Reasons Teens are Deciding to Wait

 

• Not ready - yet.

  • It's not right for me

  • Have heard others say they wished they had waited

• Planning for my future.

  • Keeping my options open

  • Want to go to college and get a good job

  • Consequences of having sex too soon could interfere with my future plans

• Not ready for a baby.

  • I know birth control may not work and I'm afraid of getting pregnant

  • I'm not ready to raise a child

  • I know the only guarantee of not getting pregnant is abstinence (not having sex)

• My relationship is not ready.

  • Our relationship will change if we start having sex

  • I want to hang out with friends and go to the movies - I don't want sex to be the focus of what we do

  • I know that having sex will not make someone love me

• Protecting myself from STIs, STDs, and HIV.

  • I don't want any type of sexually transmitted infection

  • I could get infected with HIV now and not even know it

  • My partner could be infected with a STI without knowing it

• Want to wait until I'm older.

  • When I'm older, I will know more about myself and what I want

  • When I'm older, I will be better able to deal with birth control and safe sex

  • My parents would flip if they found out I was having sex now

  • I want to wait until I am married

  • It's against my religion to have sex outside of marriage

• Everyone is not doing it.

  • I am not the only one deciding to wait

  • I have to do what is best for me and I have the right to say no

  • I'm proud of my decision

• It's my decision.

  • I'm old enough to make my own decisions

  • I don't have to have sex until I am ready

  • Even if my girlfriend or boyfriend wants to have sex, I can still say no