when am i ready?

People always tell me I need to wait until I'm ready to have sex. Well...how do I know when I'm ready?

Bethany, age 15

Bethany,

The best way to know you're ready is by waiting until marriage! Then you can enjoy a loving relationship with someone that has made a lifelong commitment to you. There are so many benefits to waiting - not only will you know you're disease free, you also will be free of the social, emotional and intellectual problems that sex outside of marriage can bring.