ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the association between sex (male and female) and sociodemographic, reproductive and sexual variables in teenagers and identify the highest rates of social and health issues among them. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 239 adolescents enrolled in a public school of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, whose data were produced by applying a structured form processed in Stata. Results: The research indicated an association between females and higher education level (p = 0.02), living with both parents (p = 0.02) and a higher rate of mental, social and behavioral issues. Being a man was associated with sexual initiation (p = 0.00), which occurred before they turned 14 years old (p = 0.05). Conclusion: The study variables behave, depending on sex, with smaller or greater chances of experiencing harmful situations, this understanding being essential for subsidizing educational activities that promote the quality of life of teenagers.