There is a shit ton of societal and peer pressure surrounding sex, which I think can ruin it.
there are people who are at that point in their life where they're ready for it at 16, some people might not get to that point until they're freaking 40, no way is right, more "manly" mature, etc.. its just one aspect of life that you shouldnt give in to if it doesnt feel right.
Society almost forces people to make sex/hooking up a big part of their life when it doesnt need to be.
I have friends who started banging girls at a fairly early age, which isnt necessarily bad, but they let it become a habit and now hooking up with random sluts is their main priority in life. which i think is fucking pathetic, and its had a terrible effect on their life. Its like a drug habit almost, in a lot of ways its ruining them. thats not cool, they're not "real men" id call a 30 year old virgin that stuck to his values more of a man.
I'm not saying be a christian about it, but I do think that its important to look at girls as a person first and not a sex object. If you spend time with, and actually love the person, sex will be a positive. if you're just looking to bang whoever then it will be a negative.
its the same thing with so many other aspects of life, if you're getting into it for the right, positive reasons, you'll get a positive outcome. if you're just concerned about what other people think, and do it when it feels wrong, you'll have a positive outcome. Self control is an extremely important trait that so many people today are lacking.