I'm nearly 29, and am a virgin. However, of late I've been questioning myself whether "waiting" is the way to go. Perhaps it's the way I was brought up, but I've always thought waiting for marriage, which presumably means with the right guy, was what I wanted. I've been in two relationships previously, one of 12 months, and the other lasting 3 years. Both guys have respected my decision on this. Even when we engaged in sexual activities and I felt like I was ready in my second relationship, my partner at the time encouraged me to wait. So now I'm single, have been for two years and still a virgin. I've met men who have been interested in pursuing a relationship but I haven't felt ready to get into another relationship. Then I've met men where we're both sexually and physically attracted, and I question whether I should just go ahead. Yet, I still have that urge to "wait".. although I'm beginning to question whether the right one does exist? Whether I do believe in marriage? I haven't admitted to anyone that I'm a virgin and have felt no need to. So does this mean I'm embarrassed to admit I'm a virgin? But then we have conversations where my male friends joke amongst each other "get out of here....you're 24..you're not a virgin!" and that they prefer to have women who are "experienced". So it makes me wonder - do men think females being a virgin is a bad thing? Especially at my age and older? Is it a turn-off? I've come to accept that if I do meet the right one, he would not be a virgin and experienced, but what would he think of me? Do men not appreciate it anymore? I remember telling my last ex that I was a virgin and he was really surprised when he heard it. And one of the reasons for the break-up was that he had fantasies for other women, hence he felt he didn't love me anymore. So sometimes I wonder whether things would've been different had I not been/am a virgin.
And I guess another thing I fear is "the first time hurts"... does it really hurt?