Early sexual debut has been linked with a number of detrimental health consequences. Young age of first sexual intercourse is correlated with unintended pregnancy due to reduced use of contraception (Raine, Minnis, & Padian, 2003). In addition, an immature cervix of teenage girls and young women may be particularly vulnerable to STDs linked to pelvic inflammatory disease (Westrom & Eschenbach, 1999). An underdeveloped cervix also appears to be more susceptible to HPV infection, the most common cause of cervical cancer (Moscicki, Burt, Kanowitz, Darragh, & Shiboski, 1999). A primary reason is because of cervical ectopy, which is distinguished by rapid physiologic changes in the cervical epithelium, or immature immune response to HPV infection (Duncan et al., 1990; Shew, Fortenberry, Miles, & Amortegui, 1994). Early sexual debut is also associated with increased number of sexual partners (Cavazos-Rehg et al., 2007). Moreover, numerous social consequences have also been associated with early sexual activity, including compromised economic futures due to out-of-wedlock childbearing and adolescent parenting (Cates, 1990; Harvey & Spigner, 1995; Rosembaum & Kandel, 1990; Seidman & Riede, 1994).
