Am I ready for sex?
Deciding when … and if … you're ready to have sex is a big deal. Its one of the biggest and most important decisions that you'll ever make. A healthy sexual relationship with another person can be very fulfilling … but having sex before you're ready can leave you feeling depressed or disappointed.

If you decide to have sex, you need to know that you may be putting yourself at risk for an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease. BEFORE you have sex, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I know how to prevent an unplanned pregnancy?
• Do I know where to go to get reliable birth control?
• How would I deal with an unplanned pregnancy?
• How would my family react if I told them that I (or my partner) was pregnant?
• What if I get a sexually transmitted disease?
• What if I get a sexually transmitted disease that isn't curable?
• What if my partner doesn't want to date me after we have sex?
• How many other sex partners does my partner have?
• Has my partner had sex with other people in the past?

If you don't have the answers to these questions, you may want to consider waiting to get involved in a sexual relationship.

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Pre-Sex Checklist
So you've decided that you're ready to have sex? Here are a few things that you need to do first:

	TALK!   Discuss your values with your partner (your thoughts about safer sex or unplanned pregnancy, for example) before you have sex for the first time. Remember, it's never too late to have this conversation, even if you've already had sex.
	Make sure that you (or your partner) are using a reliable form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
	Have latex or polyurethane condoms on hand. Use condoms in addition to your chosen birth control method to protect yourself from sexually transmitted disease.
	If you or your partner has had other sex partners in the past, you should both get screened for STDs and HIV. It's much better to get tested before you have sex with a new partner, but it's still important to get tested even if you've already had sex.

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HOW DO I TELL MY PARTNER I'M NOT READY FOR SEX?

It is always your decision as to whether or not you want to have sex with someone … even if you have had sex with them before. Sex should happen only if both people are sure they want it.

Sometimes teens don't intend on having sex … but it happens anyway. This may mean that you haven't had time to think about things like birth control or condoms. The best way to avoid this type of situation is to have a PLAN.

Start thinking about sex way before you become involved with someone, and set limits in your own mind about how far you are - - or aren't - - willing to go.

Here are some other tips that can prevent sex from "just happening" to you:

• AVOID or limit your use of drugs and alcohol - both lower your inhibitions and make it more likely that you will end up getting involved in an unexpected situation.
• AVOID risky situations, like being alone with someone you may be attracted to or social situations with people you don't know well.
• Use the "BUDDY SYSTEM." When you are going to be in unfamiliar situations, take a close friend and look out for each other.

REMEMBER: your body belongs to you and it is never OK for someone to force you into doing something that you're not comfortable with.

If you have been raped or forced into having sex with someone, seek help. Click here for more information about Sexual Assault.

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