Young Age at First Sexual Intercourse and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

The authors examined the relation between age at first vaginal intercourse and a positive nucleic acid amplification test for sexually transmitted infection (STI). A nationally representative sample of 9,844 respondents aged 18-26 years was tested for chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis in wave 3 (2001)(2002) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The authors used multiple logistic regression to assess the relation between age at first sexual intercourse and these STIs and to examine variation by current age, sex, race, and ethnicity. Younger ages at first intercourse were associated with higher odds of STI in comparison with older ages, but the effect diminished with increasing current age. For example, the odds of having an STI for an 18year-old who first had intercourse at age 13 were more than twice those of an 18-year-old who first had intercourse at age 17 (prevalence odds ratio 5 2.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.42, 3.59). In contrast, the odds of having an STI among 24-year-olds with first intercourse at age 13 versus those with first intercourse at age 17 were the same (prevalence odds ratio 5 1.11, 95% confidence interval: 0.88, 1.39). Thus, earlier initiation of sexual intercourse is strongly associated with STIs for older adolescents but not for young adults over age 23 years. adolescent behavior; Chlamydia trachomatis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; sexually transmitted diseases; Trichomonas vaginalis

Prevalencia de Chlamydia trachomatis y Neisseria gonorrhoeae en adolescentes de colegios de la zona Sabana Centro de Cundinamarca, Colombia

“…A diferencia de otros estudios en jóvenes de Estados Unidos, en los que se demostró una asociación significativa entre la presencia de infección y las conductas sexuales de riesgo (42,44), y en otro de casos y controles en mujeres cubanas de 15 a 49 años infectadas con C. trachomatis (45), en este estudio no se logró demostrar una asociación entre conductas de riesgo como el inicio temprano de la actividad sexual, un mayor número de compañeros, la volubilidad en el uso del condón y la infección por C. trachomatis. Esto tampoco se pudo demostrar en otras investigaciones como el estudio multicéntrico de prevalencia en mujeres de cuatro continentes (4), o como los llevados a cabo en adolescentes chilenas (32,33), en jóvenes argentinos (30) y en mujeres de Bogotá (43).…”

Is assimilation theory dead? The effect of assimilation on adolescent well-being

“…We consider heavy use of controlled substances a risky behavior because it puts adolescents at greater risk for developing health problems and addictions, and we deem early sexual intercourse risky behavior because adolescents who have sex at young ages are at greater risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases than those who delay the onset of sexual intercourse (Kaestle et al 2005). Our delinquency and violence measures are based on a series of questions that measure the frequency of different delinquent or violent behaviors.…”

Childhood Behavior Problems and Age at First Sexual Intercourse: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

“…Earlier first sexual intercourse (FSI) is associated with unprotected intercourse, 1 inconsistent contraceptive use, 2 and multiple partners and with negative social and health outcomes, including partner violence, 3 lower educational attainment, 4,5 unintended pregnancy, teenage parenting, 6 and sexually transmitted infection. 7,8 Definitions of "early" FSI have varied, and include age 15 years and younger 2,4,9 or 16 years and younger, 7,10 or quartiles or tertiles of age at FSI in a study population. 11,12 Previous prospective studies have demonstrated that a range of biological, social, and psychological precursors such as early puberty, childhood adversity, low socioeconomic status, dysfunctional family relationships, absence of a biological father at home, poor school adjustment, adolescent depression, and low self-esteem are associated with earlier age at FSI.…”