 

84.4% who said they would be a little 

pleased or very pleased if they became 

pregnant. While the same pattern in the 

percentages using contraception at last 

sex exists for males, the difference falls 

short of statistical significance.

Summary

Using data from the 2011–2015 

NSFG and earlier NSFG surveys, this 

report provides an update of information 

on U.S. teenagers’ sexual activity and 

contraceptive use, thus helping to improve 

understanding of their risk of pregnancy 

and STIs. 

NSFG is the only source of current 

and ongoing data on the topics of sexual 

activity and contraceptive use for the total 

U.S. population of females and males aged 

15–19, paralleling the teen population 

whose pregnancy and birth rates are 

captured by birth certificates as part of 

the vital statistics system of the National 

Center for Health Statistics (3,6). The 

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 

(YRBSS), a biennial survey conducted 

by CDC’s Division of Adolescent and 

School Health, is a source of data on the 

U.S. population of high school students. 

This survey, a self-administered paper 

questionnaire, includes males and females 

enrolled in school in 9th through 12th 

grades and contains some measures similar 

to those on the NSFG. YRBSS allows 

estimates to be calculated at the state level 

as well as the national level (23).

Overall, the percentage of teenagers 

who had ever had sexual intercourse 

and who had had sex recently remained 

unchanged over roughly the past 10 years 

from 2002 to 2011–2015. One exception 

was among females: The percentage 

having had sex recently (within 3 months 

of the survey) decreased between 2002 

and 2006–2010 but remained stable 

through 2011–2015. This pattern across 

recent time periods sheds light on the 

contribution of sexual activity to the 

pattern of decline in the teen birth rate 

in similar time periods. With regard to 

teenagers’ use of contraceptives, over 

the period from 2002 to 2011–2015, the 

percentage of females using any method at 

first sex and at last sex increased, while the 

percentage for males remained unchanged 

at very high levels. The percentage of 

males using any contraception at last sex 

remains high at 94.9%. 

 Data from the 1988 and 1995 NSFG 

and NSAM compared with the more 

recent time periods 2002, 2006–2010, 

and 2011–2015 show decreases in sexual 

activity and increases in contraceptive 

Figure 7. Use of contraception at last sex among never-married sexually active males and 

females aged 15–19, by reaction to a hypothetical pregnancy: United States, 2011–2015

 

 

 
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017 Page 11

use from 1988 (or 1995 in the case of 

females’ contraceptive use at last sex) 

through 2002 (10–12). These earlier 

trends align with declines in teen 

pregnancy and birth rates beginning in 

1990 and 1991, respectively, although 

pregnancy and birth rates continued 

to decline through this entire period, 

including in 2002 and subsequent time 

periods (3,5). Even though sexual activity 

has generally remained stable, or in 

the case of females, decreased slightly 

since 2002, and contraceptive use has 

not increased at the same pace since 

2002 as it had in the earlier period, a 

wider variety of contraceptive methods 

that are now available are being used 

by teenagers. This is evidenced by 

increases through the 2000s, when they 

began to be available, in the percentage 

of teenagers having ever used injectable 

contraception, the hormonal patch, the 

hormonal ring, emergency contraception, 

and most recently, LARC. 

Differences by race and Hispanic 

origin described in this report, in 

particular for sexual experience among 

males and for contraceptive use by 

females and males, align with higher 

birth rates for Hispanic and nonHispanic black teenagers shown in birth 

registration data (3). Non-Hispanic black 

male teenagers had higher percentages 

who were sexually experienced and 

sexually active compared with the other 

two groups in 2011–2015. Non-Hispanic 

white teenagers, both female and male, 

had higher percentages using any method 

of contraception, the pill, and the condom 

at first sex, and higher percentages 

using the pill at last sex compared with 

their Hispanic and non-Hispanic black 

counterparts. Exceptions existed for 

specific methods: Non-Hispanic black 

female teenagers had higher percentages 

using other hormonal methods at first sex 

and non-Hispanic black male teenagers 

had higher percentages using the condom 

at last sex. 

Further progress in teen pregnancy 

and STI risk reduction and reduction of 

differences between racial and ethnic 

groups may be aided by understanding 

the circumstances around teenagers’ 

sexual and contraceptive behaviors. One 

consistent finding is that the age at first 

sex is related to lower contraceptive 

use not only at first sex but at last sex 

as well. In addition, the findings in this 

report suggest the relationship with their 

first partner plays a role: Teenagers who 

are younger at first sex are also more 

likely to have had a first partner with 

whom they were in a less-established 

relationship (were “just friends”), and for 

male teenagers, this type of relationship 

was associated with being less likely to 

use contraception at first sex. 

Whether and to what degree 

teenagers want to avoid pregnancy 

influences their sexual and contraceptive 

behavior. This is reflected by 19.3% of 

female and 21.2% of male teenagers who 

had not yet had sex choosing “didn’t 

want to get [a female] pregnant” as 

their primary reason for not yet having 

had sex. Furthermore, the majority of 

female teenagers (88.5%) reported that 

they would be a little or very upset if 

they became pregnant and having these 

feelings was associated with a higher 

likelihood of contraceptive use.

This report presents information 

on the primary behavioral determinants 

of pregnancy and STIs among 

teenagers. It provides insights into the 

ways in which those determinants are 

changing with time, how they differ by 

sociodemographic groups, and what 

circumstances are most associated with 

them. The information can be used to 

monitor and understand trends in teen 

sexual behavior and contraception use.

References

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Signs: Teen pregnancy—United States, 

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teenagers in the United States, 1988 

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nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_021.pdf.

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childbearing, 2006–2010 National Survey 

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gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db209.pdf.

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et al. The 2006–2010 National Survey 

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and data collection methods. Hyattsville, 

MD. Available from: https://www.cdc.

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designanddatacollectionmethods.pdf. 

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National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017 Page 13

Table 1. Percentage of never-married females and males aged 15–19 who have ever had 

sexual intercourse: United States, 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015

Characteristic Number (thousands) Percent (standard error)

Female

Total, 20021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,598 45.5 (1.8)

Total, 2006–20101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,361 42.6 (1.7)

Total, 2011–20151 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,385 42.4 (1.9)

Female, 2011–2015

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,129 41.4 (3.2)

Non-Hispanic white. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,057 44.3 (2.6)

Non-Hispanic black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,540 46.6 (3.3)

Age

15–17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,515 28.1 (2.0)

18–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,870 62.9 (2.7)

Respondent’s mother’s age

at her first child’s birth

Under 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,913 45.7 (2.9)

20 and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,345 40.6 (2.2)

Respondent’s mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,446 41.0 (3.5)

High school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,592 44.6 (3.3)

Some college or higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,306 41.6 (2.4)

Family structure at age 14 

Both biological or

adoptive parents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,608 36.8 (2.4)

Other2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,777 50.8 (2.5)

Male

Total, 20021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,139 45.7 (2.1)

Total, 2006–20101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,766 41.8 (1.6)

Total, 2011–20151 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,963 44.2 (1.5)

Male, 2011–2015

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,253 45.7 (2.7)

Non-Hispanic white. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,332 42.8 (2.2)

Non-Hispanic black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,555 58.6 (3.0)

Age 

15–17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,109 31.5 (1.6)

18–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,853 64.3 (2.5)

Respondent’s mother’s age

at her first child’s birth

Under 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,876 56.7 (2.5)

20 and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,921 39.3 (1.7)

Respondent’s mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,578 46.7 (3.7)

High school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,751 49.0 (2.2)

Some college or higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,557 41.0 (1.9)

Family structure at age 14 

Both biological or

adoptive parents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,128 39.4 (1.8)

Other2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,835 51.9 (2.1)

1

Total includes persons of other or unknown race and origin groups and those whose mother figure had no births. These groups are 

not shown separately due to their small numbers in the sample.

2

Refers to anything other than two biological or adoptive parents or biological mother and step-father, including one biological 

parent and no other parent(s)/parent-figures or no parent(s)/parent figures.

NOTES: Sexual intercourse is defined as vaginal sexual intercourse between opposite-sex partners. GED is General Educational 

Development high school equivalency diploma. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015.
Page 14 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

Table 2. Cumulative probability of having had first sex by age 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 for males and females aged 15–24:

United States, 2011–2015

Male Female

Probability of first sexual intercourse by: Probability of first sexual intercourse by:

Characteristic Age 15 Age 16 Age 17 Age 18 Age 19 Age 20 Age 15 Age 16 Age 17 Age 18 Age 19 Age 20

Total, 2011–20151 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.16 0.27 0.41 0.55 0.68 0.75 0.11 0.25 0.42 0.55 0.69 0.75

2011–2015

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.19 0.30 0.46 0.61 0.72 0.76 0.11 0.26 0.40 0.55 0.70 0.79

Non-Hispanic

White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.11 0.21 0.37 0.51 0.66 0.74 0.10 0.24 0.42 0.55 0.67 0.74

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.36 0.48 0.58 0.69 0.79 0.86 0.17 0.31 0.50 0.62 0.77 0.82

Family structure at age 14

Both biological or adoptive parents. . . . . . . 0.11 0.20 0.34 0.49 0.62 0.71 0.07 0.18 0.33 0.47 0.61 0.69

Other2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.26 0.39 0.53 0.66 0.79 0.84 0.18 0.36 0.56 0.68 0.81 0.85

Respondent’s mother’s age at her child’s first 

birth

Under 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.26 0.39 0.55 0.67 0.79 0.85 0.18 0.33 0.49 0.64 0.78 0.84

20 and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.13 0.22 0.35 0.50 0.63 0.72 0.08 0.21 0.38 0.51 0.64 0.71

Respondent’s mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . 0.17 0.29 0.44 0.56 0.68 0.73 0.13 0.29 0.47 0.63 0.76 0.82

High school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.21 0.32 0.46 0.61 0.73 0.80 0.14 0.28 0.49 0.60 0.71 0.78

Some college or higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.14 0.24 0.38 0.52 0.65 0.73 0.09 0.22 0.36 0.50 0.65 0.72

1

Includes persons of other or unknown race and origin groups, not shown separately.

2

Refers to anything other than two biological or adoptive parents or biological mother and step-father, including one biological parent and no other parent(s)/parent-figures or no parent(s)/parent figures. 

NOTES: GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma. The probabilities in this table are produced using the life table methodology (all standard errors are < 0.001). 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2015.
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017 Page 15

Table 3. Relationship with first sexual partner at time of first sexual intercourse among females and males aged 15–19:

United States, 2011–2015

Characteristic

Number 

(thousands) Total Had just met Just friends

Going out once 

in a while Going steady

Cohabiting, 

engaged, or 

married

 Female Percent distribution (standard error)

Total1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,076 100.0 2.1 (0.5) 13.0 (1.8) 7.2 (1.1) 74.1 (2.0) 1.6 (0.4)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 922 100.0 * 12.4 (4.5) 7.3 (2.0) 70.5 (4.2) 3.4 (1.2)

Non-Hispanic

White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,227 100.0 2.3 (0.8) 12.0 (2.6) 7.5 (1.8) 76.3 (2.9) 1.3 (0.5)

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635 100.0 1.9 (1.1) 13.7 (3.3) 6.2 (1.8) 74.6 (4.3) *

Age at first sexual intercourse

14 and under. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 927 100.0 3.4 (1.3) 21.9 (5.1) 3.2 (1.2) 66.9 (5.0) 1.7 (0.9)

15–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,165 100.0 1.8 (0.8) 8.8 (1.6) 9.3 (2.0) 76.7 (2.5) 1.4 (0.5)

17–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 984 100.0 1.5 (0.8) 13.6 (4.2) 6.2 (1.9) 75.3 (4.5) 1.9 (0.9)

Family structure at age 14

Both biological or adoptive parents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,110 100.0 3.3 (0.9) 12.2 (2.9) 7.8 (2.0) 73.7 (3.1) 1.3 (0.5)

Other2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,965 100.0 0.8 (0.4) 13.8 (1.9) 6.6 (1.3) 74.5 (2.2) 1.8 (0.6)

Respondent’s mother’s age at her first child’s birth

Under 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,369 100.0 2.4 (0.9) 14.2 (3.2) 8.9 (2.6) 70.1 (3.8) 2.2 (0.8)

20 and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,597 100.0 2.1 (0.7) 12.1 (2.1) 6.5 (1.2) 76.2 (2.6) 1.1 (0.5)

Respondent’s mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635 100.0 * 16.6 (6.2) 5.5 (1.7) 71.4 (6.1) 3.3 (1.4)

High school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,165 100.0 2.3 (1.0) 10.1 (1.8) 12.1 (3.1) 71.6 (3.7) 2.2 (0.9)

Some college or higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,248 100.0 2.1 (0.7) 13.4 (2.5) 5.2 (1.1) 76.2 (2.8) *

Male

Total1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,437 100.0 7.4 (1.2) 27.3 (1.9) 12.2 (1.3) 51.1 (2.2) *

Hispanic origin and race 

Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,050 100.0 5.2 (1.2) 27.7 (2.8) 16.9 (3.7) 47.3 (4.5) *

Non-Hispanic

White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,189 100.0 9.8 (2.4) 20.7 (2.8) 10.3 (1.7) 58.1 (3.6) *

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827 100.0 4.6 (2.0) 40.5 (3.6) 13.6 (2.7) 38.1 (4.0) *

Age at first sexual intercourse

14 and under. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,422 100.0 8.2 (1.9) 38.7 (2.8) 10.5 (2.0) 40.1 (3.1) *

15–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,035 100.0 4.0 (0.9) 18.3 (2.0) 14.6 (2.3) 60.5 (3.0) *

17–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 980 100.0 13.0 (4.8) 29.3 (5.1) 9.6 (2.3) 47.5 (5.1) *

Family structure at age 14

Both biological or adoptive parents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,429 100.0 6.7 (2.0) 26.6 (2.9) 13.1 (2.0) 52.3 (3.3) *

Other2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,007 100.0 8.1 (1.6) 28.1 (2.7) 11.2 (1.7) 49.7 (2.6) *

Respondent’s mother’s age at her first child’s birth

Under 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,648 100.0 9.5 (2.4) 26.5 (3.1) 13.3 (1.9) 48.2 (3.8) * 

20 and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,734 100.0 6.2 (1.5) 26.8 (2.4) 11.5 (1.8) 53.6 (2.9) *

Respondent’s mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 744 100.0 6.8 (2.9) 30.1 (4.5) 13.0 (2.6) 45.7 (4.8) *

High school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,372 100.0 8.4 (2.9) 31.6 (3.7) 8.8 (1.9) 49.3 (4.0) *

Some college or higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,279 100.0 7.0 (1.6) 23.0 (2.5) 13.9 (2.3) 54.6 (3.3) *

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision.

1

Includes persons of other or unknown race and origin groups and persons in “other” types of relationships, not shown separately.

2

Refers to anything other than two biological or adoptive parents or biological mother and step-father, including one biological parent and no other parent(s)/parent-figures or no parent(s)/parent figures.

NOTES: GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma. Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. Sexual intercourse is defined as vaginal sexual intercourse 

between opposite-sex partners. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2015.
Page 16 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

Table 4. Main reason for never having had sexual intercourse for females and males

aged 15–19: United States, 2011–2015

Reason Female Male

Number (thousands)

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,362 5,515

Percent who reported reason 

(standard error)

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.0 100.0

Against religion or morals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.3 (2.4) 27.9 (2.1)

Don’t want to get pregnant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.3 (1.6) 21.2 (2.0)

Don’t want to get a sexually transmitted disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.1 (1.2) 4.7 (0.8)

Haven’t found the right person yet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.9 (1.7) 28.5 (2.1)

In a relationship, but waiting for the right time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2 (0.8) 6.6 (0.9)

Other reason. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.0 (1.3) 11.1 (1.4)

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2015.
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017 Page 17

Table 5. Females and males aged 15–19 who had sexual intercourse in the past 12 months and in the past 3 months: United States, 2002, 

2006–2010, and 2011–2015

Female Male

Had sex in last

12 months

Had sex in last

3 months

Had sex in last 

12 months

Had sex in last

3 months

Characteristic

Number 

(thousands) Percent (standard error)

Number 

(thousands) Percent (standard error)

Total, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,834 42.5 (1.9) 35.7 (1.7) 10,208 39.8 (2.1) 31.7 (1.8)

Total, 2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,478 39.7 (1.7) 31.3 (1.4) 10,817 37.6 (1.4) 27.9 (1.5)

Total, 2011–20151 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,482 38.9 (1.8) 30.2 (1.7) 9,997 39.5 (1.4) 28.7 (1.4)

2011–2015

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,169 36.1 (2.9) 27.7 (3.0) 2,273 39.8 (2.7) 28.2 (2.4)

Non-Hispanic

White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,925 42.9 (2.7) 34.1 (2.5) 5,132 38.6 (2.0) 27.8 (1.9)

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,370 40.4 (3.3) 28.9 (3.2) 1,420 52.7 (3.5) 39.9 (3.2)

Age

15–17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,523 24.8 (1.9) 16.8 (1.8) 6,109 27.5 (1.5) 18.2 (1.5)

18–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,960 58.7 (2.8) 48.9 (2.8) 3,888 58.3 (2.5) 45.1 (2.4)

Living arrangement at interview

Both biological or adoptive parents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,015 24.9 (2.4) 19.0 (2.4) 4,492 32.7 (2.2) 24.4 (2.0)

Biological and step or adoptive parent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,329 40.5 (4.9) 31.3 (4.5) 1,562 43.2 (3.2) 29.1 (3.0)

Single parent (biological, adoptive, or step-parent). . . . . . . 3,007 44.3 (2.7) 33.9 (2.5) 3,037 40.5 (2.3) 29.0 (2.2)

Respondent’s mother’s age at her first child’s birth

Under 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,956 41.6 (2.9) 32.2 (2.6) 2,893 51.5 (2.4) 40.1 (2.6)

20 and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,365 37.4 (2.1) 29.6 (1.9) 6,938 34.8 (1.7) 23.9 (1.5)

Respondent’s mother’s education

No high school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,491 39.0 (3.5) 28.6 (3.1) 1,585 43.1 (3.6) 33.6 (3.4)

High school diploma or GED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,602 41.1 (3.2) 31.4 (2.8) 2,776 42.2 (2.3) 30.7 (2.1)

Some college or higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,349 37.8 (2.4) 30.2 (2.3) 5,559 37.0 (1.9) 25.9 (1.9)

1

Includes persons of other or unknown race and origin groups, living arrangements that did not include parents or parent figures, and those with a mother figure who had no births, not shown 

separately. These groups are not shown separately due to their small numbers in the sample.

NOTES: GED is General Educational Development high school equivalency diploma. Sexual intercourse is defined as vaginal sexual intercourse between opposite-sex partners.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015.
Page 18 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

Table 6. Methods of contraception ever used among females aged 15–19 who had ever 

had sexual intercourse: United States, 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015

Method 2002 2006–2010 2011–2015

Number (thousands)

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,598 4,531 4,079

Percent who ever used (standard error)

Any method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97.7 (0.5) 98.9 (0.5) 99.4 (0.2)

Pill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61.4 (2.8) 55.6 (2.4) 55.5 (2.5)

Injectable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.7 (2.6) 20.3 (1.5) 17.3 (1.6)

Intrauterine device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * 2.5 (0.7) 2.8 (0.8)

Implant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * 0.6 (0.3) 3.0 (0.7)

Emergency contraception. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1 (1.7) 13.7 (1.3) 22.9 (2.2)

Contraceptive patch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 (1.1) 10.3 (1.3) 1.8 (0.4)

Contraceptive ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . † 5.2 (1.0) 5.3 (1.4)

Condom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93.7 (1.0) 95.9 (0.9) 97.4 (0.5)

Fertility awareness methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.8 (1.7) 15.0 (1.3) 12.1 (1.1)

Withdrawal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55.0 (2.3) 57.3 (2.3) 59.7 (2.6)

Other methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.9 (1.6) 7.1 (0.9) 2.5 (0.6)

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision.

†

 Method was not available for this survey year.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015.
Table 7. Use of contraception at first sexual intercourse among sexually experienced females and males aged 15–19, by method used: United States, 2002

Characteristic Number (thousands) Any method No method Pill (at all) Other hormonal1 Condom (at all) 

Percent (standard error) Female Total, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,598 74.5 (2.0) 25.5 (2.0) 16.5 (1.9) 2.1 (0.7) 66.4 (2.0) 

Total, 2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,532 78.0 (1.9) 21.7 (1.9) 15.7 (1.6) 6.1 (1.1) 68.0 (2.0) 

Total, 2011–20154 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,079 81.0 (1.8) 19.0 (1.8) 19.5 (2.0) 3.1 (0.6) 74.6 (1.9) 

Female, 2011–2015 Hispanic origin and race Hispanic or Latina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 922 78.8 (2.3) 21.2 (2.3) 12.2 (2.5) 1.8 (0.8) 70.5 (3.1) 

Non-Hispanic White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,227 87.2 (2.3) 12.8 (2.3) 26.6 (3.2) 2.7 (0.9) 81.4 (2.4) 

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635 62.2 (5.2) 37.8 (5.2) 3.9 (1.5) 7.4 (2.2) 56.3 (5.2) 

Age at first sexual intercourse 14 and under. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 927 70.7 (5.0) 29.3 (5.0) 8.8 (3.3) 1.1 (0.6) 65.8 (5.1) 

15–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,165 83.9 (2.6) 16.1 (2.6) 23.9 (3.1) 2.9 (0.8) 78.5 (2.7) 17–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 987 84.2 (3.1) 15.8 (3.1) 19.9 (3.3) 5.6 (1.8) 74.5 (3.5) 

Age of male partner Younger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 89.5 (4.7) 10.5 (4.7) 19.5 (6.9) 9.4 (5.3) 78.6 (6.7) 

Same age. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,045 79.0 (4.1) 21.0 (4.1) 19.5 (3.8) 3.6 (1.4) 73.4 (4.3) 

1–2 years older . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,078 84.7 (2.4) 15.3 (2.4) 20.9 (2.9) 2.6 (0.7) 80.6 (2.7) 

3 or more years older . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 690 69.6 (4.5) 30.4 (4.5) 15.2 (2.9) 1.7 (0.8) 56.9 (4.6) 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 7. Use of contraception at first sexual intercourse among sexually experienced females and males aged 15–19, by method used: United States, 20022011–2015—Con. Characteristic Number (thousands) Any method No method Pill (at all) Other hormonal1 Condom (at all) 

Percent (standard error) Male Total, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,697 82.0 (2.2) 18.0 (2.2) 14.9 (1.9) 2.1 (0.7) 70.9 (2.4) 

Total, 2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,551 85.4 (1.6) 14.6 (1.6) 17.9 (2.0) 1.4 (0.6) 79.6 (2.0) 

Total, 2011–20154 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,437 83.6 (1.7) 16.4 (1.7) 20.0 (2.1) 1.8 (0.4) 76.8 (1.9) 

Male, 2011–2015 Hispanic origin and race Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,050 76.3 (3.9) 23.6 (3.9) 10.5 (2.6) 1.1 (0.5) 70.2 (4.1) 

Non-Hispanic White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,189 89.2 (2.1) 10.8 (2.1) 29.2 (3.5) 1.9 (0.7) 81.8 (2.2) 

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827 76.0 (3.2) 24.0 (3.2) 7.7 (1.7) 2.2 (1.1) 71.4 (3.7) 

Age at first sexual intercourse 14 and under. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,422 71.3 (3.2) 28.7 (3.2) 8.8 (1.7) * 66.3 (3.4) 

15–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,035 86.7 (2.3) 13.3 (2.3) 23.4 (3.2) 2.6 (0.7) 80.3 (2.6) 17–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 980 94.7 (2.3) 5.3 (2.3) 28.9 (4.8) 1.7 (0.8) 84.9 (3.4) 

Age of female partner Younger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 657 86.4 (3.4) 13.6 (3.4) 17.0 (3.6) * 75.7 (4.3) 

Same age. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,879 82.7 (2.8) 17.3 (2.8) 20.8 (3.0) 1.9 (0.8) 76.0 (3.2) 

1–2 years older . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,568 88.0 (2.0) 12.0 (2.0) 21.0 (3.3) 1.6 (0.6) 83.8 (2.2) 

3 or more years older . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333 61.9 (6.6) 38.1 (6.6) 15.6 (5.0) * 50.8 (7.0) 

* Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision.1Includes Depo-Provera and Lunelle injectable, Norplant implants, emergency contraception, and contraceptive patch in 2002; adds contraceptive ring (NuvaRing) and Implanon implant in 2006–2010; adds Nexplanon im

intrauterine devices (IUDs) are hormonal, IUD is included in “all other methods” because the type of IUD cannot be ascertained. This includes one report of IUD use across all three time periods: 2002, 2006–2010, and 2

2All other methods, excluding condom and hormonal methods. Thus, if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include withdrawal, sterilization, IUD, female condo

foam, jelly or cream, suppository, sponge, calendar rhythm method, and “other” methods.

3 IUD is excluded because type of IUD cannot be ascertained; see footnote 1. There were no cases reporting IUD combined with condom across all three time periods: 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015.4Includes persons of other or unknown race and origin groups, not shown separately.

NOTE: Statistics for condom (at all), pill (at all), and other hormonal reflect use of that method regardless of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2002, 2006–2010 and 2011–2015.
Table 8. Use of contraception at last sexual intercourse in the past 3 months among never-married females and males aged 15–19, by method used: United States, 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015 Characteristic Number (thousands) Any method No method Pill (at all) Other hormonal1 Condom (at all) A

Percent (standard error) Female Total, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,304 83.2 (2.2) 16.8 (2.2) 34.2 (3.0) 9.1 (1.8) 54.3 (3.0) 

Total, 2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,175 85.6 (1.9) 14.4 (1.9) 30.5 (2.3) 12.2 (1.7) 52.0 (2.8) 

Total, 2011–20154 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,805 89.9 (1.5) 10.1 (1.5) 31.5 (2.7) 12.6 (2.1) 56.5 (3.0) 

Female, 2011–2015 Hispanic origin and race Hispanic or Latina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 565 86.9 (3.6) 13.1 (3.6) 20.8 (6.2) 7.8 (1.7) 49.4 (6.6) 

Non-Hispanic White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,657 91.3 (1.8) 8.7 (1.8) 39.3 (3.6) 13.6 (3.1) 60.8 (3.9) 

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396 87.4 (5.1) 12.6 (5.1) 13.3 (4.6) 15.4 (3.8) 55.9 (7.2) 

Age at first sexual intercourse 14 and under. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 625 85.6 (3.9) 14.4 (3.9) 26.3 (6.1) 16.5 (3.7) 34.7 (5.1) 

15–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,421 90.7 (1.8) 9.3 (1.8) 32.8 (3.6) 13.4 (3.2) 62.7 (3.7) 17–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 759 91.9 (2.2) 8.1 (2.2) 33.5 (4.9) 7.9 (2.4) 63.0 (5.6) 

Male Total, 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,165 90.7 (2.4) 9.3 (2.4) 31.0 (2.8) 6.3 (1.5) 70.7 (3.0) 

Total, 2006–2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,970 92.5 (1.3) 7.5 (1.3) 39.0 (2.6) 9.3 (1.6) 74.7 (2.2) 

Total, 2011–20154 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,832 94.9 (1.2) 5.1 (1.2) 39.9 (2.8) 10.0 (1.5) 75.5 (2.2) 

Male, 2011–2015 Hispanic origin and race Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 621 94.4 (1.8) 5.6 (1.8) 27.4 (4.6) 12.5 (2.6) 68.0 (4.7) 

Non-Hispanic White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,416 96.3 (1.6) 3.7 (1.6) 50.4 (4.0) 9.5 (2.5) 75.6 (3.6) 

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561 95.9 (1.5) 4.1 (1.5) 26.1 (5.0) 10.0 (2.4) 84.4 (3.0) 

Age at first sexual intercourse 14 and under. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 985 92.4 (2.4) 7.6 (2.4) 38.5 (4.2) 9.7 (2.1) 66.9 (4.6) 

15–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,243 95.9 (1.3) 4.1 (1.3) 40.2 (4.3) 13.2 (2.8) 79.0 (2.9) 17–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604 96.9 (1.4) 3.1 (1.4) 41.3 (5.9) 3.9 (1.5) 82.1 (4.1) 

1Includes Depo-Provera and Lunelle injectable, Norplant implants, emergency contraception, and contraceptive patch in 2002; adds contraceptive ring (NuvaRing) and Implanon implant in 2006–2010; adds Nexplanon im

intrauterine devices (IUDs) are hormonal, IUD is included in “all other methods” because the type of IUD cannot be ascertained. This includes 24 cases reporting IUD use across all 3 time periods: 2002, 2006–2010, and 

2All other methods, excluding condom and hormonal methods. Thus, if other method was combined with condom or hormonal method, it is not counted. Other methods include withdrawal, sterilization, IUD, female condo

foam, jelly or cream, suppository, sponge, calendar rhythm method, and “other” methods.

3IUD is excluded since type of IUD cannot be ascertained; see footnote 1. There were two cases reporting IUD combined with condom across all three time periods: 2002, 2006–2010, and 2011–2015.4Includes persons of other or unknown race and origin groups, not shown separately.

NOTE: Statistics for condom (at all), pill (at all), and other hormonal reflect use of that method regardless of whether it was used alone or in combination with another method.SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2002, 2006–2010 and 2011–2015.
Page 22 National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

Table 9. Responses to the statement “If you got pregnant now/got a female pregnant now, how would you feel?” for never-married females 

and males aged 15–19: United States, 2011–2015

Characteristic

Number 

(thousands) Total Very upset A little upset A little pleased Very pleased

Percent distribution (standard error)

Female

Total 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,128 100.0 60.5 (1.8) 28.0 (1.5) 7.3 (0.8) 4.0 (0.8)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,057 100.0 51.8 (3.1) 34.0 (2.9) 9.8 (1.5) 4.2 (0.9)

Non-Hispanic

White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,761 100.0 65.6 (2.3) 26.1 (2.1) 5.8 (0.9) 2.3 (0.7)

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,307 100.0 59.2 (4.1) 26.7 (3.1) 10.0 (2.9) 3.7 (1.1)

Age

15–17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,394 100.0 65.5 (2.3) 25.8 (2.1) 6.3 (1.0) 2.1 (0.9)

18–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,734 100.0 53.4 (2.5) 31.2 (2.1) 8.8 (1.1) 6.7 (1.5)

Ever had sex

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,749 100.0 49.4 (2.4) 32.7 (2.2) 12.6 (1.6) 5.2 (0.9)

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,379 100.0 68.3 (2.4) 24.7 (2.0) 3.7 (0.7) 3.1 (1.2)

Family structure at age 14

Both biological or adoptive parents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,463 100.0 65.0 (2.3) 25.9 (2.0) 4.8 (0.7) 4.3 (1.2)

Other 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,665 100.0 53.9 (2.7) 31.1 (2.6) 11.1 (1.6) 3.6 (0.7)

Male

Total 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 644 100.0 46.1 (1.7) 33.7 (1.5) 13.6 (0.9) 6.0 (0.8)

Hispanic origin and race

Hispanic or Latino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,197 100.0 30.0 (2.5) 36.3 (2.3) 22.8 (2.7) 9.9 (1.4)

Non-Hispanic

White, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,993 100.0 54.7 (2.5) 32.0 (2.2) 8.3 (1.1) 4.7 (1.3)

Black, single race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,353 100.0 32.0 (3.0) 40.4 (3.3) 19.7 (2.2) 7.5 (1.6)

Age

15–17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,924 100.0 51.1 (2.2) 31.9 (1.8) 11.3 (1.0) 5.1 (1.0)

18–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,720 100.0 38.2 (2.5) 36.5 (2.7) 17.4 (1.9) 7.6 (1.4)

Ever had sex

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,271 100.0 36.0 (2.0) 36.9 (2.1) 18.6 (1.6) 7.9 (1.0)

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,373 100.0 54.2 (2.5) 31.2 (2.1) 9.7 (1.0) 4.6 (1.2)

Family structure at age 14

Both biological or adoptive parents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,960 100.0 48.0 (2.2) 34.0 (2.0) 11.8 (1.3) 6.0 (1.1)

Other 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,684 100.0 43.1 (2.5) 33.1 (2.3) 16.6 (1.6) 6.3 (1.1)

1

Includes persons of other or unknown race and origin groups, not shown separately.

2Refers to anything other than two biological or adoptive parents or biological mother and step-father, including one biological parent and no other parent(s)/parent-figures or no parent(s)/parentfigures. 

NOTE: Percentages may not add to 100 because responses of “would not care” (coded only if respondent insisted) are not shown separately.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2011–2015.
National Health Statistics Reports  Number 104  June 22, 2017

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Suggested citation

Abma JC, Martinez GM. Sexual activity and 

contraceptive use among teenagers in the 

United States, 2011–2015. National health 

statistics reports; no 104. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2017.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate Director 

for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Delton Atkinson, M.P.H., M.P.H., P.M.P., Director

Hanyu Ni, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director for 

Science

Acknowledgments 

The 2011–2015 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) with the support 

and assistance of a number of other organizations and individuals. Interviewing and other tasks were carried out by the University of Michigan’s 

Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, under a contract with NCHS. The 2011–2015 NSFG was jointly planned and funded by the 

following programs and agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: 

• National Institute for Child Health and Human Development/Population Dynamics Branch 

• Office of Population Affairs 

• National Center for Health Statistics (CDC)

• Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (CDC)

• Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention (CDC)

• Division of Reproductive Health (CDC)

• Division of Cancer Prevention & Control (CDC)

• Division of Birth Defects & Developmental Disabilities (CDC)

• Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation

• Children’s Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families

NCHS gratefully acknowledges the contributions of these programs and agencies, and all others who assisted in designing and carrying out the 

2011–2015 NSFG.

This report was prepared under the general direction of Charles Rothwell, NCHS Director; Jennifer Madans, NCHS Associate Director for Science; 

Delton Atkinson, Director of NCHS’ Division of Vital Statistics (DVS); Hanyu Ni, DVS Associate Director for Science; and Amy Branum, Chief of the 

Reproductive Statistics Branch of DVS.

This report was edited and produced by the NCHS Office of Information Services, Information Design and Publishing Staff: Jen Hurlburt edited the 

report and typesetting and graphics were done by Erik L. Richardson (contractor).