AM I READY TO HAVE SEX?

Whether you are a virgin or not, having sex with someone for the first time is always a big deal. You need to be emotionally ready for this event, and you need to be prepared to take care of your own health and the health of your partner. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to know for sure if you are ready to have sex.

We've put together this questionnaire to help you decide if you are ready to have sex, whether it is for the first time ever or the first time with someone new.
Simply answer "yes" or "no" to each question and add up your answers to find out if you are ready to have sex.

Questionnaire
1. Have you discussed sex with your potential partner?
2. Have you discussed safer sex with your potential partner?
3. Can you imagine being naked with your partner without feeling uncomfortable?
4. Are you able to use terms like "penis" and "vagina" without laughing or feeling uncomfortable?
5. Are you able to purchase condoms or arrange for birth control without feeling uncomfortable?
6. Have you bought condoms and arranged for birth control?
7. Do you understand that STIs can be transferred during oral, vaginal and anal sex?
8. Do you understand that the only 100% safe sex is no sex at all?
9. Have you considered what you would do if faced with an unplanned pregnancy?
10. Do you know how your parents feel about or react to your having sex?
11. Do you understand why you want to have sex?
12. Do you understand that having sex does not mean that you or more of a couple, or that you will stay a couple?

Are You Ready To Have Sex?
If you answered "no" to between one and four questions then you are not ready to have sex. Becoming physically intimate with someone requires certain levels of comfort, understanding and responsibility - none of which you display with your answers.
Take some time to think about why you are interested in having sex, and to educate yourself about all of the possible risks associated with this act.
Only when you have considered all potential outcomes, how you would react to each of them, and what you can do to keep yourself and your partner safe, should you again contemplate having sex.
If you answered "yes" to between five and eight questions then you may be ready to have sex. You seem to be mature enough to think about this issue critically and make your own decisions about your comfort levels and responsibilities.
But have you shared these thoughts with your partner or others who care about you? Do you still worry about what authority figures might think or what might happen if, for example, the condom breaks? If you can not consider the negative consequences of sexual intercourse without feeling overwhelmed then you are not yet ready to have sex.
If you answered "yes" to nine or more questions then it is likely that you feel ready to have sex. Before doing so, make sure that you discuss the issue with your partner and take all steps required to keep yourselves safe. Also, remember that accidents can happen so plan your response if one happens to you. Don't leave this up to chance.

November 06, 2009