Not Everyone's Doing It

Contrary to what you’ve heard in the halls, on the field and in the locker room about sex, not everyone's doing "It"! In fact, the number of teens having sex has gone down. A national survey questioning high school students (grades 9 through 12) found that fewer teens report having sex: 46 percent in 2001 compared to 54 percent in 1991 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, 2001).

Everyone wants to fit in, and it may seem lonely if you feel everyone else is doing it. Just know that everyone isn’t having sex. It's fine to wait to have sex with your partner until you both feel ready for that step, or to postpone the decision until you are older. Don't feel pressured by those around you.

Having sex when you are feeling uncomfortable or unsure about your decision is never the right time. There are many things you can do to feel close to your partner without having sex. Below are some ideas for how you can show your partner you care and learn more about pleasing and being pleased. You may have many more ideas for things that make you both happy.

Here are a few ideas:

• Holding hands


• Watching movies


• Laughing and joking


• Rollerblading


• Bike riding


• Shopping


• Going to the beach


• Sharing an ice-cream cone


• Volunteering together

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