Schuetz

One of the most important questions an individual will ask at some point of his or her teenage life is whether or not it is time to engage in a sexual relationship. Due to hormones and social cues, teens decide often too early to become sexually active. Most importantly, a lot of young individuals do not think things through before attempting to experience an intimate relationship and lack of information and proper guidance does not help them reach the desired stage with a clear mind. As sex has never been just a pleasure act, but it is actually a physical and an emotional risk, teenagers should consider some things before deciding to go ahead and "do it."

First of all, how can you tell if you are ready to have sex? Perhaps your body is sending you all these weird signals with which your heart or mind do not seem to agree. Thus, before getting sexually involved with your partner, you should carefully understand the pros and cons, because there is no turning back once you have "done it." Try to be smart and judge your feelings and whether or not you are ready to have sex without regretting it five minutes later.

Extremely important is for you to protect yourself. We cannot stress it enough. Protect, protect and again remember to protect your body and your health! Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) might not be the first thing that comes into your mind when those hormones make your body "dance" with excitement, but it is imperative for you to remember that STDs exist and you can avoid them by remembering to protect yourself. Even during these amazing teens' years, when immortality still seems to be a distant possibility, illness and sexually transmitted diseases exist. Thus, please remember to protect yourself. It only takes once to commit a life-threatening or even fatal mistake.

Another important thought that should cross your mind before deciding to have sex for the first or the tenth time is that of pregnancy. Although many teenagers consider protecting themselves against an unwanted pregnancy in comparison to STDs, the number of young people taking an active position on this subject is still very low. It might be common knowledge that unprotected sex can lead to unwanted pregnancy, however, a lot of young boys consider this to be a problem for the girls and do not consider taking the right precautions to protect themselves and their partners. This can be later a horrifying reality. Girls and boys have to consider the pregnancy risk before it is too late.

While some teenagers consider it to be important, other think of it as a burden that has to be off their back as quickly as possible. Virginity is not a taboo issue, when one considers that the majority of teenagers that decide to have sex do so because they think of themselves as a minority group that others can laugh with. This is such a misconception. If a teenager under-values himself or herself, others will too. Try not to be dishonest with your own feelings and loose once in a lifetime experience because others think of you as incapable of "doing it."

Finally, it is generally admitted that when the teenager's hormones begin to rage, it is very easy to be confused with true love. If one considers that peer pressure, insecurity, the urge to become independent, and rebel against things a teenager does not approve, then the sexual experience can be the outcome of nothing more than an act of revenge and lust. Try to be honest with yourself and examine the reasons that make you think to have sex. Only that can be your defense mechanism against your own excitement.

These days, many people take wedding bands and engagement rings for granted, and although they give these beautiful items of jewellery with integrity and love, they are often given with no real knowledge of the meaning behind them.

Both wedding bands and engagement rings are very special items of jewellery; in fact, they are more than just jewellery - they are the symbols of many emotions and promises such as:

• Love
• Commitment
• Fidelity
• Eternity
• Honour

But where - and why - did these popular and sentimental pieces of jewellery stem from?

The History Of Wedding Bands

These items of jewellery have a history that spans many centuries and passes through many countries from all around the planet. Below, you will find a brief history of the wedding and engagement ring, as reported from country to country.

EGYPTIANS

The now-famous wedding band is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt, where it is said that plant sections were fashioned in to circles to signify never-ending and immortal love. It was thought that the fourth finger (which we now know as the ring finger) contained a special vein that was connected directly to the heart, and therefore this became the official finger for the wedding band.

ROMANS

The Romans also agreed with the Egyptians with regards to the wedding ring finger and its meaning, but rather than offering wedding bands as a symbol of love, they awarded them as a symbol of ownership. Roman men would "claim" their woman with the giving of a ring.

ASIANS / ARABS

Puzzle rings were a complex type of jewellery that were once popular in Asia, and these jewels had the charming knack of being able to fall apart and put back together again - if you knew how to do this, of course. Wealthy Middle Eastern men then began to use these rings as wedding bands for their wives, who were often forced to wear a puzzle ring when their husband was away. The husband would know upon his return whether any of his wives had been disloyal by removing the ring whilst he was away, because the ring was designed to collapse upon removal and could only be put together again if you had the skill and knowledge required.

EUROPEANS

Several centuries ago, the Europeans became rather taken with what we would class as an engagement ring, but was then called a Poesy Ring. This ring was given to a loved one as a form of promise, and signified fidelity and love. The Poesy Ring was offered as a pledge of eternal togetherness, much as today's engagement rings are offered as a promise of eternal marriage.

AMERICANS

During Colonial times, all items of jewellery in America were prohibited due to their apparent moral worthlessness. Instead, a more practical thimble was given as a token of love and as a pledge of eternal togetherness. However, after they were married, the women tended to remove the bottom of their "engagement thimble" to form a type of ring.

History Of Engagement Rings

The engagement ring of today also has its own varied and interesting history, some of which is explored below. Engagement rings have been known by many different names, have symbolised a variety of different things and have not always been made of precious metals and stunning gems!

GREEKS

The ancient Greeks are thought to have been the forerunners in the rising of the traditional engagement ring. Given as a token of care and affection, the rings used by the Greeks were known as betrothal rings and were given before marriage. However, the giving of these rings was not always a pre-requisite to marriage and was often given in the same way as a friendship ring might be given today.

ROMANS

As seen by their use of the wedding ring, ancient Romans weren't the most sentimental of people, and the early version of their "engagement ring" were thought to have carved keys on them. It has been debated that this could have been to symbolise the woman's right to access and own half of everything following marriage. However, the more sentimental like to think that the key may have been a key to her husband's heart.

ROYALTY AND THE AFFLUENT

Engagement rings as we know them today - stunning gems encased in precious metals - became popular in around the fourteenth or fifteenth century, when the affluent and the royals began to exchange and wear these jewels. However, these items were so expensive that nobody other than the royals and the rich could afford to exchange them. It was to be many centuries before these engagement rings would become more popular or traditional.

Why a ring?

The purpose of engagement rings and wedding bands is to convey deep emotions of eternal love, eternal happiness, eternal commitment, and eternal togetherness. In fact, these rings signify eternity - between the giver and the recipient. A ring, of course, is a complete circle with no break and no end or beginning, which means that it just goes on and on - it is eternal.

And, since folklore has it that the fourth finger of the left hand has a vein leading directly to the heart, it is only natural that both engagement and wedding rings would be worn on this particular finger, which was once reputed to be a direct route to the heart.

Summary

In short, it is clear that the giving of a ring in honour of a union, betrothal, and marriage has been going on since ancient times, and although it may not always have been as glamorous and romantic as it is today, it was still a way of exchanging a contract of betrothal or marriage.

Thankfully, today's wedding bands and engagement rings are not made of hair, grass, plants or twine as they may have been in ancient times, but of beautiful metals set with stunning gems, such as platinum, titanium, white gold, gold, sapphires, diamonds, rubies and emeralds. These incredible items of jewellery are likely to remain as popular as ever as the centuries go by, and even as the rest of the world advances in to a futuristic and technological age, it's hard to imagine a day where a beautiful diamond engagement ring doesn't melt the heart of its recipient.

There are many different contraception methods available, and different methods suit different people at different times of their lives. You can also ask your GP, practice nurse or family planning clinic for more information about what methods of contraception are available to you (this counts for the boys as well as the girls) and what method would be best for you to use.

Most contraceptives need to be prescribed (with the exception of condoms that are available in most shops and can be brought over the counter). Not all contraceptives will be available to you at your local doctors, however he should be able to direct you to the nearest doctors or family planning clinic that have the methods of contraception that they dont.

You can buy male or female condoms and spermicides without going to a doctor or clinic. Condoms can be brought in almost any shop (like supermarkets, boots & superdrugs are the most likely to sell them), some places also offer vending machines that sell condoms (not recommended). You can also buy diaphragms and caps at a pharmacy, if you know your size.

When you are ordering contraception, you should also research the possible side-effects that each methods carry. Ask your GP, practice nurse or family planning clinic if you need help.

Using Contraception

No contraceptive is 100% effective, and only condoms will help protect you against STIs & STDs. How effective the contraceptive is depends on how carefully and consistently you use the method.

If you dont use contraception you have an 80-90% chance of becoming pregnant.

The methods of contraception available are split into 2 main groups;

* No user failure: do not depend on you remembering to take or use contraception. These are long acting methods.

* User failure: methods you have to use and think about regularly or each time you have sex. For these methods to be effective you must use them according to the instructions given.

Some facts about pregnancy

A women can still get pregnant if;

* If it the first time she has had sex.

* If she does not have an orgasm.

* If a man pulls out of her vagina before he comes.

* If she has sex when she is on her period.

* If she not fully breastfeeding.

* If she douches (squirts fluid into the vagina). This can be harmful to women.

* Whatever position the couple sex in.

More On Contraception

Contraception and the menopause

Contraception needs to be used until the menopause. Contraception should continue to be used until a women has not had a period or any bleeding for two years if aged under 50 and for one year if over 50.

Contraception and breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can act as a very effective contraceptive when you are fully breastfeeding a baby under six months. This means you must;

* Be breastfeeding at regular intervals, day and night.

* Be giving your baby no other food or drink, so no breastfeeds are missed.

* Have no periods.

Emergency Contraception

If you have had sex without using contraception or think your method might have failed there are two emergency methods you can use.

* Emergency hormonal pills - Must be taken up to three days (72 hours) after sex. They are more effective the earlier you take them.

* An IUD - must be fitted up to five days after sex, or up to five days after the earliest you could have released an egg (ovulation).

Sexually transmitted infections

Most methods of contraception do not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

Male and female condoms, when used correctly and consistently, can help protect against sexually transmitted infections. Diaphragms and caps may also protect against some sexually transmitted infections. Condoms that contain Nonoxynol 9 (spermicidally lubricated) do not protect against HIV.

For further reading, help or information visit www.fpa.org.uk or call 0845 310 1334.