Having sex is a personal choice; therefore not having sex is also a personal choice. Abstinence is when you choose to not do something for a period of time. People's level of sexual abstinence can vary from not having any kind of sexual activity to only abstaining from sexual intercourse.

There are a lot of reasons why people choose to be abstinent. A lot of people abstain for religious or spiritual reasons or because they feel safer and better protected from HIV/AIDS, other STIs, and unplanned pregnancies. Some people don't feel emotionally ready or emotionally satisfied by sex. Some people choose not to have sex because they want to put their energy into other things.

These are all good reasons when you make a decision about sex. You can easily be in a loving, passionate relationship and not be having sex. There are a lot of other ways to show someone that you care about them. You can be affectionate, caring, fun, supportive, and a good listener. You can also tell them how much you care about them.

Remember: sex is not love. They are two separate things and people get confused about them being the same thing.

Susan Chow, 16