No one truly knows when they are in love so it’s difficult to answer that question. However there are some feelings like butterflies in your belly, thinking of that person all the time, feeling happy and sometimes feeling like you’re in a dream world; this could all mean you are in love. If your partner makes you feel happy, makes you feel good and lets you be yourself that’s what love and a healthy relationship is about.
If you feel confident enough then yes, but be prepared as they may not feel the same about you. Try looking for the signs that they might be interested; do you think they are showing an interest in you? Do you have the same type of things in common? Do you talk to each other and get along well? Maybe get some advice by talking to a friend or someone that you trust about how you feel, and then you can judge if it would be a good idea to tell them that you like them.
There is no rush to have sex, and you shouldn’t feel under any pressure. Someone who loves you will wait until you are ready. You should ask yourself a few questions; can you spend time together and have fun without sex being involved? Can you both talk openly about sex and protection whilst not under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Are you both feeling happy together? Do you feel you can trust them? Communication is important to any healthy relationship and if you are feeling good about your relationship then you will probably ‘know’ when the time is right for you. You must be aware however if you do choose to have sex, that you have both thought about and prepared protection against pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections and that you are aware of the laws about the age of consent. Also remember that even if you have decided to have sex you can change your mind at any time.
For more information why not look at the ‘I think I have an STI’ page.
It is completely up to you if you want to tell your partner about your ex’s, just remember though that that was then, and this is now! There are no rules to this question; if you feel comfortable to talk openly about your ex’s then that’s ok but don’t feel pressured into it. If your new partner wants you for who you are then they will not worry about the past! Don’t forget though, if you had sex with you ex you need to get a sexual health check to make sure you don’t have a Sexually Transmitted Infection. Trust is very important in a relationship; what has happened before shouldn’t affect this new relationship
Trust is really important in a relationship, you have to earn trust and it’s built up over time. There are some thing’s which you can look out for which will let you know if you are not trusted. These might include your partner checking your phone, always asking where you are or who you are with. Be careful though having no trust can be a sign of an abusive relationship if they don’t trust you why are they with you.
Wait until you are ready. There is no time limit and you should not feel pressured into anything with anyone. Someone who loves you and trusts you and really wants to be with you will wait until you are ready! If you are thinking about having sex for the first time then you might want to check out this page first; Should I?
Every situation is different. The best thing to do is to sit down with your partner, talk it through, and see if you can work through it so the end result means you are both happy. Things to remember before you react might be; do you know for sure that he kissed someone else or did you find it out through other friends? Do you want to be with him? Is it a silly mistake which you can forgive? Do you think you can ever trust him again? If you think you might have a future and be happy then sometimes you need to accept his apologies and move forward, but make sure you think you can trust him, otherwise you will spend all your time wondering where and who he is with, which is not a healthy happy relationship.
No, you can’t tell if someone is a virgin by looking at them, unless you tell them, they would never know. As a girl when you first have sex you may break your hymen (pop your cherry). This is a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening. However you can break it many different ways, e.g. using tampons, riding a bike, sports activities etc. A guy doesn’t have anything like this. It’s your choice whether to share this information with your partner. If you have had sex with other people, you should think about getting a sexual health check before having sex with a new partner and encourage your new partner to do this too.
Everyone is affected by drinking alcohol in different ways. Sometimes it can make you feel more confident, but what alcohol actually does is reduce your inhibition (shyness) and you are more likely to take risks if under the influences of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drugs can also affect your sexual performance especially if you’re a guy trying to get a hard-on. Something to remember- if you are not willing to have sex when you are sober then you may need to think, are you really ready for this?
You need to also make sure that you are within the law when having sex with someone who has taken alcohol or drugs; ensure that you are both consenting to sex. Have a look at the ‘Should I?’ pages for more information.
If you need more information about alcohol have a look at www.thinkalcohol.com
Everyone has a right not to do something they are not comfortable with; a healthy relationship is all about communication and feeling comfortable with your partner. Maybe talk to your partner about why they don’t want to give you a blow- job and maybe you will find out it’s something small like they are not sure if you are enjoying it, so you can put things in place to make it a more pleasurable experience. If your partner just doesn’t like giving blow-jobs then try and find an alternative compromise which you both enjoy.
It’s your personal decision if you want a one night stand, but you need to make sure you are protected and safe and you should also think about the consequences and risks if you go ahead. Don’t let anyone pressure you or persuade you into making a decision you’re not sure about. If you need to know more about contraception or the risks of sexually transmitted infections then check out other pages on the website.
For more information see the STI or the contraception pages
Firstly, you shouldn’t feel you have to do something you don’t feel comfortable with. Don’t let anyone pressure you into anything you don’t want to, a good relationship is built on trust and communication. Talk to your partner about why you don’t like it or give them tips to make the experience more enjoyable for you and them. If you do choose to give oral sex you should use condoms to protect from sexually transmitted infections.
Yes, there is nothing wrong with being a virgin; you should wait until you feel ready to have sex and if someone cares for you they will respect your choice. Remember, the law says that you need to be 16 years old or over to legally consent to sexual activity whether you’re bi, straight or gay. This is not a target age but the law exists to protect young people. When you feel protected and ready, it’s your choice whether or not to have sex. Have a look at the page: Am I Ready?
If they wanted a trusting healthy relationship they would not force you into sex with them to stay in a relationship. You are probably better without them if sex is all they value. It is good that you are waiting for the right moment for you and that’s really important; it should remain your choice. You could try to talk to them and explain your feelings if you haven’t done so already. The chances are you will find a nice person, and have a loving and caring relationship one day and you will be glad you waited for them instead.
You might feel ok now about your partner taking pictures of you or sending them pictures, BUT remember when pictures are sent via text, Bluetooth or the internet you lose control of who can view them! Would you be happy for anybody or everybody to see it? When a picture goes viral it lasts forever. How would you feel 20 years in the future if people could see these pictures, or next week at school?
The law says that if you’re under 18, it’s illegal to take or share an ‘indecent’ picture or video of yourself, or to look at or share someone else’s. It’s illegal in every circumstance, even if you take the image yourself, or even if someone gave their permission; if they’re under 18 it is illegal. Breaking the law by taking or sharing indecent images could result in prosecution and you and/or your partner being put on the sex offenders register. So think about that picture or video it might seem like a good idea now but could affect the rest of your life!
Someone who loves you won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. You might feel ok now about your partner taking pictures of you or sending them pictures, BUT remember when pictures are sent via text, Bluetooth or the internet you lose control of who can view it! Would you be happy for anybody or everybody to see it? When a picture goes viral it lasts forever. How would you feel in a few years time if people could see these pictures?
The law says that if you’re under 18, it’s illegal to take or share an ‘indecent’ picture or video of yourself, or to look at or share someone else’s. It’s illegal in every circumstance, even if you take the image yourself, or even if someone gave their permission; if they’re under 18 it is illegal. Breaking the law by taking or sharing indecent images could result in prosecution and you and/or your partner being put on the sex offenders register. So think about that picture or video it might seem like a good idea now but could affect the rest of your life!
If you’re under 18, it’s illegal to take or share an ‘indecent’ picture or video of yourself, or to look at or share someone else’s. It’s illegal in every circumstance, even if you take the image yourself, or even if someone gave their permission; if they’re under 18 it is illegal. Breaking the law by taking or sharing indecent images could result in prosecution and you and/or your partner being put on the sex offenders register.
You might feel ok now about your partner taking pictures of you or sending them pictures, BUT remember when pictures are sent via text, Bluetooth or the internet you lose control of who can view them! Would you be happy for anybody or everybody to see your picture? When a picture goes viral it lasts forever, how would you feel if next week everyone at school had seen it or in a few years time.
So think about that picture or video. It might seem like a good idea now but could affect the rest of your life!
No, this is abuse and no one should be in a violent relationship; someone who loves you will treat you with care and respect. You need support to get out of this relationship as you deserve better.
Breaking up from someone is never easy to deal with; it hurts even if it’s what you wanted. In time the pain will get easier. Using drink, drugs or sleeping around won’t take way the pain and could cause more problems. You could have some time to yourself, doing the things you want to do and find positive ways to occupy your time or spend time with friends, family and people who care about you. Talk about how you feel to someone you trust and don’t bottle it up.
If you are not happy in a relationship you owe it to yourself and to them, to be honest. Try to tell them in person that you want to break-up and not by text or social media. It will probably hurt them but you both deserve to be happy. Get advice from a trusted friend about your situation. Think about why you are breaking up with them and make sure you are clear about what you want in your future. Be prepared for tears and upset because breaking up is never easy.
