Abstinence

Abstinence
What Is It?Abstinence is not having sex. When a person decides to practice abstinence, that means he or she has decided not to have sex.
How Does It Work?Abstinence is the simplest form of birth control. If two people don't have sex, then sperm can't fertilize an egg and there's no possibility of a pregnancy. Other forms of birth control depend on barriers that prevent the sperm from reaching the egg (such as condoms or diaphragms) or they interfere with the menstrual cycle (as birth control pills do). With abstinence, no barriers or pills are necessary.
Do you have to be a virgin to practice abstinence? No. Sometimes, someone who has been having sex decides not to continue having sex. Even if a person has been having sex, he or she can still choose abstinence to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).