Key Facts

Why is men's sexual and reproductive health important_ What are the implications_

Promoting the sexual and reproductive health of men, especially young men, is critical to enhancing their overall health. Not only can it help to reduce some of the major health risks they face -- like STDs -- it can also help establish habits that will protect them throughout their lives -- like the consistent and correct use of condoms. In addition, addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of men will ultimately benefit their partners and their families by reducing transmission of STDs, including HIV, and the number of unintended pregnancies and births.

See the complete Alan Guttmacher Report, In Their Own Right.

How many men are sexually active -- and at what ages_

As one might expect, sexual activity increases as men age. Analyses cited in the Alan Guttmacher Institute's report on men found that fewer than one-quarter of American men are sexually experienced by age 15, but 9 in 10 men have intercourse before their 20th birthday (The average age of first intercourse for males is shortly before their 17th birthday -- 16.9).

Men also engage in other forms of sexual activity. In 1995, more than half of 15-19-year-old men said they had been masturbated by a female or had received oral sex. And among men aged 15-19 who had never had vaginal intercourse, 67 percent reported that they had touched a woman's breasts, 22 percent had been stimulated to the point of orgasm, 18 percent had received oral sex, and 14 percent had given oral sex.

See the complete Alan Guttmacher Report, In Their Own Right.

For additional data on adolescent male sexual activity, see the Kaiser Family Foundation's Teen Sexual Activity Fact Sheet (download PDF).

Do adolescent men feel pressure when it comes to sex and relationships_

As teenagers, boys feel as much pressure -- if not more -- than girls when it comes to sex and relationships. According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation/Seventeen magazine survey, 41 percent of boys and 31 percent of girls say that they personally face “a lot” or “some” pressure. At the same time, 56 percent of boys and 67 percent of girls say that they “strongly” or “somewhat” agree that “girls feel more pressure to have sex than boys do.” Boys and girls also report different types of concerns when it comes to talking about pressures and factors that influence decisions about becoming sexually active. Boys feel more pressure to “have sex” by a certain age, and they are twice as likely as girls to say that sex “is expected in a relationship.” Also, a boy's partner's prior sexual experience influences his decisions about sex. Girls, on the other hand, feel more pressure from family, religion, and friends regarding sexual activity and relationships. See the complete Kaiser Family Foundation/Seventeen Magazine SexSmarts Survey on Sexual Decision Making (download PDF).

How many men are infected with STDs, including HIV_

Each year, there are approximately 15 million new cases of both bacterial (curable) and viral (incurable) STDs -- including HIV -- in the United States. It is believed that 65 million people are now living with an incurable STD. Other than HIV, the most common STDs include the bacterial infections chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis, as well as the viral infections genital herpes, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis B.

Data specific to the prevalence of STDs among men is often lacking. STDs like chlamydia continue to be highest among adolescents, including adolescent males. Gonorrhea and syphilis continue to have higher rates of infection in men, especially men who have sex with men (MSM). In 1999, the gonorrhea rate in men was slightly higher than that for women, while there were 50 percent more cases of syphilis among men than women. Hepatitis B infection is also more common in men than women. HPV, or the human papillomavirus, has similar levels of infection among men and women. On the other hand, trichomoniasis infections are more common in women, as are genital herpes, which infects approximately one out of four women, verses one out of five men.

An estimated 800,000 to 900,000 Americans are living with HIV/AIDS, including more than 300,000 living with AIDS, the most advanced form of HIV disease. Most men have been exposed to HIV infection by having sex with other men (53%), followed by injection drug use (27%) and heterosexual sexual activity (13%).

See the complete Centers for Disease Control Report, Tracking the Hidden Epidemics (download PDF).

For additional data on STDs in men, see the Kaiser Family Foundation/American Social Health Association's Report, Sexually Transmitted Diseases in America (download PDF).

And for additional data on HIV/AIDS in men, see the Kaiser Family Foundation's Fact Sheet, The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States (download PDF).

How many adolescent and young adult men use condoms_

Although condom use has increased across all age groups in recent years, men's reliance on condoms declines as they age. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute's report on men -- which compiled its data from a variety of analyses of nationally representative surveys -- the proportion of couples using the condom by itself rose from 12 percent in 1982, to 15 percent in 1988, and then to 20 percent in 1995. Because many couples rely on dual method use -- using a condom in combination with another method of birth control -- this may be a more accurate reflection of condom use. Nearly 7 in 10 sexually active teens use the condom in combination with another method, while 4 in 10 men in their 20s and two in 10 men in their 30s rely on dual method use.

See the complete Alan Guttmacher Report, In Their Own Right.

And for additional data on condom use among men, see the Kaiser Family Foundation's Condoms Fact Sheet (download PDF).

How consistently do adolescent and young adult men use condoms_

The effectiveness of condoms depends on both correct and consistent use -- using a condom correctly each and every time you have sex. Among sexually active 15-17-year-olds who have ever used condoms, 81 percent report using them “regularly,” 16 percent “sometimes,” and 2 percent report that they do not use condoms. But as age increases and/or the relationship progresses, condom use decreases: Among sexually active 18-44-year-olds, 32 percent reported that they used condoms “all” or “most” of the time (19% and 13%, respectively), 16 percent “only sometimes,” and 51 percent “never.”

See the complete Kaiser Family Foundation/Seventeen Magazine SexSmarts Survey on Safer Sex, Condoms, and the Pill (download PDF).

And see the complete Kaiser Family Foundation/Glamour Magazine Survey of Women About Their Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Their Reproductive Health.

What can prevent men from getting health information and services_

Many obstacles can stand in the way of men getting the sexual and reproductive health information and services that they need. First, understandably, most efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health in the U.S. have targeted women -- though in recent years more and more programs have included men as part of a more effective strategy for reducing the high rates of STDs and unintended pregnancy. Parents, partners, and providers may also be uncomfortable talking about sexual and reproductive health issues. Compounding this is the fact that some providers may be reluctant to offer services to men because they lack the training and interest, or they may be concerned that offering services to men will compromise the services for women. Also, there are established standards of sexual and reproductive health care for women, but no corresponding consensus about what constitutes good sexual and reproductive health care for men. All of this creates not only a lack of information for men, but also a lack of access and insurance coverage for men to get sexual and reproductive health services.

See the complete Alan Guttmacher Report, In Their Own Right.

See the complete Urban Institute Report, Young Men's Sexual and Reproductive Health (download PDF).

Do parents talk to their sons about sexual and reproductive health_ What do they discuss_

Many parents don't talk to their kids about sex. And parents who do are somewhat more likely to talk with their daughters than with their sons. Parents report talking to their kids aged 8-15 about puberty (63% to boys; 68% to girls), basic facts about reproduction (59% to boys; 60% to girls), and HIV/AIDS (55% to boys; 56% to girls). Parents of 8-11-year-olds report also discussing how to know when you're ready to have a girlfriend/boyfriend (38% to boys; 49% to girls). And parents of 12-15-year-olds report discussing how to know when you're ready for a sexual relationship (44% to boys; 54% to girls), how to handle pressure to have sex (45% to boys; 63% to girls), what kinds of birth control are available and where to get them (31% to boys; 34% to girls), and what it means to be gay (52% for both girls and boys).

See the full Talking with Kids about Tough Issues survey (download PDF).

And visit the Talking with Kids website for tips on how to talk with your kids.

Do men want to know more about their sexual and reproductive health_

Most teen boys report that they are “very comfortable” or “kind of comfortable” talking to their parents about sex, but that they've only talked about sex “a couple of times” as opposed to “regularly.” And most boys want to know more from their parents about sexual and reproductive health issues -- boys aged 8-15 want to know more about puberty (36%), HIV/AIDS (34%), and the basics of reproduction (26%). Boys aged 8-11 also want to know more about how to know if you are ready to have a girlfriend or a boyfriend (40%), and boys aged 12-15 want to know more about how to know when you're ready for a sexual relationship (44%), how to handle pressure to have sex (35%), what kinds of birth control are available and where to get them (23%), and what it means to be gay (18%).

As men age, they continue to need reliable information and counseling about sexual and reproductive health issues. This includes continued straightforward information about male and female sexual development, contraceptive options and where to get them, STDs and HIV and where to get tested for them, as well as skills training in partner communication, condom use, and how to reduce peer pressure and avoid sexual violence.

See the full Talking with Kids about Tough Issues survey (download PDF).

See the complete Alan Guttmacher Report, In Their Own Right.

How can women best communicate with their partners about taking care of their sexual and reproductive health_

Experts agree that the best thing a woman can do for her partner is to create an open dialogue about sexual and reproductive health issues. They remind women that your partner may not be comfortable talking about their sexual and reproductive health with you -- especially not at first -- but is more likely to do so if you keep the door open. They note that it is also important not to blame men for what they don't know or to judge them for any fears they may have about asking questions or seeing a provider. More often than not, a male partner has never discussed issues about their sexual and reproductive health -- so this can be new territory for them.