Abstinence is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity. The official definition of abstinence is choosing not to have sex. However, different people may define abstinence differently. For some, abstinence means not doing any kind of sexual activity with another person, including vaginal, oral, and anal sex. For others, abstinence only means not having vaginal sex, but other sexual activities are allowed. Abstinence can be a way to avoid the risks that come with sex, such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), until youre ready to prevent and/or handle them. Abstinence is also a 100% effective way to avoid pregnancy. It can be practiced by anyone, no matter their age, gender, sexuality, or sexual experiences theyve had before. People may choose to be abstinent for various reasons, such as not feeling ready to have sex yet, not having access to birth control, or wanting to focus on other things in their life. Abstinence can be practiced voluntarily, involuntarily, or legally mandated. It is important to discuss with your partner clear definitions of what abstinence means to each other and decide in advance what sexual activities you will say "yes" to.