4 in 10 women weren't 'ready' when they lost their virginity
A quarter of men felt the same way
A quarter of men felt the same way
When it comes to having sex for the first time, there's no one size fits all rule about timing.
But according to a new study published in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, 4 in 10 women say it wasn't the 'right' time to have sex when they lost their virginity, and a quarter of men felt the same.
The experts asked 2,845 Brits between the ages of 17 and 24 about the first time they had sex. Questions included whether both parties were equally keen to get down, whether they thought the decision was theirs or their partner's, whether they used contraception and if they thought it was the 'right' time (for the sex to count as at the 'right' time it needed to consensual, using contraception, their own decision and took into account how ready the individual felt they were).
Of those in the study, 40% of women didn't meet the four criteria, meaning they weren't 'ready' to have sex.
The research also found that 10% of participants didn't use contraception when they had sex for the first time, and 20% of women reported it was their partner's decision to sleep together.
Experts involved in the study also stated that 'chronological age may be an overly simplistic indicator of the nature of first intercourse'.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
To clarify, that means that your age doesn't dictate when you're 'ready' for sex - there are also many other important factors to take into consideration.
Were you 'ready' the first time you had sex?
Jadie Troy-Pryde is News Editor, covering celebrity and entertainment, royal, lifestyle and viral news. Before joining the team in 2018 as the Lifestyle and Social Media Editor, she worked at a number of women’s fashion and lifestyle titles including Grazia, Women’s Health and Stylist, and now heads the Marie Claire UK news desk.
-
If you’re over 45 and have noticed your skin changing, these are the 8 best moisturisers to tighten, brighten and hydrate
Hardworking creams that leave skin smooth and glowy
By Mica Ricketts
-
Reformer Pilates classes are spenny - trust me, these at-home machines offer the same results for less
An investment purchase, if ever we’ve seen one.
By Valeza Bakolli
-
"I started running in lockdown for my mental health - four years on, I'm one of the fastest female marathon runners in the UK"
Here's how Anya did it.
By Ally Head