10 Reasons Why Waiting Is Worth It

Abstinence can actually help strengthen your relationship.

Waiting Is Worth It - Sexual desire is in human nature, and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying it. But at the same time, waiting to have sex until the time is right can have its benefits. Abstinence doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wait until marriage to have sex, but it can help to enhance the moment (whenever it may come) and strengthen a relationship. By Nicole Phillip(Photo: Ludger Paffrath/fstop/Corbis)

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Waiting Is Worth It - Sexual desire is in human nature, and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying it. But at the same time, waiting to have sex until the time is right can have its benefits. Abstinence doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wait until marriage to have sex, but it can help to enhance the moment (whenever it may come) and strengthen a relationship. By Nicole Phillip(Photo: Ludger Paffrath/fstop/Corbis)

Everybody's NOT Doing It - As your friends start dating and experiencing things you only gossiped about during sleepovers, it can seem like everyone’s having sex and you’re the unfortunate girl that’s falling behind. The truth is, there is no time limit on how long you can wait, and not everyone is having sex — just look at Keke Palmer and Teyana Taylor.(Photo: Brooke Fasani Auchincloss/Corbis)

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Everybody's NOT Doing It - As your friends start dating and experiencing things you only gossiped about during sleepovers, it can seem like everyone’s having sex and you’re the unfortunate girl that’s falling behind. The truth is, there is no time limit on how long you can wait, and not everyone is having sex — just look at Keke Palmer and Teyana Taylor.(Photo: Brooke Fasani Auchincloss/Corbis)

Waiting Creates Intimacy - Sex alone isn’t intimacy. True intimacy comes from a connection you create beyond the physical, when two people become one soul. Sex, in the moment, can feel as though it’s strengthening affection, but if true intimacy was never formed, having sex may never become “making love.”(Photo: Roy Hsu/Getty Images)

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Waiting Creates Intimacy - Sex alone isn’t intimacy. True intimacy comes from a connection you create beyond the physical, when two people become one soul. Sex, in the moment, can feel as though it’s strengthening affection, but if true intimacy was never formed, having sex may never become “making love.”(Photo: Roy Hsu/Getty Images)

1. Take a Cuddle Break - Most likely, the drive will be tiresome on both of you, no matter who's driving the most. As you pass through some cool destinations, it wouldn't hurt to take a cuddle break. Plus, it'll help you all remember why you made the trip in the first place. (Photo: Hero Images/Getty Images)

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Sex Won't Make Him Stay - If a man wasn’t interested before, having sex with him won’t change his mind. Not every man will deny sex just because he doesn’t like a girl, but his feelings are not likely to go beyond the physical act. Just as philosopher Immanuel Kant said, “Sexual love makes of the loved person an Object of appetite; as soon as that appetite has been stilled, the person is cast aside as one casts away a lemon which has been sucked dry.” (Photo: Hero Images/Getty Images)

It Separates the Good Guys From the Bad - When a guy is willing to wait with a girl before having sex, it shows a lot about how he truly feels. It shows that he’s not just in it for the sex, but for the relationship that comes with it. Most men want sex. Finding a man that’s willing to wait for it won’t be easy, but when you do find that guy, hold on to him because he’s real.(Photo: Steve Prezant/Corbis)

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It Separates the Good Guys From the Bad - When a guy is willing to wait with a girl before having sex, it shows a lot about how he truly feels. It shows that he’s not just in it for the sex, but for the relationship that comes with it. Most men want sex. Finding a man that’s willing to wait for it won’t be easy, but when you do find that guy, hold on to him because he’s real.(Photo: Steve Prezant/Corbis)

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Limit Alcohol - Drinking raises your body’s estrogen levels, which aids and abets breast cancer. A massive study found that having one drink a day increases your risk to 1.2 times that of a woman who never drinks. And if you have two or more drinks, your risk goes up to 1.5 times.   (Photo: Ned Frisk/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Sex Sends a Message - Not going home with a guy early on sends a clear message: “Sex with me is worth more than dinner and some drinks.” Some guys may take this as a challenge, but if you stand your ground, it’ll let them know that you aren’t an easy target and that you’re looking for something worthwhile. This might scare some men away, but then they probably weren’t worth your time anyway.(Photo: Ned Frisk/Blend Images/Corbis)

Sex Is Biological, But So Is the Spread of STIs - Waiting can help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI). This is because when you’ve taken the time to get to know a potential mate, you’ll learn about their sexual past and may even feel comfortable enough to ask them to take a STI test. And once you’ve built up a meaningful relationship, the monogamy will decrease the chances of contracting future infections.(Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

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Sex Is Biological, But So Is the Spread of STIs - Waiting can help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI). This is because when you’ve taken the time to get to know a potential mate, you’ll learn about their sexual past and may even feel comfortable enough to ask them to take a STI test. And once you’ve built up a meaningful relationship, the monogamy will decrease the chances of contracting future infections.(Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

It Helps You Avoid Unwanted Attachment - That horrible feeling of being the one that loves the most can get even worse with sex because it’s scientifically proven that sex leads to attachment, and it can be even stronger for women. Sex and love also affect the same areas of the brain, which may cause you to confuse emotional desire with sexual feeling.(Photo: Blend Images/Hill Street Studios/Getty Images)

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It Helps You Avoid Unwanted Attachment - That horrible feeling of being the one that loves the most can get even worse with sex because it’s scientifically proven that sex leads to attachment, and it can be even stronger for women. Sex and love also affect the same areas of the brain, which may cause you to confuse emotional desire with sexual feeling.(Photo: Blend Images/Hill Street Studios/Getty Images)

Recognize the Double Standard - Think of the some of the worst things that you have said to yourself. If someone else, such as a boyfriend, friend or parent, were to say that exact same thing to you, you would think it was cruel and abusive. So when you do it, why is it OK? (Photo: Troels Graugaard/Getty Images)

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You Can Avoid the 'What Are We?' Talk - Having sex can mean different things to different people, and it can be heartbreaking to find out that what you thought was a relationship was nothing more than a series of casual encounters to the one you’re with. If you take time to figure out where you both stand and what you’re both looking for, then you can avoid the pain that can come with the “what are we?” discussion weeks into seeing each other.(Photo: Troels Graugaard/Getty Images)

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You'll Be Less Likely to Feel 'Used' If He Doesn't Call Back - People have a funny way of not always being upfront about their feelings. Ignoring texts and phone calls, or neglecting to “call back,” are all passive aggressive (and often rude) ways of saying “I’m just not into you.” The less you give up to a man, the less of a sting you’ll feel if he just stops contacting you.(Photo: Eric Audras/Getty Images)

A Woman Cannot Get Pregnant While on Her Period - Yes, it’s unlikely, but it’s not impossible. Sperm can stay inside the body for up to a week and if you ovulate during or soon after your period, you can get pregnant. So be mindful about using contraception. (Photo: Thinkstock Images/Getty Images)

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You Can Avoid an Unwanted Pregnancy - Abstaining from sex is a sure way to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. If you’re not ready to have a child, finding out you’re pregnant can be devastating, especially if the father is a man you aren’t too happy with. When you’re ready to have sex, it can be helpful to discuss what you both want to do in the event of a pregnancy so you can be prepared and handle it appropriately.(Photo: Thinkstock Images/Getty Images)