This article was written by Support

With growing reports of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) both on the rise, teen dating tips must emphasize the great importance of having safe sex.  Luckily, there is, however, one very simple, tried and true way of remaining completely disease free, of ensuring your health and possibly the health of your future, unborn children, and that is called abstinence.

By making the choice to refrain from having sexual intercourse until you’re either married or absolutely sure of a person’s prior sexual history, you’ll not only be avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, but an unwanted pregnancy as well.   Learn how to say “no” and mean it, remembering that standing up for your beliefs regardless of what anyone else thinks is one of the most admirable things one can ever do.

With that being said, statistics tell us that despite what we know to be the best choice, hormones still get the better of us and in the heat of the moment, often the last thing we’re thinking is catching a dreaded disease or “doing the right thing.”  For this reason it’s important to fully prepare ourselves ahead of time, for both the mental and physical consequences of becoming sexually active.

If you’re having doubts or concerns about the relationship you’re currently in and whether or not you should take the next step, confide in a trusted friend or family member to ask their advice first as well as for a different point of view on the subject.

If you have already decided to take the plunge, or are already sexually active, how are you going to protect yourself and also be sure you don’t become a parent before you’re able to handle the incredible responsibility that goes along with it?

While birth control pills are one of the best means of preventing pregnancy, although not foolproof, they do nothing against protecting against diseases like gonorrhea, Chlamydia, syphilis, and venereal warts.  Also, it may be true that the majority of these diseases can be cured, there are those that cannot, such as herpes or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) which causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

You should know that STDs are transmitted via sexual contact of either the mouth, genitals, or rectum and for the best protection, a latex or polyurethane condom should be used, although be aware that even condoms cannot protect against coming in contact with things like sores caused by genital warts or herpes.  Condoms with the spermicidal nonoxynol-9 may help to provide better protection against pregnancy; however, some people have allergic reactions, including genital irritation which increases the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

If you are sexually active, don’t have sex with more than one partner at a time and make it a point to ask questions about their past sexual history.  How many partners have they had?  Have they ever had unprotected sex?  What about drug use?  Knowing the true answers to these simple questions has the capacity to save your life, or at least save you from some potential misery and embarrassment.

Responsibility is the key here, for both your health and your own actions.  What most teen dating tips fail to point out is that if you’re old enough to be having sex, which is an adult activity, you’re certainly old enough to have safe sex and be a responsible grownup in the process.