Four Percent of Adults Are Virgins

Andy Stitzer may not have been as alone as he thought. The titular 40-Year-Old Virgin was considered such an anomaly his plight seemed to exist only in the minds of Hollywood film makers.

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that having your virginity may not be as uncommon as some believe. According to a recent study reported by the Associated Foreign Press, four percent of adults in the United States have never had sex. And if your a Mexican-American, the figure triples to 12 percent.

The results come from a survey that was officially released on Friday. In the report, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated, "Approximately 96 percent of adults age 20-59 years have had sex, with the age group 20-29 having the lowest percent (91 percent)," according to the Associated Foreign Press.

Only 88 percent of Mexican American adults have sex, which is far lower than any other individual ethnic group.

In addition to virginity statistics, the report also collected information as to when the participants first had sex. Sixteen percent of adults had sex before the age of 15 according to the study. Fifteen percent of adults abstained until they were at least 21 years of age.

Yet while these statistics may be surprising to some, virginity has already received enhanced coverage in the media. Jane magazine, for example, followed a 29-year-old virgin through her dating experiences and her search to find a long-term relationship.

On the internet, men and women blog about their virginity and their attempt to keep, or lose it. The author of "Almost 40-Year-Old Virgin" describes himself as rapidly approaching 40 as a virgin in New York City. In his blog he writes about fear and distrust of women as part of the reasons he has not had sex yet.

However, virginity does not necessarily indicate a social problem, just a desire to stay chaste. Asexuality is gaining notice as a lifestyle choice for many adults, with couples marrying but achieving intimacy without sex.