Would You Give Up Sex For Love?

Would You Give Up Sex For Love?

- Faye Brennan And Jessica Goodman

Miranda Kerr. Ciara. Nicki Minaj. Ashley Graham. Mariah Carey. These celebs have all, at one time or another, admitted to RSVP’ing “No” to sex—even if they’ve said “Oh, yes” in the past. They’re among a growing group of women who are (re)saving themselves for marriage or (re) choosing celibacy, says sex therapist Chantelle Otten, who sees more clients—women and men—taking this path. So-called born-again virgins may have religious motivations, or they could be trying to replace negative sexual experiences with more positive ones, says sex therapist Ian Kerner, PhD, author of She Comes First. Others are trying out a new tactic in the search for lasting love. “We live in a culture where sex is often recreational as opposed to relational,” says Kerner. “Many people are trying to instill it with a deeper sense of meaning or connection.” Still others are taking a breather in favor of more me-time. Question is, will their celibacy experiment pay off?

Calling a Time-Out