One of the most important questions an individual will ask at some point of his or her teenage life is whether or not it is time to engage in a sexual relationship. Due to hormones and social cues, teens decide often too early to become sexually active. Most importantly, a lot of young individuals do not think things through before attempting to experience an intimate relationship and lack of information and proper guidance does not help them reach the desired stage with a clear mind. As sex has never been just a pleasure act, but it is actually a physical and an emotional risk, teenagers should consider some things before deciding to go ahead and "do it."

First of all, how can you tell if you are ready to have sex? Perhaps your body is sending you all these weird signals with which your heart or mind do not seem to agree. Thus, before getting sexually involved with your partner, you should carefully understand the pros and cons, because there is no turning back once you have "done it." Try to be smart and judge your feelings and whether or not you are ready to have sex without regretting it five minutes later.

Extremely important is for you to protect yourself. We cannot stress it enough. Protect, protect and again remember to protect your body and your health! Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) might not be the first thing that comes into your mind when those hormones make your body "dance" with excitement, but it is imperative for you to remember that STDs exist and you can avoid them by remembering to protect yourself. Even during these amazing teens' years, when immortality still seems to be a distant possibility, illness and sexually transmitted diseases exist. Thus, please remember to protect yourself. It only takes once to commit a life-threatening or even fatal mistake.

Another important thought that should cross your mind before deciding to have sex for the first or the tenth time is that of pregnancy. Although many teenagers consider protecting themselves against an unwanted pregnancy in comparison to STDs, the number of young people taking an active position on this subject is still very low. It might be common knowledge that unprotected sex can lead to unwanted pregnancy, however, a lot of young boys consider this to be a problem for the girls and do not consider taking the right precautions to protect themselves and their partners. This can be later a horrifying reality. Girls and boys have to consider the pregnancy risk before it is too late.

While some teenagers consider it to be important, other think of it as a burden that has to be off their back as quickly as possible. Virginity is not a taboo issue, when one considers that the majority of teenagers that decide to have sex do so because they think of themselves as a minority group that others can laugh with. This is such a misconception. If a teenager under-values himself or herself, others will too. Try not to be dishonest with your own feelings and loose once in a lifetime experience because others think of you as incapable of "doing it."

Finally, it is generally admitted that when the teenager's hormones begin to rage, it is very easy to be confused with true love. If one considers that peer pressure, insecurity, the urge to become independent, and rebel against things a teenager does not approve, then the sexual experience can be the outcome of nothing more than an act of revenge and lust. Try to be honest with yourself and examine the reasons that make you think to have sex. Only that can be your defense mechanism against your own excitement.