Sexual abstinence

Sexual abstinence or sexual restraint is the practice of refraining from sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, philosophical, moral, religious or other reasons. Sexual abstinence is distinct from asexuality, which is a sexual orientation where people feel little or no sexual attraction. Celibacy is sexual abstinence generally motivated by factors such as an individual's personal or religious beliefs.^[2] Sexual abstinence before marriage is required in some societies by social norms, or by law in some countries. It is a part of chastity.

Abstinence may be voluntary (when an individual chooses not to engage in sexual activity due to moral, religious, philosophical, or other reasons), an involuntary result of social circumstances (when one cannot find any willing sexual partners), or legally mandated (e.g. in countries where sexual activity outside marriage is illegal, in prisons etc.).

While actual abstinence prevents pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, attempts at abstinence has little effect on the risk of either.^[3] Access to other forms of birth control, such as emergency birth control is thus recommended.^[3]