Amir H Mehryar - Director , Center for Population Studies & Research
Hassan Eini Zinab - Researcher , Center for Population Studies & Research

Increasing sexual activity by adolescents and its social and health consequences are commonly acknowledged as one of the major problems facing developed countries Such activity not only exposes teenagers to risks of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases but may also interfere with their normal schooling and social development . In countries where sexual intercourse outside marital relations is forbidden , individuals are often encouraged to marry early . Thus teenage sexuality is not considered a serious problem. Yet, some of the social and health consequences of teenage sexuality are clearly evident in the case of youngsters marrying at an early age . These include interference with completion of formal education loss of opportunities to learn occupational skills and exposure to risk of unintended pregnancy and childbirth. Countries facing high population growth rates have also to be concerned with the potentially strong impact of early marriage on fertility rates . This concern has forced many countries to adopt laws forbidding marriage below a certain age . Iran was one of the Muslim countries that adopted such a law in late 1960s.