Teen Life How's Teens Deal With...
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Abstinence How Well Does It Work? - How Do You Do It? - How Have I Been Able To Relate? What is Abstinence? Abstinence is not having sex. A person who decides to practice abstinence has decided not to have sex.
How Does It Work Exactly.....? If two people don't have sex, then sperm can't fertilize an egg and there's no possibility of a pregnancy. Some forms of birth control depend on barriers that prevent the sperm from reaching the egg (such as condoms or diaphragms). Others interfere with the menstrual cycle (such as birth control pills). With abstinence, no barriers or pills are necessary because the person is not having sex. You don't have to be a virgin to practice abstinence. Sometimes people who have been having sex decide not to continue having sex. Even if a person has been having sex, he or she can still choose abstinence to prevent pregnancy and STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) in the future. Abstinence is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Although many birth control methods can have high rates of success if used properly, they can fail occasionally. Practicing abstinence ensures that a girl won't become pregnant because there's no opportunity for sperm to fertilize an egg.
Protection Against STD's Abstinence protects people against STD's. Some STD's spread through oral-genital sex, anal sex, or even intimate skin-to-skin contact without actual penetration (genital warts and herpes can be spread this way). So only avoiding all types of intimate genital contact can prevent STD's. Avoiding all types of intimate genital contact including anal and oral sex is complete abstinence.
Only complete and consistent abstinence can totally prevent pregnancy and protect against STD's. Because a person does not have any type of intimate sexual contact when he or she practices complete abstinence, there is no risk of passing on a sexually transmitted infection. Consistent abstinence means that someone practices abstinence all the time. Having sex even once means that the person risks getting an infection. *Abstinence does not prevent AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C infections that come from nonsexual activities like using contaminated needles for doing drugs, tattooing, or taking steroids. Not having sex may seem easy because it's not doing anything. But peer pressure and things you see on TV and in the movies can make the decision to practice abstinence more difficult. If it seems like everybody else is having sex, some people may feel they have to do it, too, just to be accepted. Don't let kidding or pressure from friends, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or even the media push you into something that's not right for you. The truth is that most teens are not having sex.
A couple can still have a relationship without having sex. If you've made a decision not to have sex, it's an important personal choice and the people who care about you should respect that.
You may have questions about making this choice or about other methods of birth control. Your doctor or nurse or an adult you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or counselor can help provide some answers. Is Abstinence Right For Me? People are abstinent for many reasons, including to prevent pregnancy. Whether you're thinking about being abstinent, you are abstinent, or you're just someone who's curious about it, you may have many questions. How Have I Been Able To Relate? Well, I myself am a virgin. And believe it or not, it's extremely difficult to be a virgin at my age in this millennium. All my friends have lost their virginity already. Some regret it. And some say it was the best decision they've ever made. I, on the other hand am just not ready to make that big jump. It's not that I'm afraid I'll catch an STD or anything, it's just that I want to be secure in my relationship before I make that decision. And most of the time, sex does complicate the relationship, to the point where the relationship becomes just sex. I'm not saying I want to wait till marriage, because in my opinion I've kind of always thought that was silly, but others don't and I completely respect that. I'm just not ready yet, and I don't know when I will be. And my boyfriend completely respects that as well. He understands, and never pressures me, so that's a big load off my back. But my friends are the ones who do sort of "pressure" me into it. Telling me how awesome sex is and how much I'm missing out on. Yes, I have thought about giving in at times and just getting it over with, but deep down I know when I do want to have sex, I want it to be memorable and with someone who actually cares about me and who's not just going to leave after it's over. But the good thing is, abstinence isn't just for virgins. You can choose to be abstinent at any point in time no matter how old you are. Whether you've been with a lot of people, or none at all, abstinence really can be for everyone. Sources & Links On Teen Abstinence: Remember, I'm here to help you the readers, with everyday problems and situations. If you have any ideas for an article, that you want addressed, feel free to e-mail me! Love, Christina |
