Abstinence means different things to different people. For most people, abstinence means not having sex with anyone. ... People are abstinent off and on for reasons that may change over time, and a few are abstinent their whole lives. You can choose to be abstinent whenever you want, even if you've had sex before.

Where did the word abstinence originate from?

mid-14c., "forbearance in indulgence of the appetites," from Old French abstinance (earlier astenance), from Latin abstinentia "abstinence, starvation; self-restraint, integrity," abstract noun from abstinentem (nominative abstinens), present participle of abstinere/abstenere "withhold, keep back, keep off," from ...

Can you be abstinent and not a virgin?

A person doesn't have to be a virgin to practice abstinence. ... A person who has been having sex can still choose abstinence to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the future.