[DreamP346]

Here is another discussion that was prompted by another thread. At what age do you think it's OK to start having sex? Sex with another person? Sex with yourself? Non-intercourse sex with another person?

I did some research (of course this data is 15 years old now, but probably very similar), countries like The Netherlands and other European counties have earlier age of first sexual intercourse. However, their STI and teen pregnancy rates are very low compared to the US. Average age of sex in the US is around 17 but teen pregnancy and STI rates are probably one of the highest among developed countries. So this prompts the question, when are kids/teenagers/adults ready to engage in sex.

Personally, I don't think it is an age thing. It's more about maturity (both physical, emotional and mental) and the level of sexual knowledge the person has. I find that being mature and having the knowledge automatically lends itself to prevent sexual intercourse at an early age. To me that would be anyone under 15. The cases I know about a child engaging in sexual activity is usually by a person who really knows very little, has very little power and/or lack of access to education.

Sex with self (masturbation) I don't think that requires an age limit.

Non-intercourse sex with somebody is the same as intercourse. It has the same level of emotional risk as well as STI risk. Just because pregnancy is not an issue, doesn't mean it's still not a big deal.

[jen1447]

I tend to agree across the board. Being ready is more a function of maturity (in all the forms you mentioned) than age. That said, my off-the-cuff reaction is that I'd personally feel comfortable with the concept of kids having sex at 16 and no earlier. (Old fashioned matron here I know. ) As far as masturbation goes, I don't think there's a poor taste or inappropriate limitation there as long as the person actually knows that what they're doing is masturbation. (Thinking of examples here of 8 year olds unknowingly self-pleasuring in public and that sort of thing.) Let's call it age 12 just to give it a number.

[kira]

Whenever you feel ready. Age of consent in Japan is 13. Everyone is held to a high standard there though and few would think of risking their health or a pregnancy. Condoms are almost always used and you have to really jump through hoops to get hormonal birth control instead of barrier methods. Sex is also very openly displayed such as dildos easily visible by teenagers. Yet there is almost no teen pregnancy or STDs.

I was masturbating well before 13 but I didn't think about sex with another person until closer to 16 and had sex at 17. My social situation probably delayed that quite a bit from what it would have been. There are people not mature enough to handle sex in their 20s so there is no set age for anyone. I think the attempts in the US to hide things, not get in to detail in sex ed classes, and restrict what teenagers are allowed to be exposed to only makes these less mature and less educated people exploring sex on their own.

[Stillness]

It's not an age but a state: marriage. I think it's ideal when the people are not children.

[effy2014]

I think it is difficult, if not impossible, for a very young girl to make that determination. If she wants to have sex, then she will think that she is mature enough. In most states in the US, girls under 16 cannot legally give consent. In this area, I agree with a bright line age test and hope that girls 16 and over who are not mature enough refrain. As for masterbating, hard to say what the proper age might be.

[Motorguy]

Well it's a know fact that girls maturity faster then boys mentally and physical. My cousin who is 38 now but when she was 13 got pregnant by her then 16 year old boy friend he convinced her that being a virgin she could get pregnant yea right. But she was 14 when the baby came around.But the her parents had to get a judge to allow there 14 year old daughter to get married. By the time she was 16 had her second child that marriage fell apart by the time she was 21. But now she 38 and a grandmother of 3 now people are shock to learn she a grand mother already.

[Elena_EvilEye]

There isn't a specific age you can put as the right one to have sex it's all about your mental maturity. I lost my virginity to my husband who was my then boyfriend at 14 and I was sensible about it e.g using condoms and BC, we also had oral sex with each other. It really depends on your mentality and whether you're ready for it obviously if you're having intercourse at 6 then it's not right because a 6 year old doesn't understand fully what sex entails. Some are ready like me at 14 some are ready at 22 which is fine it's a marathon not a race.

I started masturbating at around 12.