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• Young people's sexual health

• Teenage parents

Young people's sexual health

Although sex is discussed much more today it is still a very individual thing and you have to decide what is right for you.

So remember:

• Don't be rushed into anything until you are ready
• Don't think "everyone else is doing it so I should"
• Don't believe everything that you hear or are told.

Make sure you know the facts about safe sex and contraception so you can help protect yourself against unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

How to say no to sex

It's ok to say 'NO' when someone suggests you have sex. Even if you’ve had sex before, it doesn’t mean that you have to have sex again. It helps if you make your own decision about how far you want to go before you end up in a situation where you could have sex.

You have the right to say no at any time. 
 
Sex shouldn’t be used as a way of showing your partner that you love them. If they love you they won’t expect you to have sex until you're ready. 

Thinking about the questions below may help you to decide whether you are ready to have sex:

• Can you and your partner have fun without anything sexual being involved?
• Have you talked about safer sex and condoms to each other?
• Do you have a special connection and does it feel right to have sex?
• Do you think you could say “No” if you wanted to?
• Are you thinking about having sex because you want to, not because someone else is putting pressure on you?

If you can answer “Yes” to all of these questions then you may be ready to have sex but make sure that you feel comfortable and that you always use contraception.

Safer sex

What is it?

Safer sex means making sure you do your best not to catch a sexually transmitted infection (STI), or risk unintended pregnancy. Your best protection is to use a condom or femidom - not just sometimes, but every time you have sex. These are the only forms of contraception that can help protect you from both unwanted pregnancy and STIs.

Remember you can become pregnant:

• Even if you have sex standing up
• The first time you have sex
• Even if you have sex during your period
• Even if a boy withdraws (pulls out) before he comes
• If you forget to take your pill or don't use another form of birth control
• If the condom slips or breaks

To make sex extra safe you can go 'Double Dutch' and use condoms together with another form of contraception to provide protection against unwanted pregnancy and STIs.

Contact details

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