All about sex

Sex is supposed to be fun. For sex to be enjoyable, there should be consent, where those having sex feel comfortable and agree to it. No one should ever be forced to have sex. You might feel peer-pressure, thinking all your mates are having sex so you feel pressured to as well. This is often not the reality; although young people like to say they are having sex, often they are not. Also you shouldn't feel pressured by your boyfriend or girlfriend to have sex before you are ready.

Not being ready when you first have sex may lead you to feeling disappointment after the first time, as it may not have been as good as you would have wanted. You will find sex tips for good sex elsewhere on this website. Remember this, even if sex is not very good the first time, in the right place with the right person at the right time sex can be enjoyable and something to remember.

We live in a sexualised society where sex is used to promote and sell most things, especially music, perfume, television and film, magazines and a whole range of other things. Against this backdrop, we have a society that does not discuss sex in a very positive way, instead embarrassment by parents, teachers and even some health professionals like doctors can make it difficult to talk about sex.

For young people growing up is a time for exploring the world and themselves. This includes discovering sex and your sexuality. There will be things you like and dislike. It may also be that you find you are attracted to the same sex (you could be gay or lesbian) or to both sexes (bisexual). Whether you are heterosexual (you are attracted to the opposite sex) or not, differing sexual orientations are normal.

The age of consent in the UK is 16 for everyone. This is to help protect young people from being pressured into sex before they are ready. A few young people under 16 will start to explore sex, and by 16 around half of young people will have experienced sex.

Having sex at any age carries risks, especially unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. To prevent unplanned pregnancy, there are a wide range of contraceptive methods for women (see contraception advice), but only the condom protects against sexually transmitted infections (see condoms).

When things go wrong during sex, for example a condom isn't used, or it falls off or breaks, getting help as soon as possible may prevent pregnancy by taking "the morning after pill" within 3 days of intercourse. If outside of that period still contact your local clinic as a temporary coil can be fitted up to 5 days after intercourse or even later depending on the woman's menstrual cycle.

Split condoms may also pass sexually transmitted infections from one person to another. Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection and is very easy to test for. Look at your area on this site for details of where to test, or order a kit online. Results will be texted to your mobile phone, no one else will be told. 1 in 14 people under 25 years old have been tested positive, so it is very common. The good news is that it can be treated to prevent long term damage to both men and women's fertility.