The benefits of waiting are:

• Freedom from the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

• Freedom from the risk of pregnancy. If you become pregnant you only have three choices and NONE of them are easy: Abortion; Adoption; Parenting. Any one of these choices will permanently change your life from the way it was before pregnancy

• Freedom from carrying emotional baggage and memories from old relationships into your marriage

• Freedom to know that your relationships are not based on sex and that you are together because of who you are

• Freedom from feeling used

• Freedom to keep parent’s trust

• Freedom to emotionally heal quicker if the relationship breaks up.

• Freedom to accomplish your life goals

• Freedom from feeling trapped in a sexual relationship

Here are some tips if you are (or when you start) dating:

• Determine your limits before you get physical.
  Know your reasons! It’s easy to get talked into doing more. You might regret not having a set limit.

• Pick your partner wisely.
  Find out before you go out if he/she is sexually active. If they don’t share your desire to save it, they may pressure you into having sex as part of being “in love”.
  
  
• Be Up Front.
  Before you get too cozy, let him/her know that you are waiting. Tell them it’s nothing personal, but a decision that you have made for yourself that will not change.
  
  
• Consider double dating or group dates.
  It’s more difficult to become intimate with other people hanging around.