When you're young, marriage and sex can be confusing. You might have been told not to even think about marriage until you are older, but once you have found someone who you want to spend the rest of your life with, you might start to consider getting engaged and married. At this time in your life, you might be experiencing sex and serious dating for the first time.

It is important to pay attention to your true feelings, but to also take into consideration what others tell you. Only you will know if you are truly ready for sex or marriage. At this point, it is likely that you are not ready for a child, but even if you use protection, there is a risk that you or your partner could become pregnant. You might also wonder if you have been educated enough about STDs.

If you are in a monogamous relationship you should start taking birth control. Using condoms will prevent STDs and work to fully prevent pregnancy. If you are willing to take these precautions, you will be able to have sex safely with a very slim chance of anything going wrong. There is no need to take risks when you do not have to.

Take into account how impressionable you are and your reasons for wanting to pursue a serious relationship. You might be more likely to go after these things if you have friends who are getting married and having sex. You might be influenced by your partner.

It is important to have life experiences and get to know yourself by learning through experience. However, if you are in any way unsure of something, you should speak to your partner. In a good relationship, you should be able to tell your partner that you are not ready to have sex, a serious relationship, or a marriage. If you are in a strong relationship you will be able to overcome these problems even if you do not agree with each other.

Look into the future and plan ahead, though understand that everything is subject to change. Decide how you might support yourself if you do not already live without your parents. If you can truly be financially independent, you are most likely mature enough to start taking relationships more seriously.

Even if you are ready to become financially independent, your parents might need you to help take care of the family and house. You might have obligations at home that you just cannot leave behind. If you feel your are mature enough to move out, you will have to also have the ability to sort out your priorities.

If you truly know if your heart that you are ready to take the next step, you absolutely should. As long as whatever you do is legal and safe, you should be able to make your own decisions and keep up with the new responsibilities that will come with them.