About one in ten married couples abstain from sex, according to Michael S. Broder, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Philadelphia and author of The Art of Staying Together . Some people are celibate because of religious convictions, medication side effects or chronic illnesses. But a growing number of couples are actually celibate because they want to strengthen their bond in other ways. Many singles choose abstinence in part to protect themselves from AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases or even to finish their M.B.A., says Shirley Zussman, Ed. D., a sex and marital therapist and co-director of the Association for Male Sexual Dysfunction in New York City.
Some single women say that they are simply waiting for someone really special.
It offers you a chance to see how well you can really relate to others outside of the sexual sphere. Here are some guidelines for choosing celibacy. Instead of thinking of it as a deprivation, consider it a choice. See it as an opportunity to find deeper meaning in your life. Remember, it doesn't have to be forever.