Could Waiting Too Long to Have Sex Totally Screw You?

December 3, 2007     Posted in Relationships, Sex

pd_sex_070731_ms.jpg We all know the dangers of having sex too early, but could there be a risk to having sex too late?


By Jess

A new study conducted by Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute’s HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies claims “Those who lose their virginity at a later age — around 21 to 23 years of age — tend to be more likely to experience sexual dysfunction problems late.”

Even though this new study makes it seem like losing your virginity too late will cause your body to freak out, in actuality, what the numbers really show is that waiting to have sex is sometimes an indicator of preexisting bodily issues.

And to that conclusion, I say, well, of course.

“[M]en with sexual problems may avoid sexual interactions and consequently start later” the study finds, going on to explain that those who get married later without much sexual experience tend to have a difficult time with arousal and reaching orgasm.

“Fear of intimacy, body image problems, alcohol and drug abuse” and shame connected to sexual acts are also issues that come attached to delayed sexual activity, yet many experts examining this particular study believe psychological trauma is the cause of sexual dysfunction, and delayed sexual activity is merely a symptom of such dysfunction.

So basically, having sex later in life may be linked to sexual issues, but those issues were most likely with you way before you jumped into the sack.

Is this common sense to anyone else? The only thing this new study (appearing in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Public Health) seems to prove that Abstinence Only programs are probably one-way ticket to confusion later on in life. As ABC News reports, when normal sexual experimentation is “inhibited or not guided, there can be poor sexual health outcomes.”

Risqué headlines aside, it looks like all we got is another study that wants us to embrace safe sex.

So go out and make science proud!

34 Comments on "Could Waiting Too Long to Have Sex Totally Screw You?"

  1. Asjley says:
    Fri, 7th Dec 20075:12 am 

    people warm up with fire, and it can also burn you. Some foods get cooked over an open flame.

  2. Nicky says:
    Fri, 7th Dec 200710:18 am 

    Mmk Asjley…anyways. If that is the case, we all need to begin engaging in sexual activities soon as we hit a college campus

  3. Steff says:
    Sat, 8th Dec 20078:21 am 

    lol. Wow what has the world come to when 21-23 is too old to be a virgin?

  4. Janers says:
    Tue, 18th Dec 20071:36 am 

    people used to get married way younger, so it wasn't a problem in the past. Now-a-days I guess it is.

  5. http://rajshri.com/ says:
    Tue, 25th Mar 200812:57 pm 

    http://rajshri.com/

    Sex is fun. i want have sex. fucking is the greatest fun in the world.

  6. Flint Baker says:
    Thu, 3rd Apr 20087:45 am 

    Sex is good if a man and his wife are doing together. To us some people lose virginity at the age between 24-27 years old, in bed night no disfunction and misuse happens because we have the proper teaching about it.

  7. Harry says:
    Sat, 3rd May 20081:45 am 

    sex is the best thing ever, im 15 and i have sex every 2 days. and i love it. sex sometimes means nothing and sometimes means everything. sometimes for fun. sometimes for love. its the best thing that could ever happen to a hot couple.

  8. Hoover says:
    Sat, 3rd May 200810:53 am 

    Wow Harry, you should probably look into seeing a guidance counselor or better yet, a doctor. Sex might be fun, but if you're not careful, it can be fatal.

  9. john says:
    Mon, 26th May 20088:56 pm 

    That's just retarded.

  10. Nobody says:
    Mon, 2nd Jun 20088:20 pm 

    i lke pudding :)

  11. Him says:
    Wed, 4th Jun 20082:35 pm 

    And u killed it… You killed it dead…What a jerk…

  12. Kyle says:
    Mon, 9th Jun 20084:35 am 

    This is a bummer i got to be reading to see what. sexual dysfunction is to make sure i don't have it. I am a 22 year old virgin but the blight side is i am disease free, don't have any one of them. Well i know don't have aids cause my friends told said i should get tested so i did lol.

  13. Samuel says:
    Wed, 18th Jun 20088:06 pm 

    Oh man, I gotta go out and start having sex, quick.

  14. ProxyD says:
    Sat, 21st Jun 20083:35 pm 

    of course it is only from a scientific point of view.

    But my opinion is, that you are old enough to have a sexual relationship when you feel ready for it.

    I have only just turned 15 and have had my first sexual relationship and has not suffered any form of harm.

    I still get some of the best grades in my class and my IQ is still 130 so it is not harmful to have sex at a relatively young age.

    of course you should not be forced to have sex with anyone or have sex with someone much older than you.

  15. ProxyD says:
    Sat, 21st Jun 20083:52 pm 

    And Kyle, your comment confused me a little. why did you get tested when you never have had sex and therefore never any unsafe sex.

    It costs money to be tested in the U.S., right?

  16. ProxyD says:
    Sat, 21st Jun 20088:21 pm 

    The ideal time to reproduce is when you are around 15-16 years. (For some a little later) And there is nothing harmful in sex as long as you use condoms.

  17. puliraja says:
    Mon, 23rd Jun 20084:38 am 

    god damn comments.lets go on moving the world.this sex discussion takes us nowhere.in the end – you'l know the more important things and then regret !!

  18. man or woman says:
    Tue, 24th Jun 200810:25 am 

    i am 14 and wen i asked my gil frend if she was rady she brough out a comdom and then striped is that normal. cuz i was scared

  19. Person says:
    Tue, 24th Jun 20083:34 pm 

    well… I think that people should start having sex whenver they feel like. Im 17 and lost it lost year… I know thiers definiteley nothing wrong with me as long I use a condom. I think that todays society has made a huge deal out of sex that dosnt need to be made. In todays conservative media sex is more of a no-no than violence and war… what does that tell you? Sex is great, it feels good, brings lovers closer together, and as long as your not dumb about it cant hurt you… so I say why wait?

  20. gopi says:
    Wed, 25th Jun 20083:18 am 

    sex it play a important role in everyones life so have sex with one whom u married

  21. alexis says:
    Wed, 9th Jul 20089:47 am 

    SEX is not a game (it should not be treated as one). WAIT UNTILL YOU ARE MARRIED! I'm waiting! so what if all of your friends have had sex you dont have to….be your own individual!!!!

  22. brazilero papi says:
    Thu, 24th Jul 20088:42 pm 

    Let's have sex!!!!!!.. hit me up lesflipflaps@yahoo.com.. there's no time to waist you feel me..

  23. jim bob says:
    Sat, 9th Aug 200812:31 am 

    u should only have sex if u both r comfortable with it and r mature and old enough to handle a kid if something unexpected happens, cuz ya just never know. My first time was in Grade 6 and i regret it bcuz now im 18 and see how young I really was. Its kinda crazy how young kids now a days are starting to have sex. The world is slowly coming to an end…..lol.

  24. Richie says:
    Sun, 31st Aug 20083:28 am 

    Kids having sex at a younger age is not going to cause the world to end. It is however possibly explained by the high amount of steroids that are put into foods, and drinks these days. These are intended to fortify the intake and help children grow up stronger and healthier. But on the other side of the coin, these additives are causing the physical bodies of our youth to mature at a higher rate. It isn't just the mental change that has made more kids ready to have sex, it is also a physical change in the way we mature and age.

    And always remember, that our current set of norms about ages and about sex have only been around for about 15-20 years. And they are changing daily.

  25. aly says:
    Thu, 11th Sep 20088:24 pm 

    For those of you who are waiting till you have sex: wait – and stop complaining that no one will wait with you.

    For those of you who are out having sex: just do it, and learn to spell before you try to brag online to anonymous people who really couldn't give to shits about how young you were when you started having sex.

    The only valuable thing i got out of the pasts comments was that someone out there likes pudding.

    Just have sex when you're ready. Everyone's ready at different times.

  26. Sexy Lexi says:
    Sat, 27th Sep 20086:51 pm 

    hey. 2 all da dudes out der, i 12 yrs old n ive had sex. i absolutly luv it n so dont my bf. is dat normal or am i/we totally fucked up?

  27. Sexy Lexi says:
    Sat, 27th Sep 20086:56 pm 

    oh n aly, i totaly agre wit u. bt i wrnt bragin in my last comment. im just sayin……

  28. PerplexedBritishGirl says:
    Sun, 28th Sep 20087:11 pm 

    hey, where are you guys all from?? a lot of your views seem quite short sited and some extremely ill informed! I'm not sure what kind of sex education you get at school but sex is not a dangerous or bad thing, condoms are 99% effective so if you use are taught how to use them correctly then there is little risk.

    waiting until you are ready is very important, and can sometimes be a confusing decision. so i can see why some of you see waiting until marriage as a safe way to know you are ready. however a ring on your finger doesn't protect your heart or your health, people have affairs and some marriages (in fact more than you think) are sexually abusive. i don't say this in an attempt to contradict your choice to wait i just think the possibility that it may not turn out to be the fairy tale that story books tell you of should be considered.

  29. Adolf Hitler says:
    Wed, 1st Oct 20084:02 am 

    Sexy Lexi, you and your BF both are totally fucked up

  30. bunny says:
    Fri, 3rd Oct 20089:13 am 

    quoting aly:

    "learn to spell before you try to brag online to anonymous people who really couldn’t give to shits"

    Practice what you preach, sistah.

  31. theabyss33 says:
    Fri, 12th Dec 200810:12 pm 

    Just to point it out to everyone and requote

    "So basically, having sex later in life may be linked to sexual issues, but those issues were most likely with you way before you jumped into the sack."

    AKA: For those who do choose to wait, it's your body. Seek therapy if you have sexual issues, otherwise don't worry about it ^^

    PS. I like pudding too :D

  32. unknown says:
    Thu, 15th Jan 20095:35 pm 

    I gotta get laid already. Jacking off got old years ago.

  33. Nikki says:
    Sun, 25th Apr 20106:05 am 

    What a bunch of crap…I lost my virginity right when I turned 21 but I was always very in tune with my sexuality. I just wanted to wait until I was emotionally ready for it. I have no problems and feel very comfortable having sex.

  34. AYchica says:
    Sat, 14th May 20111:13 am 

    My bf is 28 and still a virgin. He cums in less than 3 minutes (if I rub him out). He is very self conscious and can't get completely naked. He thinks nakedness is only for sexual moments. I don't know what came first his wierd sexuality or his virginity but all I know is he can't get better and I broke up with him after realizing his issues.

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