It can be a daunting prospect on whether or not you are ready to take your relationship to the next level. It can seem as if everyone has an active and fruitful sex life. Whereas you might be a bit more hesitant. It is important to understand that this is completely normal! Deciding to take the next step towards a more intimate relationship should cause you to pause. After all, it is one of the most emotional interactions you can have with another person!
This should be the first step in your decision making process. Take a moment to sit back and think about your motivations. If your reasons include any of the following, you are not ready to have sex:
These are just a few of the more important reasons not to have sex. As it is such an intense and personal experience, you should be at peace with why you want to do it and with who.
The best way to find out if you are ready is to talk either to your partner, or to someone you trust. Communication is a key ingredient for a positive outcome. It might be awkward at first, but know that your partner could be feeling the same way. Speaking about your limits, expectations and wants with your partner can actually help relax both of you and make the experience more enjoyable in the long run.
If you are too shy or nervous to speak with your partner, or someone you know, there are many resources both online and via clinics which can help inform you on the topic.
Be sure to contemplate whether having sex at this time in your life suits you. Does it complement your personal values? Do you think it will impact your religious understanding of yourself? Contemplate other values which you think might be impacted by this important event.
Be sure to consider all possible outcomes. Sure, sex with you partner is the best kind of fun and stimulates all the good hormones which help relieve stress. But, it can also bring unwelcome issues. These can range from STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections or Diseases) or unplanned pregnancies. You should consider the ramifications if either of these were to happen and how you would cope thereafter.
Another aspect of this would be to plan ahead. Invest in protection, such as condoms, or the birth control pill. Again, if you are not sure about what would best suit you, talk to someone you trust for advice.
Last but not least, if you feel you are ready to rumble, have fun! This is a personal, engaging activity which obviously can leave your feeling rather euphoric. Try not to build it up in your imagination too much before the act, and remember that we are all human so fumbles and bumping heads is completely normal!
