Listen up, virgins, we have some crucial things to tell you that we wish we knew when we were in your position. According to new research, a person’s first sexual experience can set the tone for the rest of one’s sexual life.

The study, led by Matthew Shaffer, a doctoral psychology student at the University of Tennessee, was published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, and is the first study of its kind to examine how losing one’s virginity affects one’s sex life later.

“The loss of virginity is often viewed as an important milestone in human development, signifying a transition to adulthood,” said Shaffer. “However, it has not been studied in this capacity. We wanted to see the influence it may have related to emotional and physical development.”

Researchers found that those who had positive first-time experiences were predictive in their physical and emotional satisfaction.

Those who felt loved during their first time had more emotionally satisfying sex later in life.

The researchers asked 331 young men and women about how they lost their virginity. The anonymous participants ranked the experience according to emotions related to anxiety, contentment and regret.

The participants were then asked questions about their sex life using scales measuring sense of control, satisfaction and wellbeing. Finally, the participants filled out a diary for two weeks describing each sexual experience.

Those who had traumatic first times ended up having less satisfying sex later in life.

“While this study doesn’t prove that a better first time makes for a better sex life in general, a person’s experience of losing their virginity may set the pattern for years to come,” said Shaffer.

So virgins, take it easy and relax, your first time should be your worst time, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be good. No pressure!

Hugh Everett | Elite.