When is a "normal" age to lose your virginity?

[goosefats]

Name changed because this is something I would not like to follow me around on here, if you please

I was having a little Xmas Zoom call with one of my female friends this evening and we got a little drunk on our (individual) Pinot Grigios, and things started getting a little personal. We began talking about our first times, to which I told her I had sex for the first time at 15. She immediately had a " Oh my GOD, Goosefats!" response which I thought was a little mad as I figured that was a normal age.
According to her, it was far too young and I'm wondering what the general consensus is?

Obviously it's a personal choice, just to preface! I'm just curious as to what age you think is appropriate and what age you'd have a strong response to Relatively light-hearted thread, and please be kind to my friend, she's salt of the Earth but relatively sheltered (bless her heart!). x

I was 17

My partner was 13 (not with me, may I add!)

How do you feel about the experience now?
Just from personal experience, at the time I thought it was so soul-crushingly embarrassing to be a virgin despite being a literal child, whereas with what I know now I could have waited a longer time for the right person and been happier. Still, that's part of the curse of growing up I guess!

I appreciate that it was completely consensual and very safe, but I was so lonely and unhappy for so long that the wait was definitely not worth it.

I slightly worry that everyone seems to think under 16 is ‘normal’ - it certainly wasn’t when I was that age (over 40 years ago 😊).
I was in my early 20s which sounds pretty ancient looking at these responses.

All of my friends- myself included- seemed to be 17 or 18. Sixth form kind of age. 15 or 16 seems a bit young to me, 19 onwards a bit old.

18 with a 21 year old boyfriend - first time for both of us. I think most of my friends were 18 and in first year at uni.

First snog at 12, which I found absolutely revolting, and practically nothing until I was 18 when I decided that something had to be done.
I felt like I was late in the game, most of my friends had proper relationships for years (something I wasn't remotely interested in)

I think even my mum was worried actually.

I was 18.
Actually in my group of friends (or at least the ones that discussed it at the time) we were all over 18. Age range 18-26 (the 26 y/o being an outlier, but majority were 18/19). We all were all a quite shy/reserved/awkward bunch though!

15 in incredibly shit circumstances.

Definitely regret it.

*15 in incredibly shit circumstances.

Definitely regret it.*

Me too, sister

18, first year of university. I don’t know about people in general, but I’m my friend group that was a common age.

I was 17. I was at a girls' school and in my late 30s now. Vast majority of my friends were 17-18.

I was 15.

@DownstairsMixUp

Aged 13 makes me feel really uncomfortable. I don't see how anyone that young can consent

I don't think we can really, only think we can. Especially if our partners are a good 5-10yrs older.

I was 25, husband was 29. We lost it to each other (while we were dating). Definitely late bloomers in all regards! We both come from very traditional, religious families, and we're both very shy and quiet types. My early twenties were very difficult and lonely times, but I'm glad that I waited and that DH and I shared the experience.

I was 22. I'd been with my boyfriend at the time for 2 years, I just wasn't ready and he was happy to wait.

I was 15 and I'd say it is quite usual but also, generally speaking, far too young. I should certainly have waited, or at least not done it with the person I did it with. (It hasn't traumatised me or anything, I just look back at it with a kind of irritation at myself, that I rushed headlong at it and didn't pause to make it nice.)

I was 17 in upper sixth and I was the oldest (bar one) of all my friends (posh Home Counties area).

I left 6th form and lived in basically a squat for a year before going to Uni.

I turned up on the Sunday to discover that all of my other housemates in our 12 bedroom flat had a) moved in on the Saturday and b) most of them had fucked each other or at the very least slept together naked in multiple groups

Which threw me as I thought I was worldly wise but had never had bum sex (still haven't aged 42) but two of my housemates did (and boasted about it) within four hours of meeting each other (posh South East university circa 1997)

I was 33 and it was on evening of my wedding. Religious reasons for waiting and absolutely no regrets. Was first time for DH too.

I was 14 but it was very close to my 15th birthday. I don't think that was unusually early, and I had friends around my age who were also sexually active. Equally I think someone who was 18 would be quite a normal age as well. Probably somewhere in that age range.

I was 14 and very naive fell pregnant and had ds at 15 who is now 13 🙈scares the life out of me that he is only one year younger than I was when I fell pregnant with him !!!

15 but a friend of mine was 12 when she did it. I was so shocked when she told me. Even more so now with a young DD of my own.

I was 20 but it was with my first bf and I was a late bloomer in that department

I had forgotten the whole trope of being 'desperate' until I saw it mentioned on this thread but it resonates.