You may feel like sex is no big deal, but it is. It’s something you give a lot of thought to before you go jumping into bed. A lot of people feel pressure to start having sex, it might be from your friends or your partner, but if you’re not ready, then don’t do it. You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with and you shouldn’t expect your partner to either. There’s no rule to say that you should have had sex by a certain age – it’s when it feels right for you (although legally you should be over 16). There’s loads of time and it is ok to wait.

So how do you know when you’re ready?

Well, the best rule is; if you don’t feel ready, then you probably aren’t. You should feel comfortable with your partner and you should be able to talk to each other. It’s not a good idea to have sex because all your friends are, because someone else wants you to, because you’re 16 now, you’re scared to say no, or because you think your partner will leave you if you don’t. It really is a decision that you have to make yourself, but remember it’s always ok to say no.