I know everyone has their own opinions on sex and what age it's appropriate to start enjoying the pleasures of physical intimacy.

Personally, I started having sex when I was 15 and I don't think I would have done it then if I had known how much the first time hurt and what a jerk the guy really was. I know I did it because I felt left out when all of my friends had already had sex and I'd barely been kissed.
I knew all the stats like less than 50% of all teenagers actually engage in sex, 1 in 4 people who engage in sexual activity contract some form of STDs, condoms are only about 85% effective when used properly and the pill is only 95-99% effective in preventing pregnancy, and wearing a condom doesn't protect against all STDs. I knew that by having sex I ran the risk of getting pregnant. I knew, but I didn't care.
I can only remember using a condom about 3 times, and I didn't start using birth control until after I had my second baby (which didn't work, I'm now 6&1/2 months pregnant with our 3rd and our 2nd is only 9 months old). It wasn't smart, but I didn't care because I felt it was the only way that I could get attention and feel wanted by the opposite sex. My now husband was ecstatic when I told him it was up to him if he wanted to use a condom while we were having sex. I told him I wasn't on birth control, but it was up to him to use a condom. He had never had sex without one before and he jumped at the chance not to use one. I ended up pregnant on the night I graduated from high school. Like I said, I wasn't smart, but I didn't care.

The reasons I started having sex were totally the wrong ones. I did it to feel "loved" by guys and to fit in with my peers. I should have waited until I knew I was in love and that the guy I was with would be more concerned about how I felt about things than just getting a piece of ass. I think I would have been more ready to handle it all if I had been a little older. Looking back, 15 was too young to be having sex. Granted, I didn't have sex again after my first time for almost a year, but I still wasn't ready.

Now that you've heard my story and opinions on the matter I'd like to know what circumstances you think would make a person ready to take on the responsibility of sex.

IMO sex should be for marriage. Wish I would have waited.

As in my last post , I think a person is ready for sex when they are mentally , physically, emotionally, AND financially ready for what can happen. Its a deadly game out there, and there is so much that can happen. I think children should be children and they should leave the adult games to the adults.

I'm a Christian and I don't believe in sex before marriage, but I myself am here because of it.

Alyssa

I've always taken sex seriously. I knew that with it came responsibility. I'd seen a lot of friends get pregnant way before they wanted to and that made me scared. I could have lost my virginity at 14 but I chose not to. We messed around for a long time, but I lied and said I was on my period lol. I look back at all the guys I could have lost my virginity to, and I'm SO glad I waited for the right one! If I gave my virginity to those guys, I would have regretted it because they only wanted one thing. I chose to wait and give my virginity to the one I love and the one who loves me too. We were both virgins and out of high school. I didn't mind waiting. When people asked if I was a virgin, I said yes and they respected it. I just said "Yes" and they'd say something like "Thats cool" and it was dropped.

I think that you should wait at least until your with someone you love and trust. I KNOW that you should wait until you know all the risks that come with sex and be 100% prepared to deal with and live with those risks. I knew I wasn't ready for a child, so at first I used birth control pills and had him use condoms as well. Just to really make sure our chances of having a child were super low. I don't want to bring my precious future child into this world until I know that we are settled down enough. Now that we're married he doesn't wear condoms anymore but I'm still on birth control.

well thats a hard one here the legal age for sex it 16 and i think thats a good age but some ppl at 16 arnt mentally ready for it