OBJECTIVES: to describe the love life and reproductive profile of female adolescents between 15 and 19 years old. METHODS: a cross-sectional study comprising 222 adolescents registered in a family health clinic in the East Zone of the city of São Paulo. Home surveys were performed between June and December of 2002. RESULTS: among 45.5% adolescents who had already began their sexual life, the mean age of the first sexual intercourse was 15.3 years old. A considerable number (17.1%) had already experienced pregnancy and three cases of abortion were reported. Nevertheless, at 19 years old, 2.9%, 14.3% and 34.3% of the adolescents had not kissed, had a boy friend or initiated a sexual life, respectively demonstrating that sexual habits in adolescence are diverse and heterogeneous. CONCLUSIONS: adolescents reflected different reproductive profiles comprising adolescents who had never been involved in a love relationship or even sexual relationship and adolescents who had already experienced pregnancy or opted to abort. These aspects disclose the need to the design of public policies aimed at the reproductive and sexual health of Brazilian female adolescents.
Pregnancy in adolescence; Teen health; Reproductive medicine
