Abstinence - What's Right For Me?
Some people feel sexual desire but choose not to be sexual with
anyone else. That's just fine. The choice not to be sexual with
anyone else is called sexual abstinence. It is a good choice and
something you may choose at different times throughout your whole life.
This can happen whenever you don't feel ready to be sexual with someone else,
even when you do have a partner you have been sexual with in the past.
Abstinence is one possible choice.
You can give and receive pleasure without sexual intercourse or
genital sex. You may choose to express your sexual feelings by flirting,
dancing, making out, and/or massaging your partner. Abstinence from sexual
relations has benefits for teenagers. It is the best way to prevent
pregnancy and to prevent becoming infected with HIV and other STDs. Being
in a sexual relationship doesn't make you an adult! In fact, over a period
of time there are many adults who choose abstinence now and then.
Remember, for many young persons the choice to be abstinent is the best
choice.
Masturbation
Touching yourself sexually, or masturbation, is something you
may enjoy and feel good about. It is a perfectly healthy thing for boys
and girls, men and women to do as a way of releasing tension and having physical
pleasure. Because masturbation is something that is done without a
partner, you can't get HIV or other STDs, you can't become pregnant and you
can't get someone else pregnant. It is also just fine to never
masturbate. Masturbation is just one possible choice.
Sexual Involvement
For others, touching another person in a sexual way, or
expressing their sexual interest in someone, may be what they want and choose to
do. There are many ways of touching another person's body that feel
good. But there are ways that you do not want to be touched and ways that
you may not want to touch someone else. If you decide to be sexual with
another person, decide what your limits are. Share those limits with your
partner before you actually begin being sexual with him or her. It may be
hard to talk about it. Remember, you have the right to stop sexual
activity at any time if you feel you have reached your limits. If you can
talk about sexuality it will help you to learn how to make choices about
expressing your own sexuality that are right for you!
