Sex and sexual health
Although you might feel that you are under a lot of peer pressure to say that you have slept with someone, in fact some days it might feel like everyone else is having sex, you have to do what is right for you. Only you can be sure that you are ready to make that step and that you are not doing anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Remember, the legal age for sleeping with someone is 16!
The pages in this section will give you some information about Sexually Transmitted Infections, Contraception and Pregnancy with links to local health and advice services for young people, including Clinic in a Box & CHATS / CASH (local free and confidential contraception and sexual health clinics for young people) and Genito Urinary Medicine Clinics (where you should go if you think you may have a sexually transmitted infection.)
Don’t forget there are also Connexions Advisers who can give you confidential advice.
There are also some places on the web where you can get real information - and not just what your friends tell you.
Contraception
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Pregnancy
Contraception
Once you have decided that you’re ready to have sex, you need to be sure that you are protected from any sexually transmitted infection (STIs) and also that you are not in danger of either getting pregnant or having to cope with being a father before you are ready.
These links are to websites that give you the real information about avoiding unwanted pregnancies. As well as contraceptive advice, they give essential information on relationships, sex and sexual health.
R U Thinking
Like it is
Brook
Family Planning Association
Find help locally
RU Thinking contains info on contraception, pregnancy and STIs as well as a searchable database of local contacts.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Although it can be a bit difficult or awkward talking about sex, and particularly about catching an infection from having sex, you need to protect yourself (and your sexual partner) and if you are in any doubt you need to get the facts and get checked out.
Sexually Transmitted Infections are often called STIs. There are many places where you can get confidential advice about sexual health matters – as well as other things to do with sex, such as contraception and pregnancy.
You can speak to a Connexions Personal Adviser, visit your doctor or look at the information on the websites listed on this page. The websites listed here are examples of places where you get the real info, not just what your mates tell you. They also give you information on sex, relationships, contraception as well as sexual health.
R U Thinking
Like it is
Brook
National AIDS Trust
Family Planning Association
Find help locally
Staffordshire Helpline, Telephone 0800 696669 (HIV / AIDS helpline)
Staffordshire Buddies (support for people living with or affected by HIV / AIDS), Telephone 10782 201251.
Sexual Health Information Line; Freephone 24 hours 0800 567 123.
RU Thinking has a searchable database of local contacts including Clinic in a box and Contraceptive and Sexual Health (CASH) Clinics who specialise in offering advice and sexual health screening to young people and GUM (Genito - Urinary Medicine) clinics who provide free and confidential screening and treatment.
Pregnancy
Despite the sort of things that your mates may have told you – like you can’t get pregnant “if it’s your first time" or “if you have sex during a period” or even “if you do it standing up” - if you have had unprotected sex (either because you didn't use contraception or because what you chose to use failed) you might become pregnant or you might get the girl pregnant.
If you think that you may be pregnant you should try to get some help as soon as possible – you can talk to a Connexions Personal Adviser, your doctor or get advice from a young person’s clinic (see the local links below.)
There are several options available to you if you are pregnant. Before you make any decisions about your pregnancy, you should talk to someone because your individual circumstances may be different to anybody else’s. This may be your partner if you have one, or your parents or carers, or a friend or a Connexions Personal Adviser (who will help you to talk to the right specialised person who is able to help you.)
The websites below are useful sources of information:
Like it is
R U Thinking
Brook
Family Planning Association
Find help locally
Young Parents Support Service - help, advice and support for pregnant teenagers and teenage parents. Telephone: 01782 425944.
