CHANGING DYNAMICS OF PREMARITAL SEX

Written by: Janvi Zade & Yashi Shah

Edited by: Yashi Shah

FORNICATION: A TABOO!

It is very normal for humans to feel sexually aroused. Haven't you experienced it when you noticed a certain someone and craved to sense how their skin feels against yours? Did you not imagine how a kiss with special someone would taste or how incredible would it be to be in their arms? Biologically it begins when you hit puberty. Several religious sacred texts hold sex before marriage a sin confining it to only a husband-wife relationship since they consider sex to be the zenith of a connection, hence acknowledging sex as a gift of god and fornication (sex before marriage) or any sexual interaction before marriage immoral. Such a dilemma, isn't it? Our hormones are directing us to explore and be free while our community and rituals tell us something diverse.

Amidst all the hustling and bustling of our daily lives, we often overlook our body’s desires. Sex isn’t a mere touch of two bodies, it’s a feeling you get when the sensations of touch between you and your partner feel like sparks and you can’t stand it anymore and within that moment you two become one. Today, virginity is no longer a proviso for a happy married life. People are comfortable having sex with their partners even if there are no chances of them marrying in the future. With a growing sense of individuality among the people, individuals are calling their shots and so is the decision to be sexually active before marriage. We can only make choices for ourselves and are nobody to challenge the choices made by somebody else. 

Today sex before marriage is becoming a universal idea because of many reasons, some of which are: increased efficacy of contraceptives, early puberty but late marriage, women are more competitive and sensation-seeking, the trend of dwindling matrimony, curiosity about sex in adolescence, and many more. It’s nearly impossible to maintain complete sexual abstinence if you hit puberty at 13 and even earlier and want to get married at 30. 

 Unfortunately, sex before marriage isn’t as alluring as it might appear. There are several perils linked with it. Teens may get involved in casual unprotected sex, girls often end up conceiving, and some may even have multiple sexual partners may lead to serious infections like HIV-AIDS. One can even feel emotionally burdened and carry the same into their married life. Having sex before marriage may also affect your reproductive life in the future as girls might undergo an abortion or use pills in their teens which may damage their reproductive organs. 

Rather than perceiving sex before marriage thing a taboo, discuss it with your partner. Communicate with your children about it and provide them with explanations instead of feeding their curiosity. Sex is fundamental but one should not lose control of their mind just for temporary pleasure and should weigh all its consequences. Sexual intercourse alters your body and mind therefore make sure you are ready. Premarital sex has more cons than pros to it. Do what is right for you. Consent of both partners is equally important because casual unprotected sex takes no time to look like forced pre-marital sex. Hence don’t consider sex a sport that can be played anytime.