The major physical risk for a young person is that he/she will get a sexually transmitted infection from the partner or be involved in a pregnancy. Many young people engage in sexual activity at this age, but if that sexual activity is specific acts such as intercourse it may lead to the pregnancy/disease outcome. If the persons involved don't use very good contraception with each act of intercourse, there is a physical risk to both of them.

If they both engage in oral stimulation of the genitals, there is no risk of pregnancy but certainly the transmission of disease. There are several diseases including herpes, gonorrhea, HIV and others which can be tranmitted via oral sex.

There is also the engaging in anal penetration which carries the same risk of disease if a latex condom and plenty of water-based lubricant is not used.

Now for the difference between males and females. There is a slightly higher risk to females who have intercourse early in their teenage years before the body has fully developed that the introduction of the penis into the vagina creates a higher risk of cervical dysplasia and possibly HPV (human papilloma virus) which is the virus that causes genital warts. The cervical dysplasia may need to be treated later in her adult years and certainly once a person has a virus there is no way to rid the body of it.

I hope this answered your question. Please don't think that being sexually active is dangerous; it is not. It just carries some risk with it, and the type of activity needs to be defined. Not all sexual activity has risks to it.

Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team