Personal story: Virginia

"Well, it all started when I was 15. I had reunited with my first love at that age. Yes, I know, it was a bit early. I really loved this guy and the more time I spent with him, the closer I got to him, and I trusted him even more. He kept pressuring me to show him I love him by letting him "make love" to me. This statement never worked on me though, because I paid attention in too many health classes at school.

Finally, I began to realise just how much I desired to feel what it was like. Although I wanted to keep my promise to my mother that I would save myself, I wanted to know how it felt. At first we just did a lot of touching and kissing and intimate things like that. I figured I was going to be with him forever, so I decided to let him "make love" to me.

He put on the condom and many thoughts raced through my mind on that August afternoon. It was a little difficult to get it inside but just as he was getting closer, I stopped him. At that point I didn't know whether or not I had already lost my virginity, so I let him continue and I lost it. I had so many feelings… I was happy, sad, and felt really guilty. Since then, we did it every time I saw him. After a while that’s all our relationship became, and I broke up with him.

I've had sex with 3 other guys after him in longer relationships. Now I am in love again, and my boyfriend and I went to get tested. We were both diagnosed with chlamydia and treated for it the next week. Now I am afraid, and I want to get tested for HIV. I don't think that I have HIV, but I also didn't think I had chlamydia.

I am now 18 and I regret losing my virginity. You don't have to be promiscuous to contract an STD. It only takes one time. So, if anyone considers having sex, I'm not against it because it's a wonderful thing, but I would just advise that they use condoms no matter how much they know someone and trust them. Remember that same person probably trusted their previous loved ones and would have never suspected that they ever had an STI. So please, be safe and "wrap it up"...really."