Should I have sex for the first time?

I am a female virgin and am considering having sex for the first time with someone who is about to graduate. What are some of the things I should weigh in my head before deciding to make the "big leap"?

Excellent question, although one curiosity: why is it important to note that your potential sexual partner is about to graduate? It sounds as though there could be some pressure as in "if not now, it may never happen"... but we could just be reading into it a little too much.

There are a number of questions to consider when deciding whether now is the "right time" to have your first experience with sexual intercourse. We've stolen from an excellent piece on the Scarleteen.com website and adapted it below. You can (and should) check out the original source page as well.

Why do I want to do this?

If there is any sense of pressure or if you're having troubles in your relationship and you think sex will fix it, stop right there. Sex between people should only happen when it is what both people very enthusiastically want, and not just because they think it'll make the other person happy (or get them to stop nagging).

On the other hand, if you've been with your partner long enough (whatever that means to you) to feel good about considering sex with them, and have a solid level of other sexual experience (including kissing, petting, masturbation); you feel you can trust yourself and your partner with limits; if you're looking to explore your sexual relationship responsibly and sensitively, and for some greater intimacy and sexual exploration with no notion that any certain result -- positive or negative -- is guaranteed, and you've got a firm grip on reality, read on.

What does being a "virgin" mean to you?

Are you someone who feels that one's virginity is a kind of gift to the one person who you will ever be fully sexually intimate with? Do you view being a 'virgin' as a having a positive or negative value? Is sexual intercourse something you simply want to have 'out of the way' so you will then feel experienced? For some reason, our culture places some value upon being a 'virgin'. You should be aware of the value that you place on virginity - and whether or not you actually do place any value on it. This may impact how you feel about yourself if you do choose to have sex.

Who do I want to do this for?

If it's for you, and your partner as well as you: fantastic. But if it is for someone else primarily, and not for yourself -- or JUST for yourself -- stop now. Other people, just like you, have hands and fingers. They know how to use them to get off, and you can rest assured they've been using them long before you came along. Sex with someone else shouldn't just be about self-gratification; that's what masturbation is for.

What do I expect from intercourse or genital sex?

Not to scare you or make you nervous, but "the first time" for many women in particular may not be all that fantastic. Some student show that only about 25% of women usually report enjoying first intercourse, and less than 8% report orgasm from first intercourse. Those bummers most likely had to do with being ill-prepared in general, simply not knowing the basics, both partners not being equally invested in one another, and overall, with unrealistic expectations. The cultural idea that the first sex is the best sex is almost always off-kilter: sex is one of those things that tends to improve for people over time; which gets better as you go, rather than starting off perfect and fantastic and either staying there or getting worse or boring.

It's smart to take stock of what your expectations are, and give them a reality check. Talk to a friend who has had intercourse or other genital sex who is really honest with you (or an older sibling or family member) about what you expect, and listen to their experiences. Intercourse or other genital sex isn't a miracle cure for anything, and it isn't always a fireworks show: it can be a wonderful, natural affirmation of intimacy, and an excellent physical and emotional experience as long as you're ready for it and take it at face value, without romanticizing it or imagining it to be something it is not. The sex you have with someone else tends to be a mirror of your relationship: if your relationship is lousy, the sex within it isn't likely to be better or to improve the relationship.

Am I really prepared to handle all aspects of intercourse and/or other genital sex?

There's a lot to juggle; probably more than you think. While it may not be glamorous to think of all the "preparations" to consider, it's vital for your health- and that of your partner. Be sure you know the following answers:

• I can take full responsibility for my own emotions, expectations and actions, as can my partner
• I understand that having sex could change my relationship for good or for the worse, and feel I can handle whatever may happen, good or bad alike.
• I have several up-to-date, good quality latex condoms, dams and/or gloves -- whichever I need for the specific sexual activities I want to engage in -- and both I and my partner know how and when to use them, and are both willing to do so without argument.
• I have had basic healthcare, whatever disease and infection testing I need and can obtain, and am in good health, and my partner has had regular doctor checkups, disease and infection testing, and is in good health.
• If I am having opposite-sex intercourse, I have a secondary method of birth control for use with condoms if I feel the need for a backup method. If I am using condoms alone, I and my partner know how to use them properly and know my partner will do his part to always use them.

We wish you the best as you sort through this questions. You're on the right track- just be sure you are making the decision that is right for you, rather than feeling a sense of pressure. Good luck!