I'm so impressed with the level of maturity and sense of responsibility you display by asking these questions.

Everything I'm about to tell you is with love and respect... not from the perspective of a mother, but from someone who has "been there".

I was 13 when I started seeing my bf (who was 17 at the time). Oh, we were in love, planned on marrying and living happily ever after. We didn't see the big picture.. just each other and after a year and a half, the urge to express that "love" physically became overwhelming.... so we began a physical relationship.

I wish I would have asked someone back then. I wish I could have talked to my mother, my sisters.. friends.. anyone. Maybe someone would have told me that unless I was ready to assume adult responsibilities like paying rent, holding down a full time job, raising children and being a responsible member of society that I shouldn't attempt to engage in adult activities. I never asked.. I never knew.. and I ended up with my heart broken and at 45 years old, I'm sorry to this day that I acted so casually about something which should have been a special gift for the man I would marry.

At 15, the world was so small. It consisted of my bf, my job, my few friends, my family and the town in which I lived. Well, the world isn't so small.. it's HUGE.. and there are so many things I would have liked to experience before I began placing so much importance on my bf and the sex. Because that was all consuming to me at that age, I passed on a lot of opportunities.

Please accept this in the love and respect for which it's intended. If you can wait... wait. If this is true, mature love, it won't hurt the relationship if you should decide to wait before giving up your virginity.

I also know the other end of it.. the pull of hormones at your age is phenomenal, so no matter what anyone says, if you're going to do it.. it's going to happen. To that I say - there are a lot of things two people can do to satisfy those hormones without giving up your virginity. Also, condoms are not an option.. they are mandatory. Now a days pregnancy is the least of our worries. Employ the use of condoms for the same reasons that you nourish yourself... to keep yourself alive and healthy.

As far as the other stuff (shaving)... that's a matter of personal preference and grooming.

Good luck to you!
L