Abstain / Abstinence

Abstinence, or to abstain, means choosing to refrain from some or all sexual activity. People make this choice for many reasons, including personal values, religious belief, medical circumstances, or a desire to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Abstinence is the only method that is completely effective at preventing both, which is why it appears in sexual health education. In LGBTQ+ and inclusive sex education, it is treated as one valid option among many rather than the only acceptable one. That approach pairs respect for people who abstain with accurate, affirming information about consent, safer sex, and testing for those who are sexually active. Some people who identify as asexual also describe periods of abstinence, though the two are distinct.