Losing virginity early or late tied to health risks

Losing virginity early or late tied to health risks
A couple embrace in Hanoi June 25, 2007. People who start having sex at a younger or older than average age appear to be at greater risk of developing sexual health problems later in life, a new study suggests. (Kham/Reuters)NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who start having sex ata younger or older than average age appear to be at greaterrisk of developing sexual health problems later in life, a newstudy suggests.
The findings, according to researchers, cast some doubts onthe benefits of abstinence-only sexual education that has beenintroduced in U.S. public schools.
Using data from a 1996 cross-sectional survey of more than8,000 U.S. adults, the researchers found that those who startedhaving sex at a relatively young age were more likely to havecertain risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) --including a high number of sexual partners and a history ofhaving sex under the influence of alcohol.
On the other hand, both "early" and "late" starters were atincreased risk of problems in sexual function. This was trueprimarily of men, whose problems included difficultymaintaining an erection and reaching orgasm.
The findings are published in the American Journal ofPublic Health.
It's not clear from the survey why both early and latestarters tend to have more sexual dysfunction, according to theresearchers, led by Dr. Theo G.M. Sandfort of ColumbiaUniversity in New York City.
But the findings, they write, "only partially support"abstinence-only sex education -- which encourages teenagers tosave sex for marriage.
"Although our findings support an association between earlyinitiation and long-term (STD) risk, they also suggest a morecomplicated picture of sexual functioning," Sandfort and hiscolleagues write.
Delaying sexual activity may "create health risks byimpeding development of the emotional, cognitive, andinterpersonal skills that are crucial to satisfactory sexualfunctioning and general well-being," they add.
On average, respondents said they had sex for the firsttime around the ages of 17 or 18. Those who had their firstsexual encounter at average age of 14 were considered "earlystarters" and those who started at age 22 or older wereconsidered "later starters."
It's not possible to determine cause-and-effect from thesurvey data, according to the researchers. For example, youngmen with sexual problems may start having intercourse at alater age, contributing to the link between later sexual"debut" and higher odds of sexual dysfunction.
However, Sandfort's team adds, the findings lend credenceto other studies suggesting that abstinence-only education mayactually increase the risk of certain health problems.
"Sexual education that is more supportive and acknowledgesthe diverse needs of young people might prevent the negativeoutcomes observed here," the researchers write.
SOURCE: American Journal of Public Health, January 2008.