Sex is something people your age do.īut maybe you’re not sure if you’re ready. You’re just plain horny! Sex is all you can think about, and you’d rather do it than think about it. You’re curious-everyone is talking about sex, and now you want to experience it for yourself. You have a steady girlfriend or boyfriend, you’ve been getting closer to each other, and sex just feels like the natural next step. But I want to be sure that if you do, you’ll think about it carefully.įor starters, why do you want to have sex? There may be lots of reasons: I’m not trying to discourage you from having sex.

If you have sex with someone you don’t feel that strongly about, you could find yourself feeling more attached to them, whether you want to or not. If you have sex with someone you feel really strongly about, those feelings might deepen if you have sex with them-which can be both wonderful and a little scary. In addition, sex can bring on a lot of feelings you might not be prepared for. Sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy are very real risks, so you’ll want to make sure you’re informed and ready to take precautions (you can learn how in chapters 5 and 6). But it also comes with a lot of consequences. Being physically ready is one thing, but how do you know if you’re ready emotionally? The fact that you’re reading this chapter probably means you’re asking yourself this question.īecoming sexually active is a big deal. All those changes-breasts growing, hair appearing in new places, changes in your genitals, getting your period, having your first wet dream-mean that your body is ready to have sex. IN CHAPTER 3 WE TALKED ABOUT PUBERTY AND WHAT HAPPENS TO your body as you grow from a child into an adult.

Doing It Right by Bronwen Pardes