As a teenager blossoming into adulthood, you acquire new learning and traits. In the midst of your development, you are bound to encounter changes encompassing your entirety: your physicality, your perceptions, and your feelings. Your raging hormones combined with your zeal for independence may leave you confused and easily impressionable to the many adverse influences and notions circulating among your peers. Pressure or curiosity may prompt you to engage in activities you have no full knowledge of, banking on hearsay with hardly a thought for the probable consequences. However, your recklessness, which is typical among teens, can lead to dismal outcomes, especially where sex is concerned.

Sex and the Teenager

Sex, in the context of teenagers, is about the deed itself and the pleasure they derive from engaging in it. Although history has opened everyone's eyes to the ever-present probability of unwanted pregnancy among adolescents delving early into sex, it barely affected changes in the way they viewed it. This has been proven by studies confirming that majority of teens have had sex prior to reaching their 19th year. Furthermore, an estimated 14% of them are said to have had it before they turn 15. In effect, around 45% of a million female teens get pregnant annually. And despite the current awareness for the adverse results of practicing unsafe sex and the need to maintain good sexual health, studies revealed that an estimated 14 up to 19% of teenage girls are unfortunately infected with common STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) every year.

Love=Sex?

Being in the burgeoning stage, you are likely to be confronted by sexual desires and/or a fond affection for someone you fancy. But confusing lust with love and losing your head over your sexual urges would definitely put you on the wrong track. Having sex is not the only means whereby you can express how much you feel for your special someone. Sex, whether it is the oral or the intromission type, would always pose serious, regrettable risks if you throw caution to the wind. Getting intimate does not imply automatically engaging in sexual activity. There are several ways in which you can get closer to your special someone without having to do the deed. Spending time with him and expressing your feelings using any of these suggestions is enough to get your message through.

Communicate your feelings through words or small gestures of affection.

Relish the warmth of a loving embrace.

Hold hands.

Enjoy each other's company by doing activities your enjoy together that has nothing to do with sex per se.

Write each other special love notes or give small tokens even if there are no special occasions.

Let yourself flirt with each other in small fun ways like winking, whispering into each other's ears, etc.

Express your love through the language of the soul: music. To do so, you can both select a special song to signify your special romantic bond. Together, you can both enjoy listening to it or you can create your own music video with both of you as the lead stars.

Come up with a special project where both of you can take part in and have fun in each other's company as you do things together.