We waited 9 months. I was 19 and he was my first boyfriend. I made it clear immediately that I would need a slow relationship or no relationship. He was ok with it. Things progressed at a pace we were comfortable with until we finally had sex 9 months later. We made sure to have birth control and condoms lined up ahead of time, just in case. We are still together, 4 years now, and still have sex with condoms and Depo shot.
How long you wait is up to you. What your pace is is also up to you. Don’t let someone force you to go too fast or it may traumatize you or otherwise strain the relationship.
My opinion is that people shouldn’t be having sex before their bodies have comfortably developed the ability: age13. I also feel uncomfortable thinking about 13 and 14 year olds having sex because they might want a baby without realizing what a baby entails…
Summary: have sex when you’re emotionally ready. If he can’t wait for you, he’s not worth it. Seriously. Take into account the effect sex has on baby production and prepare accordingly. Sex with condoms can be really sexy. Being an “older” virgin is not a bad thing. It was really exciting to share my first time with someone I really cared for and that cared for me back enough to wait so long.
If you’re under 15, I’d wait to even consider sex. You never believe it when other people say it but honestly, those early relationships usually aren’t serious enough to take sex seriously. Also, I don’t know how it will affect the body physically. It might hurt more since the reproductive organs are so new.