The decision to have sex has a lot more to do with what you really want out of life rather than just your age or how long you have been going out. If you have spent any time on our site, I’m sure you have already learned that sex has a lot of pretty nasty consequences that can go along with it. Regardless of how old you are, every time you have premarital sex, you are running the risk of STDs, pregnancy and emotional stress. You can’t separate your lifestyle from the consequences that go along with it (not even if you wear a condom). The earlier you start having sex, the more sex partners you’ll have. And, the more sex partners you have, the more you run the risk of getting “caught up” with the short and long-term effects of that behavior. So, I guess the question goes back to you…What are your goals in life and how committed are you to achieving them? If the consequences that go along with the decision to have sex outside of marriage aren’t on your list of goals, then don’t do it – no matter how old you are or how long you’ve been dating. Don’t sacrifice what you really want the most out of life (your health, college, your future marriage, self esteem…) for a few minutes of pleasure.