Living With the Pressure

Do you feel the pressure? It comes from everywhere . . . friends, parents, school, movies, songs, advertising, and the list goes on. Some pressure can have a positive influence on you. It can help you develop responsible decision making skills.

But, what about the pressure to have sex? Who should you listen to?

STOP . . . THINK ABOUT IT. . .

Do you really want to complicate your life? Will having sex make you popular or more desirable? Don’t let sex determine who you are or what you are worth. Don’t be pressured into something you aren’t ready for or feel uncomfortable with. You are a special person and the choice is yours, make a decision based on your values.

There are a lot of great reasons why people wait to have sex. You may be making plans after high school graduation to start a new job or go to college. How would a baby fit into your life? Would you be able to follow your dreams? Wanting to avoid STIs/STDs is another reason some people are waiting to have sex. STDs can cause lifelong health complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 19 million STD infections occur annually, almost half of them among youth and young adults ages 15 to 24.