Sexual Behaviour in Adolescence

This session aims to help you understand the range and epidemiology of normal sexual behaviour in adolescence. It will also create awareness of the issues relating to gender, sexual identity and implications of long-term illness for sexual function and health.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the epidemiology of a range of adolescent sexual behaviours
• Compare adolescent sexual health in the UK with other developed countries
• Discuss issues relating to gender and sexual identity in adolescents
• Recognise the challenges of developing a sexual identity for young people with long-term illness

Adolescence is identified by the World Health Organisation as the period in human growth and development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood, from ages 10 to 19 years.

Adolescence is a critically important time in the lifecycle of human sexuality. Biologically, pubertal changes bring with them an increased sexual drive secondary to hormonal changes and sex assumes a much greater prominence in a young person’s awareness. External signs of puberty announce the adolescent’s new status of having reproductive capabilities.