National Health Statistics Reports, Number 104, June 22, 2017

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%)