Even if it feels like everyone you know is having sex there can be lots of good reasons to wait. According to a survey of inexperienced young people reported by the Guttmacher Institute in 2014, the three most common reasons they gave for abstaining were religious and moral convictions, fear of pregnancy, and waiting for the right person.

There’s no shame in waiting. You can wait until you feel ready. You can wait until you really know what having sex will mean to you. You can wait for a partner you love and trust.

In the next story, Karen tells us about her wedding night and why she waited.