“Am I ready for sex?”
Great question! Only you can answer it but taking your time to think about it and talking it over with people you trust, including your partner, can help you to make a decision that is right for you.
Before you’re ready to have sex, you should be aware of the potential risks and consequences and be prepared to protect yourself from STDs and unwanted pregnancy. You should also have talked to your partner about your feelings, concerns and plans for birth control and STD protection.
Here are 10 questions you might want to consider to help you make your decision. And remember, you can always change your mind and make a different decision in the future…
- Do I feel ready to have a sex with someone? Is anyone (boyfriend, girlfriend, friends, etc.) pressuring me to do something I’m not ready to do?
- What are my values about sex? When do I feel that it’s a good time for people to have sex? When they’re dating? When they’re in love? When they’re married?
- What would my family feel about me having sex? What are my religious values about sex (if you belong to a religion)?
- How do I think I might feel after I have sex?
- How do I think our relationship might change after we have sex?
- Can I talk with my partner about sex? Are we on the same page about things?
- Do I know how to protect myself from STDs? (Information on STDs)
- How would I feel if I became pregnant or if I got my partner pregnant? (Pregnancy Options)
- Do I know where to get birth control and what method would be best for me and my partner? (Methods of Birth Control)
- Do we have everything on hand we need to reduce our chances of unwanted pregnancy and STDs? Are we prepared? (Find a clinic near you)
More Information
- How do I know if I’m ready to have sex? https://sexetc.org/info-center/post/how-to-tell-your-partner-what-youre-ready-or-not-ready-for-sexually/
- Am I ready? https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/sex/all-about-sex/am-i-ready-sex
- Find a clinic near you: http://teensource.org/pages/3004/Find_a_clinic.htm