Sex is a normal human behavior that allows us to connect with other people in a very intimate way. It also allows us to create children when we’re ready to be parents.

The hormones that cause puberty to occur in teens are generally thought to increase our desire to have sex. There are also social influences, such as what friends are saying about sex, and what we see, read, and hear about sex on TV, in movies, on the internet, and in musical lyrics. There’s a wide range of when teens and young adults start thinking about sex, who they’re attracted to, and when they start actually having sex.

If you’re thinking about having sex, be sure to talk to your health care provider about ways to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (always use condoms!) and to prevent pregnancy if you are having heterosexual sex (sex with a female) and not ready to be a parent.