Deciding to have sex is a big deal. There are many things to consider before you make the decision, including your values, cultural and religious beliefs, and what you know about preventing STIs and pregnancy. The answer has a lot to do with how comfortable you are with having sex (with whom and when).
The most important thing to remember is that it should be YOUR decision. You should never feel pressured to have sex from others – especially your partner. You’ll also need to ask yourself if you’re emotionally and physically ready. Sex is definitely not the only way to feel close to your partner. Being able to talk comfortably with your partner about sex, how to protect yourself against STIs and pregnancy (or anything else for that matter) is truly what counts.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.