Teens' perceptions of sex inconsistent

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Teens have definitions on what constitutes virginity and abstinence that may be different from what parents or other adults think, a U.S. study found.

Thirty-three percent of the 900 adolescents aged 12 to 19 surveyed from 10 California counties said they believe that oral sex constituted abstinence.

The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, also found more than 14 percent of survey participants defined abstinence as including anal sex and nearly 12 percent said abstinence could include vaginal intercourse. Additionally, 70 percent said they believed girls and boys keep their virginity if they participate in oral sex.

"Perhaps the overarching message is that there are different meanings associated with terms such as 'have sex,' 'abstinence,' and 'virginity.' When working with adolescents, it is important to specifically define what we mean by sexual behaviors to ensure a common

understanding," lead author Dr. Melina Bersamin of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation's Prevention Research Center, in Berkeley, Calif., said in a statement.

"This applies to doctors taking sexual histories, instructors delivering sex education or abstinence programs to youth, and to scientists conducting research," Bersamin said.