Should I have sex?
Deciding whether to have sex is a decision that only you should make. You can often feel pressured from your friends or from your partner. Nobody should pressure you into having sex until you are ready. Don’t let anyone push you into having sex for the wrong reasons. Read our relationship article on having sex to help you decide if you are ready.
What should I be thinking about?
If you decide that you are ready for sex then you should be thinking about:
- pregnancy – unprotected sex can lead to unwanted pregnancy
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – having unprotected sex means you stand a greater chance of catching a sexually transmitted infection such as Chlamydia or Herpes
- contraception – there are various different kinds of contraception, some protect you from pregnancy, STIs or both. It is important that you find a contraception that suits you.
What are C-Cards?
C-Cards, short for condom cards are available for both young men and women under 20. To obtain a C-Card you need to visit a registered C-Card assessor. You can find your nearest assessor from the Essex C-Card website. A C-Card entitles you to free condoms in agreed multiples from a C-Card outlet. All our Connexions Centres are C-Card outlets. You can use your card in an outlet up to 6 times before you will have to visit an assessor again to continue using your card.
Where can I get further advice?
You can get free help and advice on STIs and contraception from your nearest sexual health service.
Help lines
- Brook - 0808 802 1234
- Family Planning Association (FPA) – 0845 122 8690 Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
Useful websites
Sex: Worth talking about.
Information on the different types of contraception and how to get tested for STIs.
Brook
Free and confidential sexual health advice for under 25s.
Essex C-Card website
Free condom service for young people under 20 in Essex.
Family Planning Association
The UK's leading sexual health charity.
NHS Livewell – Contraception
Find out about the 15 types of contraception.
BBC Surgery – Sex and relationships
Let’s talk about sex – all the info you need.
Online tools
Sexual health self-assessment
Is your sex life putting your health at risk? Take the safe sex test and find out more.
Your Comments
Posted - 10:33, 09 Feb 2010
Hi thanks for your comment. This article was last updated on the 23 February 2009 when the link in question was going to its intended destination. This article was in the process of being reviewed and as a result we have updated this page accordingly. Thanks for taking the time to point the error out. Connexions.
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Posted - 01:08, 09 Feb 2010
Your "bare all '07" link took me to Yomego social media agency- they're basically a marketing company. This must need updating.