About three decades ago, more than half of teens said they'd had sex, according to a large government survey conducted every two years. By 2019, the share was 38%. In 2021, 30% of teens said they had ever had sex.
The declines clearly had a lot to do with the pandemic that kept kids isolated at home for long stretches and, often, under extended adult supervision, experts said.
“I think these together paint a picture of high school students building fewer strong interpersonal connections that can be protective of good mental health," said Laura Lindberg, a Rutgers University researcher who studies adolescent sexual behavior. The CDC's Kathleen Ethier said the decline may be a good thing if it reflects more young people making healthy decisions to delay sex and reduce their number of partners.
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