Advice about safe sex

What is safe sex?

Safe sex is about making sure that you and your boyfriend or girlfriend do not give each other germs and diseases while you are having sex. Safe sex is also called ‘protected sex’. If you do not have safe sex you are in danger of getting what is called a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Safe sex is also about making sure the girlfriend does not get pregnant.

Using a condom when having sex is one way of making sure you are having safe sex. Because it covers the man during sex it stops semen entering the woman. This is important because it means that the woman cannot get pregnant and no germs can go from one person to another.

There are different kinds of contraception. Read more about contraception.

Where can you get help and advice?

If you want to go and talk to someone who gives private advice to young people you can call the Brook Centre which has a helpline – 0800 0185 023 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm). If you go one their website you can see if there is a centre that you can go and visit to talk to someone face to face.

You can get answers to any question you have about safe sex from the Family Planning Association.

Go to the Family Planning Website. Or you can ring the helpline 0845 122 8690 – you can ring Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.