self-conscious. Their website â as well as their phone lines â offer advice on a wide range of issues from contraception, common sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy choices and abortion to planning a pregnancy. They also provide details of clinics, plus sexual-assault referral centres. You can ring the helpline or read their range of leaflets, which are specifically designed for young people.
Sexual Health Direct is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
â 0845 122 8690
www.fpa.org.uk
To find your nearest clinic: www.fpa.org.uk/Findaclinic
The first time I had sex I was sixteen, but I wasnât ready. I wasnât ready at all. Iâd been going out with this guy for six months. He was eighteen, so he had his own apartment. Weâd met in a club one night. Honestly, I slept with him because I thought it would make him stay with me. I sensed we might split up. That was such a stupid thing to do. I was sober, it wasnât particularly planned, but Iâd sort of thoughtI should if we stayed together and it just happened one night. I was so nervous and worried.
The main thing was I just wasnât prepared for all the emotions and feelings that come with having sex with someone for the first time. To make matters worse, he dumped me the next day. He never spoke to me again. He dumped me because he wanted to be with someone else. Whether Iâd had sex with him or not, he was always going to do that. I wish Iâd waited.
It affected me so much that I didnât have sex again for a year. I couldnât bear to go through all the upset. Sex is not just about the physical act. As soon as you have sex, you have to think about having a cervical smear. It can detect the cells that could make you susceptible to cancer.
I had my sister, Aimee, to look out for me! Iâm not sure if Iâm grateful or not. Once, she booked an appointment with a gynaecologist to have my fanny checked â but didnât tell me. I only found out when I was with my mum on one of her shopping sprees in the jewellery store Tiffany &. Co. in Beverly Hills. I had my mobile on speakerphone when the call came through from the doctorâs receptionist, who had called to confirm my appointment. It was announced to the whole of the store. I was so embarrassed. And then I was bloody annoyed. My fanny is no oneâs business. Not even my fatherâs for that matter. As soon as he heard about it, he started questioning me in the kitchen about whether Iâd had sex or not. There are some things you donât want your parents to know about.
Make the right decision
If you need to talk to someone, ring the Sexwise Helpline where they will put you through to a specially trained advisor in your area.
0800 282 930 between 7 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week www.maketherightdecision.co.uk/html/clinics
Sex Etc
This is sex advice written by teenagers aimed at their peers, covering everything from deciding when to have sex for the first time and emotional health to birth control, STIs and abortion. You can ask their experts for confidential advice, view videos about sexual health, follow the blog which deals with all the latest topics, and enter forums in which teens discuss everything and anything sex-related.
www.sexetc.org
G IRLS â and boys â you need to protect yourselves against infection and unwanted pregnancy.
I go three, maybe four times a year to get tested for sexually transmitted infections. Most of the time I donât even need to, but I just go for peace of mind, even when Iâm in a trusting, long-term relationship. Itâs just good to be body-aware.
RUThinking is a really useful site that gives advice to girls and boys on loads of topics including emergency contraception, STIs, smear tests, your body, your sexuality, peer pressure and finding local clinics. Donât forget you can buy emergency contraception over the counter in most pharmacies. You need to be over
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