The majority of Indians believe in abstinence-until-marriage or sex-only-after-marriage. This kind of mindset often censors vital information about sex and can jeopardize your health if you are a teenager. Because, without information on what safe and unsafe sex is,  you can end up engaging in it in a way that is risky for both you and your partner.

Your health matters and it can be jeopardized with inaccurate information. Perhaps this isn’t you, but for most teenagers, knowledge of sex comes from pornography or other far from authentic sources. And porn isn’t an accurate depiction of sex at all.  Read on to learn more so that you can be safe, healthy and happy when you do decide to have sex.

What Is Teen Sexual Health?

Teen sexual health is knowledge about how sex affects you physically and emotionally. Understanding how your body changes during puberty and whom you are becoming as a sexual young adult is also a part of teen sexual health. For some teens, this includes understanding their gender expression, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Knowing about teen sexual health will help you in forming healthy relationships and making healthy decisions about sex that are right for you.

Are You Ready To Have Sex And Deal With All That Comes With It?

Sex can change your self-concept. It can also change your relationships and sometimes even your life. It is therefore very important that you choose the right time to have it. Just as every person is different and we value that diversity, the right time is different for each person too. So, while your friends may want to wait until they are adults or married, you may want to wait until both you and your partner feel that your relationship is ready.

How Do You Know Your Relationship Is Ready?

  • You can trust your partner and vice versa.
  • You can communicate with them about difficult topics like feelings, other relationships, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), or contraception methods.
  • You can responsibly protect yourself and your partner against STIs and pregnancy by using condoms and birth control.
  • You and your partner can respect each other’s decision not to have sex.
  • You have a private space that you can engage in sex.

How Do You Know Your Relationship Is Not Ready For Sex?

  • Your partner is jealous or possessive.

  • Your partner is pressuring you to have sex and does not respect your reason for not wanting to have sex.
  • Your partner does not respect your decision to use condoms or birth control,
  • Your partner bullies you or threatens to hurt themselves or you if you end the relationship.

Does Waiting To Have Sex Make Sense? 

Some people prefer to wait until they are adults to have sex. Here are some reasons why it makes sense:

  • Sex can lead to pregnancy inspite of contraception. And if you become pregnant, you have to make difficult decisions like whether you want to become a teen parent, or whether you want to give the child up for adoption or whether you want to choose to abort. A teenage pregnancy will affect your health, finances, education, relationships and family in a profound way.
  • Sex has health risks. A lot of infections can spread during unprotected sex. Some of these infections are treatable, but some persist for a lifetime. As a teen, you may not be able to access or afford these tests to detect an infection which could delay the treatment.
  • Sex may lead to emotional pain and distractions if you are pressured to have sex. You may choose to have sex due to peer pressure. This does not necessarily mean your friends force you to have sex, but you may feel like doing it because you feel left out otherwise.

Important Reminder: no one should be forced or coerced to have sex. If you are ever pressured or forced to have sex please tell a responsible adult as soon as possible