<human>: Can you provide a brief overview of the text?

I [21f] have been dating an amazing guy for around 7 months. He is loving, attentive, caring and our relationship is wonderful. Best I've ever had. We're close with each others families, talk about long term plans (vacations, thanksgiving, etc.) spend a majority of nights together, have same sense of humor, similar philosophies, etc. Seem to be on the same page with just about everything in the relationship. He means the world to me. 

However, during sex one night (around month four) he blurted out, "I think I love you". It caught me off guard so I kissed him and didn't say anything. Afterword, he looked over at me and said, "I really do love you". I reciprocated, and it felt extremely right at the time. 

For a few months we said it to each other like any normal couple, it never sounded forced on his end, and I was (and still am) madly in love with him. 

Slowly though, he stopped saying it first and then not at all. Last night, I asked him what was wrong. He began to explain that he felt that he had said it too early, and regrets it now. But that he still had extremely strong feelings for me and did not want to break up or change anything about our relationship. I could tell he felt horrible, and that it was painful for him. Naturally, I was heartbroken. I told him that I still love him and would essentially "wait" for him while he sorted his feelings out. 

I understand that 7 months isn't too long of a time, and that I shouldn't "expect" him to love me by now. But the fact that he said it and then told me he actually didn't mean it is odd. I am his first girlfriend, so I'm totally willing to give him a little leeway on the emotional side of a relationship--but it broke my heart. The fact that he felt so bad about it makes it even harder. 
Is this a typical guy thing? A red flag? Do I need to give him an ultimatum of sorts? I need some outside advice desperately, I'm so sad.
<bot>: been dating for 7 months, boyfriend say I love you during sex at month 4. Says last night he regrets it and doesn't actually love me but doesn't want to break up. Help.