There is nothing as exciting, and as terrifying, as that first kiss in a burgeoning romance. After all, every romantic comedy or epic moment in a television drama is centered around that favorite couple’s first kiss. But, why is the first kiss so important? And, what can that initial lip lock tell you about where your relationship is headed?

To give you an idea of the importance of the first kiss, we will consider a study from Texas Tech in which a thousand students were polled about their first kiss experience. The results, which were published in “Evolutionary Psychology,” claimed that 55 percent of men and 66 percent of women admitted that they couldn’t really tell if they are really physically attracted to someone until that first kiss.

Now, what else can the first kiss tell someone? Well, the first thing to remember is that kisses are often treated differently by men and women. Some psychological studies suggest that women often tend to place a huge focus on kissing, where as men place a greater spotlight on sex. What this means is that women are often kissing for the sake of kissing, and this puts a greater emphasis on the success of that kiss.

What is perhaps most important about the first kiss is that for many relationships, it determines whether or not that relationship can go on. In some estimates, it has been reported that as many as three quarters of the U.S. population end a beginning relationship after a bad first kiss. The first kiss is driven by animal instincts, and there are a whole lot of physiological changes being produced during a kiss that signal the sub-conscious evidence as to whether or not the person has potential to be a strong mate.

But, what does that mean really? Does it mean that anything short of perfection is the relationship kiss of death? Not necessarily. But, it does mean that a relationship has a lot riding on that initial smooch. And, knowing that, it is certainly not a laughing matter.

So, if you are getting ready to kiss that special someone for the first time, there are some things that you should keep in mind to ensure that nothing gets in the way of letting those sparks fly. First of all, make sure your first kiss is somewhere private, where you both feel comfortable. This takes a lot of excess pressure off the situation, and ensures that both parties will be focusing on nothing but what their lips are doing.

Also, make sure you ease into it. Don’t go in guns blazing and give you’re a date a full out tongue bath. Nobody is going to appreciate that. Your first kiss should be sweet and simple, and above all else, feel natural. It’s important to show a little passion, but you don’t want them to have nightmares about being attacked by your mouth.

And, finally, trust in your relationship. If you really like a person, and you think they really like you, there is no reason to worry about the first kiss not being great. The best thing you can do is make sure you get to know someone a little bit before you jump into that first kiss. And, you should make sure they are really someone you are interested in trying the kiss with. Then, it is sure to be a romantic interlude to a great relationship.