average age of loss of virginity today?

[sheson-fire.livejournal.com]

ok...so i looked through the memories and found only what i had found on my own quick research...i just want someone to tell me im not crazy.
i could have sworn that in the past year..at the most... i read in the newspaper as well as hearing about it on radio talk shows..that the average age u.s. kids lose their virginity now is 12..
im having a debate about it with my husband..because all we can find is articles with no links to studies or surveys saying its around 16...
I KNOW I READ SOMEWHERE THAT IT WAS 12..
but i guess maybe its not...
anyone have any links that show like legit numbers...or at least have heard this number too?
thanks!

Comments

[123berries.livejournal.com]

I'm with most people here, 12 is YOUNG.

I was 16. I always thought that was "the age," always. I think it has to be around there. Maybe a bit younger, but 12?

I do know, however, that my boyfriend was very young. Very, very young. I'm not sure exactly, but around 6. Consentual on both parts. It was experimentation, like "playing doctor," but gone further than most.

[rahnia.livejournal.com]

I always thought 16 was "the age" too, and I'm not sure why. It was just something I thought. Until I was about 12, I entertained visions of waiting until marriage, but once I actually started going through puberty (also I lost my faith, so that may have had something to do with it) that kind of stopped.

I ended up being 15 1/2 when I first had sex, and I've never regretted it. I was ready, and I don't think you can put an age on ready. For some people it's when they're married, or when they're older, for others it's not. It depends.

[oboegoddess.livejournal.com]

I was the same way about waiting until marriage. When I was young, sex just seemed gross, so there was no way I wanted to do it with someone I wasn't married to at least. But then puberty hit, and yeah, things changed. :-)