Short messages on Sexual health and Safety issues from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
You can use Brook’s confidential “My Contraception” tool online to find out which contraception suits you best.
There are 15 types of contraception available in the UK to suit you, including condoms, the pill, injections, implants and emergency.
Be yourself – whoever you are, however you feel, whatever life has thrown at you. If things are tough, talk about it. Samaritans can be reached on 08457 90 90 90 or jo@samaritans.org .
Shaving your pubic hair will not prevent you catching pubic lice (crabs), and won’t get rid of them. You can treat yourself with an insecticidal lotion from your pharmacist or GP.
You cannot get pregnant from having oral sex, even if you swallow sperm. However, you can catch STIs such as herpes and chlamydia.
Wet dreams (ejaculating in your sleep) are a normal part of puberty and mean that a boy is physically able to ejaculate, but he might not feel ready to have a sexual relationship for months or years. It’s a personal choice.
Some women do ejaculate when they orgasm, but not all do. It’s normal either way. It’s not known exactly what the ejaculatory fluid is, where it comes from or why it’s produced.
For some men it can take some time to ejaculate again after having sex. This is normal, and doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with his sperm.
Masturbating will not affect a man’s ability to produce sperm, and he will not “run out” of it – he produces sperm continuously.
If you’re 13 to 16 and want contraception, an abortion or tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the doctor, nurse or pharmacist won’t tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe that you fully understand the information you’re given, and your decisions.