What you should Know before You Decide to Have First Sex

Every girl who decided to have first sex should first of all realize whether she is ready for this step. It might greatly surprise you, but in fact there are no strict age and physiological limits. Your sexual health does not depend on the age when you had first sex. Being ready to start having sex implies psychological and informational readiness.

First of all, you should want to make this step, and the most important thing is to want to have first sex exactly with this person, whom you respect and in whom you trust. You ought to want to lose virginity consciously, this should be your own will, rather than sacrifice.

Do not start having sex before you know enough about this aspect of life. You should be well informed about peculiarities of female and male anatomy and physiology, methods to protect yourself against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, methods of emergency contraception.

Be aware that being informed about methods of contraception is not enough. No theory works without practice. You must always have condoms handy, you should know how to use them and you must understand that your sexual health and health in general depends only on you. This is you who is responsible for your health and life. Do not rely only on your partner, even if he is much older and much more experienced than you!

Forget about calendar methods of contraception, coitus interruptus and unprotected sex during the period, that allegedly never leads to pregnancy. This is nothing more than a myth. You can never be sure you will not get pregnant.

How to prepare

1. Get familiar with anatomy and physiology of male and female genital system. It is very important to know how each element of this system works and to realize what is the truth and what is nothing more than a myth. There is a great deal of books, articles and even educational films on this issue. Do not believe information you got from your girlfriends.
2. Examine your menstrual cycle. During at least a year count the length of the cycle (the cycle begins on the first day of periods and ends on the first day of next periods). Thus you will be able to realize whether you have a delay of periods. Irregular cycle should not scare you as this can be an age variant of the norm. Do not make any conclusions by yourself. All the conclusions must be made by a doctor who knows much more about sexual health than you. Never count days when you can and when you cannot get pregnant. Be aware that you can get pregnant on any day of the period.
3. Buy high quality condoms and learn how to use them properly. You should always have condoms handy. Do not believe that condoms are only men's business. This is you who first of all needs protection against unwanted pregnancy and infections. The condom is the best method of contraception for newcomers as only a condom prevents infections. Even if your doctor recommended you to use hormonal contraception, do use condoms. Hormones do not protect against infections! Before using a condom read the instruction carefully and follow all the rules. Keep in mind that the condom works only if it is put on in time. The condom should be put on before penetration, otherwise protection is not guaranteed.
4. Be aware that not only intercourse causes pregnancy. Sperm can get inside from hands and lingerie. Hymen is not a barrier for sperm as it has orifices! You can get pregnant through coitus interruptus or during second intercourse – there can be some remains of sperm on the penis. Oral sex never causes pregnancy, but it does transmit infections.
5. Get to know more about emergency contraception. Keep in mind that you can take an emergency pill only within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraception must no be used more often than twice a year!
6. You should be aware of the fact that hymen can be very stretchy. Often it does not break during the first intercourse and there can be very little blood. The hymen might bleed on the second and on the third time you have sex. Do not be anxious, sooner or later it will break.
7. Learn to orgasm. Some girls think that this is the partner who must teach them to orgasm. Why should he know your body better than you? It is very important to know what you need for getting satisfaction. There is only one way to find out what your body needs: masturbation. While masturbating you will find your erogenous zones and you will realize what kind of stimulation you like most. For this purpose you can use some sex toys, for instance a clitoral vibrator. You are not recommended to use insertable sex toys, such as dildos and traditional vibrators for an obvious reason.