Healthy relationships

The heart starts to beat faster as you wait to hear or maybe wait to say the words ‘I love you’. Maybe it’s just a crush, maybe it's love, maybe they’re the "one".

These thoughts are one of many that go through the mind of every teenager and it’s not long before they are directed to sex.

It is perfectly natural to be confused or nervous at this stage as it is a big step to take in a relationship.

However, you need to be aware that there are medical and legal issues involved - it's important to be safe and not to break the law.

In the UK, you can legally have sex after the age of 16. This applies to heterosexual sex (between a male and female), or homosexual sex (between two members of the same sex).

Although you can legally have sex at these ages, you should only have sex when you are ready and not feel pressured into doing it.

No-one has the right to make you do anything sexual you don't want to do, it is abuse when:

• You’re being touched in a way you don’t like
• You feel forced to have sex
• You’re forced to look at sexual pictures or videos
• You’re made to watch someone do something sexual, like flashing or exposing themselves
• You’re made to do something sexual to someone that feels uncomfortable or wrong.

 

If you are a victim of abuse or you feel that you are being pressured, it is important to realise that you are not alone and there is support available for you.

Direct Gov has produced This is abuse website that provides lots of helpful advice as well as contact information for support.