Abstinence means avoiding certain indulgences, such as sex, alcohol, or food. It requires self-control and can be practiced for various reasons, including moral or health concerns. Abstinence is the only guaranteed way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Abstinence is abstaining from certain indulgences. The word is often used to describe the avoidance of sexual activity, but it can also mean abstaining from other types of things, such as alcoholic beverages or even food. For example, a person may refrain from eating dessert while on a diet.
When a person abstains, he retains control over his actions and decides whether or not he wishes to engage in a particular activity. This means that he voluntarily decides to abstain rather than having something denied by another person. Abstention typically requires great self-control, as the abstainer may have a strong desire to participate in the activity or consume the substance in question. For example, an alcoholic may refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages, even though her body craves them.
Despite the fact that there are many things a person can abstain from, most people associate abstinence with sex. Many adolescents, and even some adults, practice sexual abstinence. However, abstention is not an indication of virginity. A person may be sexually active in the beginning and then later decide to abstain.
There are many reasons why a person might practice sexual abstinence. Some people do it for moral or religious reasons, for example. These people believe that having sex outside of marriage is wrong. They choose to wait to have sex with a marital partner.
Some people practice abstinence to prevent unwanted pregnancy. There are, however, many types of birth control that prevent pregnancy. Many of these are considered to be over 98% effective, but a small percentage of women can become pregnant while using them. Other than sterilization, abstinence is the only guaranteed way to avoid pregnancy.
Other people choose abstinence as a way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some people think that a healthy, clean-looking person should be free from STDs, but this is a dangerous misconception. A healthy looking person could harbor an STD. Indeed, it is possible for a person not to be aware that they have an STD because they do not develop symptoms right away or at all. Therefore, many people think it is safer to avoid sex until they are in a serious relationship.
Some types of STDs cause painful or irritating symptoms, but that’s not the worst they can do. Some of them can cause a person to be infertile or lead to diseases of the pelvic organs. Others can be deadly. Condoms, when used correctly, help prevent STDs, but abstinence is the only 100% sure way to avoid them.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN