Sexual health and relationships - Introduction

All of us throughout our lives will have many different relationships: these may be the relationships we have with our parents or carers, brothers and sisters, friends, neighbours or even our teachers.  Some people also have a boyfriend or girlfriend as they get older, although different people do this at different times.

Only you can decide when the best time is to start to have a sexual relationship.  Having sex should be something you want to do because you feel ready not because someone wants you to or because they think you should for their sake.  You also need to know the legal restrictions about how old you have to be before you can have sex.

You will need to consider the risks of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and AIDS.  For advice contact your family planning clinic or local agency.  If you do have an unplanned pregnancy, there are a number of options that you will need to consider and the sooner you make your decisions, the better.  In addition to family planning clinics, local organisations can offer you expert help and support.

If you want to find out more about puberty, relationships, safe sex, sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, gay lesbian and bisexual relationships or being a young father click on the links on this page.