What about abstinence?
Abstinence is the most reliable way to protect you from HIV/AIDS, STIs and pregnancy. Abstinence means to refrain from having sex (vaginal, anal, & oral sex). You can also practice abstinence even if you had sex before.
You can still have a close relationship with your boyfriend/girlfriend without any sexual contact. Here are a few ideas to help you practice abstinence:
- Talking
- Holding hands
- Writing letters or poems to express how you feel about each other
- Playing games (Uno, Monopoly Electronic Banking, video games, etc.)
- Get involved by volunteering at a local community center
- Get involved at school with extra-curricular activities
