Waiting for sex: Stick to your values

DEAR AMY: My first real relationship was when I was 18.

The relationship got serious quickly, but I still made him wait several months before sleeping with him. Now I'm 22 and on the brink of a new relationship. I'm wondering, is it a sign of immaturity if I make a guy wait a longer time than the couple of dates they're used to waiting now? I know it's all about "when I feel ready," but do men find it respectable when a girl makes them wait, or does it seem as if she's taking a relationship too seriously and therefore acting immature about it?Confused

DEAR CONFUSED: According to you, it could be a sign of maturity if you have sex with a guy after two dates and a sign of immaturity if you wait to have sex.

I understand that you think guys want girls to be casual about sex. But just as you have an idea of what you want your sexual and emotional life to be like, many guys do also.

Sex is not a game, and "making people wait" is not necessarily a gauge of maturity.

If mature people don't want to have sex, they choose not to have sex. A couple in a serious relationship will discuss this - frequently. Sex means different things to different people, and men and women often interpret and react to sex differently.

In my experience, people often regret having sex. They seldom regret waiting to have sex. Always act according to your own values.

DEAR AMY: A wife wrote to you, concerned about her husband's poor dental hygiene and bad breath. The wife should insist her husband see his dentist. Bad breath can be a sign of gingivitis, as well as other health issues, such as sinus or even lung problems. Gingivitis itself can cause many problems. He should then see his primary care doctor to assess the cause of the bad breath.Jim