Contemporary Sexuality - June 2008 - (Page 5)

active during 10.7 months during the previous year. • Among married women aged 20-29, 100 percent were sexually experienced, 97.8 percent were sexually active and they were sexually active during 11.0 months during the previous year. “In some respects, this group [women aged 20-29] is at greater risk than teenage females, because a higher proportion are sexually experienced, they are sexually active for more months per year and they are less likely to receive health insurance coverage through their parents,” wrote the authors. Added Lindberg and Singh, “Compared with older women, 20–29-year-olds are more likely to be sexually active, have multiple partners and be at risk of unintended pregnancy.” Condom usage One reason for the high rate of unintended pregnancies is that young men don’t always use a condom during intercourse. According to the 2002 NSFG, men in their twenties were less likely to use condoms than teenagers. Specifically, 40.2 percent of males aged 15-19 “used condom only” during intercourse compared to 24.2 percent of males aged 20-24 and 21.2 percent of males aged 25-29. Those who “used condom at all” totaled 72.0 percent of males aged 15-19, 47.3 percent of males aged 2024 and 31.4 percent of males aged 25-29. “Most people understand that teens are not very good at using contraception, but most do not realize that adults aren’t very good at it either,” Albert said. “There are any number of possible explanations” for lower condom unsage among men in their twenties. “For example, teen sex is generally more episodic than sex among young adults. Consequently, they may be more careful because they have fewer opportunities to need to use contraception,” he said. “A second possible explanation: Research makes clear that in a given relationship, contraceptive use becomes less consistent over time. It may be that young adults are in longer lasting relationships.” Added Albert, Laura Duberstein Lindberg “Third, it may be “Most people understand that teens are not very good at using Susheela Singh contraception, but most do not realize that adults aren’t very good at it either.” — Bill Albert that young adults have dodged the bullet as it were — they’ve had lots of unprotected sex and not gotten/or gotten someone pregnant or contracted an STD — and they have become rather cavalier about contraceptive use over time.” Yet another possibility is that young adults in longer lasting relationships use types of birth control other than condoms. For Oakes, the 25-year-old newspaper editor, avoiding an unintended pregnancy is a “major priority.” That’s why she uses the NuvaRing and insists new partners also use condoms. Albert wants more young people to consistently use condoms during intercourse. That’s why the National Campaign is exploring several education strategies, including inserting contraception messages into TV shows and magazines aimed at 20-somethings. The organization is also exploring a pilot program aimed at community college students. Meanwhile, Michigan has a head start targeting contraception messages at young adults. It has issued clinical guidelines to doctors and other health care professionals to encourage them to talk to every patient about the importance of using condoms during intercourse. “In Michigan, about four in every 10 pregnancies are mistimed or unwanted at the time of conception,” said Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom, MD. While lowering unintended pregnancies among people in their 20s seems like an uphill battle, Albert says most people thought reducing teen pregnancy rates was unachievable two decades ago. “I’m an optimist,” he said. “I believe we can make similar progress with young adults.” — Todd Melby June 2008 Vol. 42, No. 6 | www.aasect.org Contemporary Sexuality 5 http://www.aasect.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Contemporary Sexuality - June 2008

Contemporary Sexuality - June 2008 Contents President’s Letter Member Spotlight Quick Hits: Sex in the News News of Members

Contemporary Sexuality - June 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.