National Survey of Family Growth

Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth – S Listing

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Sex education

 

Percentage of teens aged 15-19 years of age who report having received formal instruction before the age of 18 on “how to say no to sex,” by sex and grade when they received instruction:

Did not receive
instruction		 Received instruction and grade when first received instruction
1-5 6 7 8 9 10-12
Females, 20021 14.5% 17.6% 19.8% 17.4% 12.5% 12.2% 5.8%
Females, 2006-20102 11.4% 15.7% 16.4% 20.0% 14.3% 15.9% 6.3%
Females, 2011-20152 16.3% (1.26) 11.7% (0.83) 14.8% (1.34) 16.6% (1.25) 15.1% (1.22) 17.8% (1.49) 7.6% (1.06)
Males, 20021 17.4% 22.7% 17.8% 17.3% 11.4% 9.6% 3.6%
Males, 2006-20102 17.5% 18.3% 14.9% 16.2% 13.4% 13.2% 6.0%
Males, 2011-20152 18.5% (1.09) 17.8% (1.35) 13.9% (1.18) 15.2% (1.28) 14.9% (1.10) 12.4% (1.16) 7.1% (0.81)

 

 

Percentage of teens aged 15-19 years of age who report having received formal instruction before the age of 18 on “methods of birth control,” by sex and grade when they received instruction:

Did not receive
instruction		 Received instruction and grade when first received instruction
1-5 6 7 8 9 10-12
Females, 20021 30.1% 5.9% 9.3% 12.5% 13.2% 18.6% 10.0%
Females, 2006-20102 29.5% 5.5% 8.2% 11.7% 12.7% 20.6% 11.5%
Females, 2011-20152 34.4% (1.71) 2.5% (0.39) 7.9% (1.09) 10.3% (0.96) 11.8% (0.93) 21.4% (1.55) 11.6% (1.03)
Males 20021 33.8% 8.3% 9.3% 13.8% 11.0% 16.0% 6.8%
Males 2006-20102 39.1% 5.3% 6.9% 11.2% 13.0% 15.9% 8.0%
Males 2011-20152 41.7% (1.60) 6.6% (0.90) 5.8% (0.60) 10.2% (1.08) 11.7% (1.00) 14.7% (1.13) 9.4% (1.01)

Sources:

1Series 23, No. 24, Tables 26 and 27 [PDF – 2.2 MB]
2Special tabulations by NCHS
For more information on this topic see: Data Brief No. 44 [PDF – 1 MB]

 

Sexual activity between females

2006-20101 2011-20152
Percentage of females 18-44 years of age who have ever had any sexual activity with another female partner 14.2% 17.6% (0.58)

Sources:

1Chandra A, Copen CE, Mosher WD. Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Identity in the United States: Data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Baumle AK (ed). International Handbooks of Population, International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality. Volume VI: Springer Science and Business Media Dordrecht, 2013:45-66. (Available upon request at nsfg@cdc.gov)
2Special tabulations by NCHS

 

 

Sexual activity between males

 Oral or anal sex between males

2006-2010 2011-2015
Percentage of males 15-44 years of age who have ever had oral or anal sex with another male 5.1%1 5.1% (0.30)3
Percentage of males 15-44 years of age who have had oral or anal sex with another male in the last 12 months 2.1%2 3.2% (0.23)3

Sources:

1Chandra A, Copen CE, Mosher WD. Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Identity in the United States: Data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Baumle AK (ed). International Handbooks of Population, International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality. Volume VI: Springer Science and Business Media Dordrecht, 2013:45-66. (Available upon request at nsfg@cdc.gov)
2NHSR No. 46, Table 1[PDF – 188 KB]
3Special tabulations by NCHS

 

Oral sex between males

2006-20101 2011-20152
Percentage of males 15-44 years of age who have ever had oral sex with another male 5.0% 5.0% (0.29)

Sources:
1Chandra A, Copen CE, Mosher WD. Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Identity in the United States: Data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Baumle AK (ed). International Handbooks of Population, International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality. Volume VI: Springer Science and Business Media Dordrecht, 2013:45-66. (Available upon request at nsfg@cdc.gov)
2Special tabulations by NCHS

 

Sexual activity between males and females

 

Vaginal sexual intercourse

Age at first sexual intercourse

20021 2006-20102 2011-20152
Mean age at first intercourse after menarche for women aged 15-44 17.4 years 17.1 years 17.3 years (0.07)

Sources:

1Series 23, No. 25, Table 33 [PDF – 4.7 MB]
2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

20021 2006-20102 2011-20152
Mean age at first intercourse for men aged 15-44 17.0 years 17.1 years 17.0 years (0.07)

Sources:

1Series 23, No. 26, Table 14 [PDF – 3.5 MB]
2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

Oral sex – males and females

Percentage of males and females 15-44 years of age in 2002, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 who had ever had oral sex with an opposite-sex partner:

20021 2006-20102 2011-20153
Men 83.0% 81.7% 82.6% (0.67)
Women 82.0% 80.4% 80.8% (0.75)

Sources:

1NHSR No. 36, Table 5 and 6 [PDF – 603 KB]
2Chandra A, Copen CE, Mosher WD. Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Identity in the
United States: Data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Baumle AK (ed).
International Handbooks of Population, International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality.
Volume VI: Springer Science and Business Media Dordrecht, 2013:45-66. (Available upon
request at nsfg@cdc.gov)
3Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Percentage of teenagers 15-19 years of age in 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 who have ever had oral sex with an opposite-sex partner:

2006-20101 2011-20152
Men 48.4% 51.4% (1.65)
Women 46.3% 45.5% (1.99)

Sources:

1Chandra A, Copen CE, Mosher WD. Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Identity in the United States: Data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Baumle AK (ed). International Handbooks of Population, International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality. Volume VI: Springer Science and Business Media Dordrecht, 2013:45-66. (Available upon request at nsfg@cdc.gov)
2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Anal sex – males and females

Percentage of males and females 15-44 years of age in 2002, 2006-2010, and 2011-2015 who have ever had anal sex with an opposite-sex partner:

20021 2006-20102 2011-20153
Men 34.0% 37.0% 37.7% (0.90)
Women 30.0% 31.6% 33.3% (0.72)

Sources:

1NHSR No. 36, Table 5 and 6 [PDF – 603 KB]
2Chandra A, Copen CE, Mosher WD. Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Identity in the
United States: Data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Baumle AK (ed).
International Handbooks of Population, International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality.
Volume VI: Springer Science and Business Media Dordrecht, 2013:45-66. (Available upon
request at nsfg@cdc.gov)
3Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Sexual identity and attraction

 

Sexual identity for men and women 18-44 years of age

Females
2006-20101 		Males
2006-20101		 Females
2011-20152		 Males
2011-20152
Heterosexual or straight 93.6% 95.6% 91.7% (0.39) 95.1% (0.31)
Homosexual or gay (or lesbian) 1.2% 1.8% 1.6% (0.16) 1.8% (0.18)
Bisexual 3.9% 1.2% 5.6% (0.33) 1.8% (0.19)

Sources:

1Chandra A, Copen CE, Mosher WD. Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Identity in the
United States: Data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. In: Baumle AK (ed).
International Handbooks of Population, International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality.
Volume VI: Springer Science and Business Media Dordrecht, 2013:45-66. (Available upon
request through nsfg@cdc.gov)
2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Sexual attraction for men and women 18-44 years of age

Only
opposite sex		 Mostly
opposite sex		 Equally
to both		 Mostly
same sex		 Only
same sex		 Not sure
Females 2006-2010 82.8% 12.1% 2.9% 0.7% 0.8% 0.7%
  Females 2011-2015 80.1% (0.60) 12.7% (0.55) 3.5 % (0.24) 0.9% (1.3) 1.1% (0.15) 1.0% (0.12)
Males 2006-2010 93.3% 3.5% 0.7% 0.7% 1.3% 0.4%
    Males 2011-2015 91.2% (0.45) 4.0% (0.32) 0.9% (0.16) 0.7% (0.09) 1.5% (0.18) 0.8% (0.13)

Note: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

STD/HIV risk

 

Number of males and females 15-44 years of age who reported an HIV risk-related behavior (sexual behavior, drug use, and/or STD treatment) in the last 12 months

20021 2006-20101          2011-20152
Males 7.95 million 6.5 million 6.3 million
Females 6.65 million 4.9 million 5.0 million
TOTAL 14.60 million 11.4 million 11.4 million

 

Percentage of males and females 15-44 years of age who reported an HIV risk-related behavior (sexual behavior, drug use, and/or STD treatment) in the last 12 months:

20021 2006-20101 2011-20152
Males 13.0% 10.4% 10.7%  (0.49)
Females 10.8% 8.0% 8.3% (0.40)
TOTAL 11.9% 9.2% 9.5% (0.31)

 

Percentage of males and females 15-44 years of age reporting each behavior in the last 12 months (each behavior may increase an individual’s risk of HIV and other STDs; respondents could report more than one of these behaviors):

20021 2006-20101 2011-20152
Treatment for sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) in the last 12 months		 3.0% 3.3% 3.3% (0.18)
Five or more opposite-sex partners 3.5% 2.8% 2.9% (0.19)
Sex in exchange for money or drugs 2.3% 1.0% 0.9% (0.08)
Having an HIV-positive sex partner 0.5% 0.1% 0.2% (0.03)
Drug use1: Illicit drug injection or crack cocaine use 1.5% N/A 0.5% (0.07)
Sexual activity between males (males only) 2.7% 2.1% 2.6% (0.22)
Women who had male partners who have sex with other males 2.3% 1.4% 1.5% (0.15)
Any HIV risk-related behavior 11.9% 9.2% 9.5% (0.31)

Sources:
1NHSR No. 46, Table 1 [PDF – 343 KB]
2Special tabulation by NCHS

Notes: 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 data include crystal methamphetamine use in this measure of drug use in last 12 months.

 

 

STD treatment/HIV testing

HIV testing

Percentage of men and women 15-44 years of age who have ever had an HIV test, not counting blood donation:

20021 2006-20101 2011-20152
Men 46.5% 41.9% 45.8% (0.99)
Women 55.3% 59.1% 61.3% (0.94)

Sources:
1NHSR No. 58, Table 1 [PDF – 422 KB]
2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Percentage of men and women 15-44 years of age who had an HIV test (not counting blood donation) in the last 12 months:

20021 2006-20101 2011-20152
Men 15.0% 13.0% 15.5% (0.65)
Women 20.0% 21.4% 23.0% (0.78)

Sources:
1NHSR No. 58, Figure 1, Figure 2 and Table 3 [PDF – 422 KB]
2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

Percentage of men and women 15-44 years of age who had an HIV test outside of blood donation by whether they engaged in an HIV risk-related behavior in the last 12 months, 2011-2015:

 

Engaged in 1 or more risk-related behaviors in last 12 months Engaged in no HIV risk-related behaviors in last 12 months
Men 2006-20101 33.5% 10.6%
Men 2011-20152 37.5% (2.09) 12.8% (0.62)
Women 2006-20101 43.0% 19.7%
Women 2011-20152 45.7% (2.24) 20.9% (0.80)

Sources:
1NHSR No. 58, Table 4 [PDF – 422 KB]
2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

STD treatment

Percentage of men and women 15-44 years of age who received treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) other than HIV in the last 12 months among men and women 15-44 years of age:

20021 2006-20101 2011-20152
Women 3.4% 4.1% 4.2% (0.27)
Men 2.6% 2.6% 2.3% (0.19)
Total (men and women) 3.0% 3.3% 3.3% (0.18)

Sources:
1NHSR No. 46, Table 1 [PDF – 343 KB]
2Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

Sterilization (female)

 

Percentage ever having a female sterilization operation

Percentage of women 15-44 years of age in 2002, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 who have ever had a sterilizing operation, by type of operation:

2002 2006-2010 2011-2015
Tubal sterilization 16.2% 15.0% 13.4% (0.65)
Hysterectomy 4.1% 3.7% 3.2% (0.27)
Other operations 2.5% 2.2% 2.3% (0.21)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

Percentage of women 40-44 years of age in 2011-2015 who have ever had a sterilization operation by type of operation:

2011-2015
Operation Type
Tubal sterilization 29.8% (1.76)
Hysterectomy 10.6% (1.15)
Other operations 6.9% (0.92)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

 

Main reason for operation

Among women 15-44 years of age in 2011-2015 who had tubal sterilizations within the past 5 years, percent distribution by main reason for the tubal sterilization:

2006-2010 2011-2015
She had all the children she wanted 63.7% 66.6% (2.63)
Her husband or partner had all the children he wanted 4.5% 6.9% (1.35)
Medical reasons for the tubal sterilization 23.8% 21.5% (2.30)
Problems with other methods of birth control 3.0% 1.7% (0.56)
Other reasons 5.1% 3.3% (0.76)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS

 

Among women 15-44 years of age in 2011-2015 who had hysterectomies within the past 5 years, percent distribution by main reason for the hysterectomy:

2006-2010 2011-2015
She had all the children she wanted 2.1% 5.3% (1.60)
Medical reasons for the hysterectomy 96.2% 89.6% (3.59)
Other reasons 1.7% 5.1% (3.38)

Source: Special tabulation by NCHS