Economic Benefits of Delayed Sexual Activity

The avoidance of sexual activity among youth not only prevents unplanned pregnancies but can also promote healthy outcomes and contribute to the positive development of youth. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report provides summary estimates of the net lifetime benefit that accrues when a single adolescent chooses to delay voluntary sexual activity. These estimates are useful for valuing the type of changes in behavior that are possible in response to federally funded and other sexual risk avoidance and teen pregnancy prevention programs.