| It depends more on when and how often young people are exposed to a virus that can lead to cancer. For example, certain types of the human papilloma virus (HPV) can cause changes in the cervix that can lead to cervical cancer. The more sex partners young people have, the more likely they will be exposed to HPV. And the more partners a young person's sex partner has had, the more likely a young person will be infected with HPV. Having unprotected sex with many different partners throughout your lifetime, or having unprotected sex with partners who have had many different partners in their lifetimes, increases the likelihood that you may be exposed to a virus that may lead to cancer.
We know more about the risks of certain cancers for young women than the risks for young men, who are much less likely to develop genital cancer. Women who abstain from vaginal intercourse until their 20s — and who have fewer partners in their lifetime than other women — may have certain advantages over women who do not. They are less likely to
- get sexually transmitted infections
- become infertile
- develop cancer of the cervix, which is caused by certain types of sexually transmitted human papilloma viruses
Sexual relationships present physical and emotional risks — even with the advent of the new HPV vaccine. Abstinence is a very good way of postponing those risks until you are able to handle them. | 
