Perhaps you are saying at this point, pregnancy and STD’s happen to other people, not me. I know my partner doesn’t have an STD. Eventually that mindset will catch up with you. Check out these odds . . . |
| Did you know 1 in 5 women are infected with a sexually transmitted disease? |
 If
you were offered a round trip ticket to anywhere, all expenses paid, to
the destination of your choice, would you take it? Of course you would.
What if the trip was yours, and you were even given spending money and
could choose from five different airlines? Sounds exciting doesn’t
it? But what if one of the five airlines that you chose was to crash?
Would you still take the offer? |
 If
you don’t like that analogy-maybe you don’t like to fly-try
this one. Get a coin. Heads-you win, tails-you lose. Flip it and see how
long it takes before you lose. How long did it take before you lost?
Maybe you lost the first time. Maybe you got lucky and lasted awhile.
That is how it is with sex. Maybe you won’t get pregnant-maybe you
will. Maybe you won’t get an STD-maybe you will. However, you will
always end up with consequences. You may feel used or unloved. You may
have self-esteem issues. When you decide that you want to have a serious
relationship with that special someone, you won’t really have
anything new to give. |
| I’m already
having sex and I don’t necessarily want to stop! Many people discover that they are quite concerned about the risks of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases but don’t want to give up the long-term relationship. It is possible to avoid the risks of sex without sacrificing the benefits of a romantic relationship. In fact, many people find that their enjoyment of the dating relationship is increased when sex is placed off-limits and reserved for that person who is willing to commit to a permanent lifelong relationship through marriage. Beyond freedom from worry about pregnancy and disease, there are other benefits. Some people find that their boyfriends or girlfriends show more interest in their personality and feelings, and that less emphasis is placed on their bodies. There is greater respect, greater confidence and less pressure to prove commitment through physical contact. Relationships that don’t work out have an opportunity to end gracefully, and those that endure develop a strong foundation for marital friendship, commitment, and a truly safe and satisfying sexual expression. |