“Oh. Don’t give me a hickey. That would be so high school.” Truer words were never whispered in my ear!

Hickeys (especially on the neck) are like a merit badge of high school that everyone seeks to wear at one point or another. Giving and getting them is often one of those stepping-stones of discovering your sexual interests.

You can get all sciency about the cause of hickeys or the cure, but we want to pull apart what makes them awesome and what makes them awful. Let’s think about the consequences (good and bad) and you can figure out for yourself whether you will suck neck with slightly less pressure in the future.

PRO: The feeling of getting one is exciting.

Kissing lip-to-lip is fun. Moving your mouth elsewhere can lead to other exhilarating feelings.

CON: She has to hide it.

Although they’re fun to show of sometimes, it’s more likely that she will have to hide her hickeys from parents or teachers to keep from being questioned farther or looked at funny. This leads to ugly turtleneck outfits and the wearing of scarves during inappropriate seasons.

PRO: She might enjoy thinking back to how she got it.

Every time she catches her own reflection she’s reminded of how heated things get between the two of you in the best kind of way. This could help lead to similarly steamy make out sessions in the near future.

CON: She might feel like the two of you should slow down.

Covering up this odd-shaped off-color neck bruise is a chore. And the thought of being found out by someone she doesn’t want to know about her intimate moments is a lot of pressure. She may dislike these things enough to say “let’s slow down” after this. That last necking session was fun but now you could find yourself pumping the breaks.

PRO: She might like showing it off.

Some people are proud of their love bites and want to broadcast to the world – I have someone sexy in my life and we make out hard.

CON: It might get her in trouble.

All it takes is one glance from a temperamental parent and the two of you are now forbidden from seeing each other again. A hickey is a piece of evidence that can be used against her.

You know the risks and rewards. Remember them in the heat of the moment next time and help yourself make the decision that’s right for both of you. Moaning in agreement as you receive a hickey can be just as welcomed as requesting a lighter touch. There’s no wrong choice to make.