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Sometimes it appears like everyone is talking about who's a virgin and who isn't. For both girls and guys, the pressure can be quite intense.
Making the decision to have sex is one of the most important decisions you'll ever have to make. Each person must use his or her own judgment and decide for him/herself if it's the right time - and the right person.
This means taking some important factors into account:
- The physical factors, like the possibility of becoming pregnant or getting a sexually transmitted disease.
- Psychological factors, like being emotionally mature enough to deal with being sexually active. Though a person's body may feel ready for sex, sex also has very serious emotional consequences.
For many people, moral factors are very important as well. Family attitudes, personal values, or religious beliefs provide them with an inner voice that guides them in resisting pressures to get sexually involved before the time is right.
Peer pressure is always difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to sex. Look at the following statements to see if you are being pressured:
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Not every person your age is having sex. People often talk about sex in a casual manner, but this doesn't mean they are actually having sex. |
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Sexual situations are shown everywhere in our culture. They are on television, in movies, and even in commercials and magazines. Just remember: characters in these movies, television shows, and advertisements are actors and actresses. They are just pretending and therefore cannot have unwanted pregnancies and STDs. You can! |
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There are lots of great reasons why people wait to have sex. You may be making plans to go to college or to start a job after you finish high school. Consider, would a baby in your life make it easier or tougher for you to do the things you've dreamed about? Wanting to avoid STDs is another reason that some people are very cautious about becoming sexually active.
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Knowing how you feel about yourself is the first big step in handling peer pressure. It's good to want to enjoy your teen years. It's OK to respect yourself and your personal beliefs and to say, "No, I'm not ready to have sex."
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