Everyone wants to feel wanted. Whether it’s by a significant other, family, group of friends or co-workers, people like to belong.

To show how evident that sense of belonging is in society, dating sites are more popular now than ever. In an article in The Wall Street Journal, according to figures revealed by eHarmony founder

Neil Clark Warren and COO Armen Avedissian, the company has more subscribers than ever before – 778,000 – and they make up to 15 million matches per day. Competitive dating site Tinder claims to match 22 million people a day. Not everyone that uses these sites or couples that meet through a dating site is practicing premarital sex but it does reinforce the idea that a huge number of people are longing for that desire to feel wanted.

Although the mass media and contemporary society may send the message that sex before marriage is normal and innocent, what they fail to mention is the psychological, emotional and physical effects it can have on people.

Television shows like “Game of Thrones”, “Girls”, and “True Blood”, movies like “50 Shades of Grey” and “Entourage” make it seem like sex is just something two people do when there is any sort of interest between them.

There are no true feelings involved, and it is ok if you never see that person again. What are shows and films like these saying about relationships today? Is it not worth getting to know someone more before deciding to take it to the next level?

Relationships should go through levels, shouldn’t they? First you see someone; gather the courage to talk to him or her; ask them out; begin a relationship; hold their hand, share that first kiss, and then what?

Having sex may feel good at the moment but is that moment worth the feelings of regret and guilt you feel afterwards? That feeling may not sink in right after, an hour after, a day after or maybe even a week after but somewhere inside you wish you could have waited. It might not be the same for everyone but you should take into serious consideration the emotional and psychological toll it can take on another person. No amount of convincing from a boyfriend or girlfriend should be enough for you to compromise your morals and to take premarital sex lightly.

A guy can tell you “You’re the one”, but you’ll know you’re “the one” when there’s a ring on your finger and he calls you his wife. A girl may tell you “I think I’m ready”, but you’ll know for sure that both of you are ready when both of you say “I do” at the altar.

If you skip straight to sex, where do you go from there? People who are willing to wait and show self-control and respect one another are to be applauded. Waiting makes that honeymoon night very much more special. You would both be assured that neither of you has previous experiences, making it all special.

Even those who may not want a serious relationship because they’re not ready for commitment or have been hurt in the past, pre-marital sex will only complicate things.