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You may feel under a great deal of pressure to have sex - pressure from magazines, pop videos, your mates, your boyfriend or girlfriend. But remember it's your body and your choice and you have a right to say no to anything you're not comfortable with. Nobody has the right to push you into doing something you don't want to do. You don't have to have sex until you feel ready and you want to. (The legal age for sex is 16 for men and women in England and Wales).
If you do choose to have sex with a partner, then think about using condoms to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Condoms are available free from a variety of different places including family Planning Clinics and Youth Clinics.
But of course sex is about much more than just shagging (penetration). It's about kissing, touching, caressing and being close to someone, talking to your partner, and using your imagination. Your sexuality also isn't just about who you sleep with. It's about how you feel about yourself and how you relate to the world around you.
It can be hard trying to work out your feelings about sex and relationships as you are growing up and becoming aware of your body and your emotions can often feel quite confusing. A lot of people are attracted to people of the same sex at some point in their lives, and about 1 in 10 people go on to call themselves lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Being attracted to people of the same sex is as normal as being attracted to people of the opposite sex but it can be hard at first to come to terms with your feelings and other people's prejudice. If you think you might be lesbian, gay or bisexual in Sheffield you can get support from The Fruitbowl on 0114 226 1750.
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