How do you know if you’re ready?

Sex can be great. It can make you feel good.  It can make you feel closer to your partner. It can also leave you feeling disappointed and upset.

Ask yourself:

• Does it feel right? Are you sure?
• Do you feel safe with your partner? Will he/she stop if you change your mind?
• How well do you know your partner?
• Have you talked about what you want to do? (If you are too embarrassed to talk about it maybe you are not ready to get so intimate)
• Have you weighed up the risks? (It’s possible to get pregnant (or to get a sexually transmissible infection if your partner has had sex before) the first time you have sex- whether you do it lying down, standing up, or sideways. Condoms are important!
• Have you talked about using condoms and contraception? If that’s too hard are you ready to share so much of yourself? Have you got organized?
• Have you checked out the law? The age of consent for guys and girls is 16.
• What would your parents think?  You might need their support and if you can talk to them about your relationships it will help keep their trust. (See section Talking to your parents about sex and relationships)
• Do you have somewhere safe and relaxing and private you can go?