Editing Human sexual activity (section)

==Frequency==
{{See also|Sexually active life expectancy}}
The frequency of sexual activity might range from zero to 15 or 20 times a week.<ref name="EDHS2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iarCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA489|title=Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality|isbn=978-1284081541|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Publishers|last1=Greenberg|first1=Clint E. Bruess|last2=Oswalt|first2=Sara B.|date=2016|page=489}}</ref> Frequency of intercourse tends to decline with age.<ref name="CPES">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Jx3BQAAQBAJ&pg=PT34|title=Clinical Perspectives on Elderly Sexuality|isbn=978-1475747799|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|last=Hillman|first=Jennifer L.|date=2013|page=34}}</ref> Some post-[[menopausal]] women experience decline in frequency of sexual intercourse, while others do not.<ref name="HSFDPR">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fx39DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA76|title=Human Sexuality: Function, Dysfunction, Paraphilias, and Relationships|isbn=978-0128191750|publisher=Academic Press|last1=Rokach|first1=Ami|last2=Patel|first2=Karishma|date=2021|page=76}}</ref> According to the [[Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction|Kinsey Institute]], the average frequency of sexual intercourse in the US for individuals with partners is 112 times per year (age 18–29), 86 times per year (age 30–39), and 69 times per year (age 40–49).<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/resources/FAQ.html#frequency | title = Frequently asked questions to the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction Kinsey Institute|access-date = 6 January 2009}}</ref> The rate of sexual activity has been declining in the 21st century, a phenomenon that has been described as a [[sex recession]].

===Adolescents===
{{Further|Adolescent sexuality}}
The age at which adolescents become sexually active varies considerably between different cultures and times. (See [[Virginity#Prevalence of virginity|Prevalence of virginity]].) The first sexual act of a child or adolescent is sometimes referred to as the [[sexualization]] of the child, and may be considered a milestone or a change of status, as the loss of [[virginity]] or innocence. Youth are legally free to have intercourse after they reach the [[age of consent]].

A 1999 survey of students indicated that approximately 40% of ninth graders across the United States report having had sexual intercourse. This figure rises with each grade. Males are more sexually active than females at each of the grade levels surveyed. Sexual activity of young adolescents differs in ethnicity as well. A higher percentage of African American and Hispanic adolescents are more sexually active than white adolescents.<ref>Meece, Judith L. Child and Adolescent Development for Educators. New York: McGraw Hill, 2008. Print.</ref>

Research on sexual frequency has also been conducted solely on female adolescents who engage in sexual activity. Female adolescents tended to engage in more sexual activity due to positive mood. In female teenagers, engaging in sexual activity was directly positively correlated with being older, greater sexual activity in the previous week or prior day, and more positive mood the previous day or the same day as the sexual activity occurred.<ref name="Fortenberry D.J., Temkit M., Tu W., Graham C.A., Katz B. 2005 252–257">{{cite journal |author1=Fortenberry D.J. |author2=Temkit M. |author3=Tu W. |author4=Graham C.A. |author5=Katz B. | year = 2005 | title = Daily Mood, Partner Support, Sexual Interest, and Sexual Activity Among Adolescent Women | url = http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/4803| journal = Health Psychology | volume = 24 | issue = 3| pages = 252–257 | doi = 10.1037/0278-6133.24.3.252 |pmid=15898860 |type=Submitted manuscript }}</ref> Decreased sexual activity was associated with prior or same-day negative mood or menstruation.<ref name="Fortenberry D.J., Temkit M., Tu W., Graham C.A., Katz B. 2005 252–257"/>

Although opinions differ, researchers suggest that sexual activity is an essential part of humans, and that teenagers need to experience sex. According to a study, sexual experiences help teenagers understand pleasure and satisfaction.<ref name="Vrangalova, Z. 2011">{{Cite journal|last1=Vrangalova|first1=Zhana|last2=Savin-Williams|first2=Ritch C.|date=1 August 2011|title=Adolescent sexuality and positive well-being: a group-norms approach|journal=Journal of Youth and Adolescence|volume=40|issue=8|pages=931–944|doi=10.1007/s10964-011-9629-7|issn=1573-6601|pmid=21274608|s2cid=5602332}}</ref> In relation to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, it stated that teenagers can positively benefit from sexual activity. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008 and 2009 at a rural upstate New York community. Teenagers who had their first sexual experience at age 16 revealed a higher well-being than those who were sexually inexperienced or who became sexually active at age 17.<ref name="Vrangalova, Z. 2011"/> Furthermore, teenagers who had their first sexual experience at age 15 or younger, or who had many sexual partners were not negatively affected and did not have associated lower well-being.<ref name="Vrangalova, Z. 2011"/>