Adolescent contraceptive use and communication: changes over a decade

Sexual experiences of 186 adolescents in 1979 were compared to those of 215 adolescents in 1989 who were recruited from the same university to determine if there was an increase over the decade in "safe sex" practices. Self-reported condom use increased between 1979 and 1989 for very first intercourse as well as first intercourse with current partner, although condom use was still far from universal. For other behaviors, there were sexual career changes (i.e., changes from first to current partner) but not decade changes. The percentage of respondents using any method of contraception and the percentage who discussed contraception with their partner increased from first to current partner, but did not increase between 1979 and 1989. The very first intercourse with first partner remained especially troubling since contraceptive use was very low and discussions about contraception prior to sex were very infrequent.