My religion at the time favored remaining a virgin until marriage, but I wasn't that strongly religious. At age 17 I fell in love with a man and gave him my virginity. I never regretted it. I think it is wonderful to have your first sexual experience be with someone you love. (And I was truly very virginal, had never even got to first base up until that time.)

I think it is important to wait until you are mature enough to have sex and not do it because the partner is pressuring you into it. I tell my 16 year old daughter not to do it lightly (she is still a virgin), to take precautions when she does do it one day, and to wait until she knows the guy is the right one and that she wholeheartedly wants to. If she has doubts, then she is not ready.