Yes, it’s totally normal to have sexual desire at 17. Although most young women are physically ready to engage in sexual intercourse, the most important part of the decision to have sex has more to do with emotional maturity. There are many complex feelings and physical consequences that come from sex, and it’s important to be prepared for all of them. Unprotected sex can cause pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
Birth control and the use of male or female condoms are two ways to lessen the chance of an unwanted pregnancy or STI, but abstinence (not having sex) is the only way to completely protect yourself. Talk to your health care provider before having sex for the first time in order to discuss birth control options, STI prevention, and ways to discuss healthy relationships with your partner. Having sex is your decision and you shouldn’t feel coerced into it.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.