Relationship between biological and social aspects of sexual maturity among young Danes.

Abstract

Representative samples of 286 young Danish women and 336 young men aged 16-20 years were interviewed in 1984-1985 about menarcheal age and age at 1st sexual intercourse. The medium age at menarche was 13.13 years. Altogether 212 (74%) of females and 225 (70%) of males were sexually experienced. Among females the medium age at sexual debut is related to that at menarche in the 4 cohorts investigated where it was possible to estimate both variables. Consequently, the behavioral aspects of sexual maturity among females is heavily influenced by this purely biological index of maturation. Although the median age at 1st sexual intercourse could only be estimated in 3 of the male cohorts an indication of association between the median ages at sexual debut is clear, and they seem to follow the median age of menarche closely. The interrelationship between this biological factor (menarche) and a social event (1st sexual intercourse) indicates a causality in sexual development of young contemporary Danes.