Does or has Abstinence ever mattered to you at all?

I don't know it seems today that society downplays the value of one's virginity.So many young people I have spoken to have stated they are and have been for some time ually active. I know many don't agree but I believe it's a credit to your character to be able to abstain from ual acts. I'm not rationalizing being a virgin, but I don't understand why so many believe they NEED to have in order to appease anyone else. A true sign of unreedeming qualities would be the ability to denounce pleasures of the flesh, but I don't see any restraint in todays society aside from certain virginal organizations. I think it's a measure of intelligence and self respect to abstain from ual until at least marriage or with someone you love very dearly. One major question: besides the obvious reasons for procreation, why are so many concerned with and ual acts? Is this the new measure of character and personhood in todays society? How many partners is too many?