The only person who can decide if you’re ready is you. If you’re thinking about having sex, you should consider:

• Do you feel you could say no if you wanted to but still want to do it?
• Can you have fun together without anything sexual involved?
• Do you each want it for yourself, not for the other person or to fit in with friends or others’ expectations of you?
• Are you certain nobody’s forcing you, pressuring you or coercing you?
• Have you and your partner discussed using condoms and contraception, agreed what happens next and whether or not to tell your friends afterwards and talked about the implications if you become pregnant?
• You aren’t really ready for sex until you can tick all of these boxes.
• But remember – even if you are, it still doesn’t mean you have to.
• It’s your choice and no-one else’s.

You should never feel pressured into doing something sexual until you’re ready and you should not put yourself at risk.