There's only one ‘first time:' Young adults reflect on their planning for and experiences of first sex

Seventy-five college students participated in focus groups at a Northeastern state university, during 2010. Students were recruited via campus-wide emails with the subject “Would you tell us about your first time?” Discussion was limited to voluntary sex. Groups lasted 1.5 hours, were audiotaped and transcribed, ranged from 5-12 students, and were divided into male or female groupings. Two separate groups were offered exclusively for LBGTQ students who preferred that option. MaxQDA qualitative analysis software was used to categorize data on specific themes. As part of the discussion students were asked to reflect on whether the first sex was a positive or negative experience; whether it was planned; who, if anyone, they discussed it with beforehand; and the impact of their first experience on subsequent sex and relationships. Although most initially described their first sex as “just happening”, reflecting on it resulted in the majority realizing that they had, in fact, some kind of plan. Overwhelmingly, first sexual experiences were reported to have had a tangible impact on the relationship participants were in at the time. Males and females differed dramatically in reflections on having “done it”, on the factors preceding the first time, and in their perceptions about its impact on that relationship and on subsequent relationships and sexual behaviors. Discussion will include gender differences in first sexual experiences, the relationship between aspects of “planning” and how the first experience was described,and identify points of intervention to improve health and safety and to support healthy sexuality.