Abstinence is simply the decision to not have sex. It is the best choice for teens in the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Some forms of birth control, such as condoms, depend on barriers that prevent the sperm from fertilizing the egg. Others, such as birth control pills, interfere with the menstrual cycle. With abstinence, neither of these is necessary. Abstinence is the only technique that is 10O% effective in preventing pregnancy. Although many birth control methods can have high rates of success, they can fail occasionally. Practicing abstinence ensures that a girl will not become pregnant.

Sometimes it seems like everyone in school is talking about who is a virgin, who is not, and who might be. For both girls and guys, the pressure can sometimes be intense. Deciding whether it is right to have sex is one of the most important decisions a person will ever have to make. Each person must use his or her own judgment and decide if it is the right time and the right person. True friends do not really care whether a person is a virgin or not, because they will respect your decisions, no matter what. Being a virgin is one of the things that can prove if someone is powerful enough to make their own decisions.

You do not 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, they can still choose abstinence to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Having sex even once means that the person risks getting an infection, but abstinence protects people against STDs. Avoiding all types of intimate genital contact, including anal and oral sex, can prevent STDs. Only complete and consistent abstinence can totally prevent pregnancy and protect against STDs. If a person does not have any type of intimate sexual contact, there is no risk of passing on a sexually transmitted infection. Just because someone had sex once does not mean they have to continue or say yes later on, nor should
they be extremely hard on themselves for making a bad choice. Making mistakes is not only human, it is a major part of being a teen, and teens must learn from their mistakes.

Abstinence may seem easy, but peer pressure and things 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 just to be accepted, but the majority of teens in the world today are not having sex. Pressure from friends, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or even the media can easily influence someone into something that is not right for them. If someone has made the decision to not have sex, it is an important personal choice and the people who care about them should respect that. Though, it may not sound like it is all that complicated, and a person's body may feel ready for sex, sex is not something that is only physical. The decision to have sex also comes with emotional consequences. Since
everyone's emotions are different, it is hard to rely on friends' opinions to decide if it is the right time for you to have sex.

One's values may not be the same as those of their friends, but that is what makes them unique. The Bible clearly explains that God’s design for sex is specifically one man and one woman within the legal bonds of marriage. Sex is a special gift from God that can have many consequences. Some teens do not have sex because their religion prohibits it or because they simply have a very strong belief system of their own. Other teens may recognize that they are not ready emotionally and they want to wait until they are absolutely sure they can handle it.

A teenage couple can still have a relationship without having sex. Although some teens that are dating do not pressure each other about sex, the truth is that in many relationships, one person wants to have sex
although the other one does not. This can place stress on the relationship, because one wants to keep their boyfriend or girlfriend happy, but they do not want to compromise what they think is morally right. As with almost every other major decision in life, a person needs to do what is right for them and not anyone else. Anyone who tries to pressure you into having sex by saying, "if you really love me, you would do it", is not really looking out for you and what matters most to you, but are only looking to satisfy their own feelings and desires about sex. If a boyfriend or girlfriend truly loves the other, they will not pressure them to do something they do not believe in or are not ready for yet. It may be a good time to end a relationship if someone feels that they should have sex because they are afraid of losing that person.

Sex should be an expression of love, not something a person feels that they must do. Having sex to impress someone or to make your friends happy will not make you feel very good about yourself later. Though a teenager's body may have the ability to have sex and they may really want to satisfy their curiosity, it doesn't mean their mind is ready. Having new sexual feelings or thoughts are totally normal, but sometimes it can make you feel like it is the right time to have sex, even though it may not be.

Teen pregnancy is one of the most difficult experiences a young person might ever face when it interrupts school or other plans. It can create an emotional predicament resulting in feelings of shame and fear. The stress of how to break this unexpected news to their parents may be even greater, and finding help may seem almost impossible. An issue a teen parent may have to face includes the decision of adoption or abortion. Also, they must arrange means of support for their baby, which usually falls into the hands of the teen's parents or other relatives. The teen parents irresponsible decision of not remaining abstinent, not only affects their lives, but also the life of their child. By becoming pregnant, the female teen has put herself into a high risk of having major health problems, and possibly hindering her growth. Also, in most teen pregnancy cases, the teen mother and her family is left with the responsibility of caring for the child.

Some teens find themselves feeling confused about decisions related to sex. If they have questions about making this choice of remaining abstinent, or about other methods of birth control, they may be able to talk to an adult, such as a parent, doctor, older sibling, aunt or uncle, a teacher, or a counselor for advice or help to provide some answers. One must keep in mind, though, that everyone's opinion about sex is different. Even though another person may be able to share useful advice, in the end, the decision is completely up to the individual.