The number of U.S. men ages 15 to 19 who used a condom the first time they had sex increased between 2002 and the 2006 to 2010 survey periods, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statement. While the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) showed that overall teenagers’ use of contraceptives has not changed significantly during the past decade, during the 2006 to 2010 study period, 8 in 10 teen males used condoms when they lost their virginity—a 9 percent increase from 2002. The new data on teen contraceptive use was collected during the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), which tracks a number of family-related factors including marriage, divorce, contraception, pregnancy and birth outcomes. Other NSFG findings showed more male teens were using condoms in addition to a female partner’s hormonal contraceptive method, thereby protecting against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV. However, data also showed that Latino men were most likely to not have used a contraceptive method during their last sexual encounter.

To read the CDC statement, click here.

To read the NCHS report, click here.