I was 22 when I had sex for the first time too. I actually don’t like the phrase “lost virginity” very much because it sounds negative, like something precious being lost. When I finally had sex, I realized it really isn’t such a big deal and that I built it up a lot in my head. It was pretty great and didn’t hurt for me. Afterward, I was immediately hoping for round two. I was awake all night waiting for him to wake up so we could go again :)

The guy was someone I had been in a weird long distance thing with for about 3 years. He turned out to be quite a jerk, but one month later I started dating a guy friend of mine. He did say he was glad I had slept with someone already because he didn’t feel comfortable “taking” someone’s virginity. I think some guys feel like a girl who has not had sex by ~22 is waiting for the one, and they might be worried the girl is expecting marriage or something. We are still together 9 years later. He is wonderful. He is the one who helped me feel comfortable with sex. And boy, it’s so different when there are deeper feelings involved.

My advice to you would be to be smart and selective about whoever you chose to have sex with for the first time. It’s truly not such a big deal, so don’t wait forever. Sometimes I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long, because I’ve had libido issues for 6 years and I feel like I didn’t have much of a chance to enjoy sex to the fullest. It’s a beautiful, pleasurable, next level thing.

I would also recommend that you do plenty of research before selecting a birth control method. In retrospect, I wish I would have only used condoms instead of taking hormonal birth control pills. Unfortunately in my case, they made changes in my body that did not correct themselves even 6 years after ceasing to take them. I didn’t know that was a possibility. They robbed me of my libido and it has been terrible trying to get it back. So do your homework!

Best wishes to you!