How do I know if I’m ready to have sex?

Phew – that’s a big question! The decision to become sexually active, especially for the first time, can feel huge.

How do I have sex? / What is sex?

Often when people ask this question they are thinking about what our culture most commonly defines as sex, which is penis-in-vagina sex, or intercourse, or penetration. This is when one person inserts their penis into the other person’s vagina. There are lots of other things involved with sex, however so we’ll talk about a few of those here.

Gold stars! Communicating with your partner about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) before you begin to have sex is something to be rewarded. Not only will it protect your and your partners’ well-being, but it can also increase trust and pleasure.