Travelling companions

Most sexual practices, whether between people of the opposite or the same sex, usually involve touching, excitement and affection. Some people believe there is no question of having a sexual relationship outside a loving partnership.

Listen to one person's experience.

Others may have no regular partner and still enjoy active sexual relationships. Sex and love are not exactly the same. However, for many people love and sex go together.

Listen to one person's experience.

Deciding to have a sexual relationship can be a big decision and it is important to understand the consequences of your choice. But don't forget you can say 'no', and whether you say 'yes' or 'no', think about the possible consequences as well as the pleasure of the moment.

Explore

None of us can tell exactly how we will enjoy our experiences, or where they will take us. This is also true when it comes to partners, sex and pleasure.

A good way to begin to be active is to explore your own body. This can increase your confidence about understanding how your own body looks, feels and responds. Masturbation is an extension of this kind of exploration. Masturbation means playing with your genitals, massaging and rubbing them. It is a form of sexual expression and it can release sexual tension. In some cultures it is taught that masturbation will damage you, but there is no medical proof for this. So, despite what some people may tell you, no harm can happen to you by doing it.

Cool places

The starting point is yourself and giving yourself permission to explore and enjoy your own sexual feelings. Expressing your desires can help.

• You may want to do something your partner has never done before
• You may want sex less or more often than your partner
• You may want to have a baby
• You may not want to have a baby
• You may not know as much as your partner about safer sex
• You may know more than your partner about safer sex
• You may have more or less experience than your partner
• You may like to act out fantasies with your partner
• You may not want to have sex

These issues can be addressed by communicating with your partner about your mutual needs and wants. There is no right or wrong way to have sex. There are many ways to show your feelings for each other. And your body will let you know what you like.

Listen to one person's experience.

Your sexual desires may include mutual masturbation, oral sex (which is caressing your partner's genitals with your lips and tongue), being vigorous or gentle with each other, having penetrative sex (vaginal or anal) or having sex without penetration. What you can do with each other is as endless as your own imagination, but remember to protect yourself.

Vaginal sex

This is probably the most practised sexual activity between heterosexual couples. This form of penetrative sex, known as 'sexual intercourse', where the penis enters the vagina, also exists to provide the principle way of becoming pregnant. Once the penis is inside the vagina, one or both partners move their pelvis, so that the penis goes backwards and forwards with changes of rhythm. This can last anything from a couple of minutes to over an hour. It usually ends with a climax of sexual excitement called orgasm.

Sexual intercourse can be difficult, especially if it is your first time or you are nervous. Kissing, stroking and cuddling, also known as 'foreplay', arouse both the male and the female. Most men can have an erection and be aroused quite quickly.

Foreplay usually helps women to be aroused so that their vaginas are relaxed to allow the penis to enter easily and without pain. When a woman is sexually excited her body will produce a natural lubrication to assist penetration. There are many different ways to have penetrative sex which you can explore, so be prepared for a journey with lots of excursions into unknown areas. In this way, you will find what suits you best.

Homosexuality

Sexual relationships between men and women are called heterosexual or 'straight' relationships. Sexual relationships between partners of the same sex are called homosexual or 'gay' relationships. Some people know that they are gay from a very early age and are perfectly comfortable in that knowledge. Some may not know, and others hide their feelings because they are scared or ashamed of feeling different. Life can be very difficult for a gay person because of the prejudices many people have about homosexuality. In some countries homosexuality is still illegal. Gay people are just like everyone else in that they have the type of sex that best suits them. Your sexual preferences may change during your lifetime. Some people are sexually active with men and women. This is known as bisexuality.

Visit Mezzo for more information on love and relationships.
Pridelinks has links to other sites on homosexuality. Youth Resource runs a site for young bisexual people.

Orgasm

Sex is about arousal, and this may include orgasm which creates highly pleasurable sensations for men and women. Reaching an orgasm with a partner can take practice and good communication. You have not 'failed' if you or your partner has not had an orgasm. When the penis and the clitoris are sufficiently stimulated, orgasm will occur. An orgasm consists of a series of muscular contractions in the sex organs. These are felt as a throbbing or pulsating sensation, which spreads through the whole body, causing a feeling of intense pleasure followed by one of relaxation. At the moment of the man's peak excitement, semen will come out of his penis. Most women can reach orgasm through stimulation of the clitoris alone. Very few can reach it without the clitoris being aroused. Women also have orgasms through vaginal stimulation. One partner may reach orgasm before the other and orgasm may not occur every time you have sex. The brain plays as much a part in our sexual lives as our bodies. This explains how our thoughts and feelings, fantasies and desires contribute to our sexual excitement.

Pregnancy

In order for an egg to become fertilised, it has to come into contact with the man's sperm. At the moment of the man's ejaculation, the sperm travels from the testicles into the penis and then spurts from the penis, up into the top of the woman's vagina. The sperm travels towards the womb usually meeting the egg in the fallopian tubes. If a sperm then joins with the egg, the woman becomes pregnant. The egg settles down in the womb and starts to grow and approximately 9 months later a baby is born. For more information visit Village's All Health.

Early signs of pregnancy include: missed menstruation, breast enlargement and tenderness, nausea and vomiting, a metallic taste in the mouth, fatigue and dizziness. Pregnancy can be confirmed by a simple test which should be available from medical professionals. Confidentiality and privacy are yours by right - you can request these from a health professional whenever you want them.