*Abstain: to refrain deliberately from an action or practice; often requires an effort of self-denial.

In the case of sexual abstinence: choosing to save all sexual activity for marriage. 

Choosing (only you can make this choice).

All sexual activity (vaginal, oral, anal and foreplay because all these have consequences to a person’s whole health).

Marriage (a concrete definable time).

*Contraception: Used to prevent pregnancy; there are two basic types of contraception, barrier (condoms, diaphragm) and hormonal (pill, patch, shot). It is important to know that contraception does NOT protect against sexually transmitted infections.

*STI/STD: Any infection spread through sexual contact; caused by bacteria or viruses that are spread through contact with bodily fluids (semen, vaginal secretions, blood and/or saliva), or by direct skin-to-skin contact.

Most people are familiar with the term STD (sexually transmitted disease), but a more accurate term is STI (sexually transmitted infection). When people hear the term “disease” they think of being sick, but most of these infections can be spread during sex and can be causing damage in a person’s body even though they do not feel sick; they do not look sick; they have no idea they are infected.