Sex
How to read the stories

Sex

Learning about your sexuality is a normal and healthy part of becoming an adult. When young people explore their sexuality it can be very exciting, but doing things for the first time can be worrying too. It can be hard to know how and when to develop a sexual relationship. You need to know someone well enough so that you both feel ready for sex. And many people will choose to wait until they are ready for marriage before they have sex together.

Masturbation

Masturbation is a normal part of sexual development. When you masturbate, you touch your genitals (your private parts) in ways that are pleasurable and sexually exciting. Masturbation allows young people to explore their sexual feelings and helps them to discover what they like about sexual behaviour. It is important that masturbation happens in private places such as your bedroom. This is because it is personal.

Understanding sexual feelings

It can be difficult to know when you are ready for sex. Two people may get along well, laugh together and have the same interests. They may find each other physically attractive. When two people fall in love, they often find that they want to spend a lot of time together. They enjoy each other’s company and care about each other. These loving feelings can sometimes become sexual feelings and the two people may decide they want to start a sexual relationship.

Consent

It is very important that both people have agreed to have sex. In fact, it is illegal to have sex with a person if they do not agree to it. Agreeing to have sex means that it is your choice and that you have not been forced or persuaded into it, and that you are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you have loving feelings towards someone and you think you might be ready for sex, it is important to know if the other person feels the same way. Talking to your girlfriend about your relationship is the best way to know if you are both ready for sex. You can talk through any worries or concerns you may have and you can decide together what to do. If you find that your girlfriend does not want to have sex or is not ready, it is very important to respect her decision. Talking about sex does not mean trying to convince your girlfriend that this is a good idea. Forcing someone to have sex is against the law.

Contraception

If a couple do not want to have a baby but decide that they do want to have a sexual relationship, they need to use a form of contraception. There are lots of different types, including contraceptive pills and implants for women. For men, condoms are the main type of contraception. Condoms are a good type of contraception if they are used properly – it is important to learn how to use them. Some men find condoms difficult to use. Men have a responsibility to be aware of contraception if they do not want to become a father.

How to read the stories

There is no right or wrong way to read the stories.

Some people are not used to reading stories. Start at the beginning and read the story in each picture. Encourage the reader to move through the pages at their own pace.
Encourage the person to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what they think is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. If you are using the pictures to help explain a procedure to someone, you may need to describe or clarify the actions being shown in each picture to help them understand. Try not to challenge the reader(s) or suggest their ideas are wrong.
Some pictures may be more difficult to understand. It can help to prompt the people you are supporting, for example:
• Who do you think that is?
• What is happening?
• How is he or she feeling?
• Do you feel like that? Has it happened to you/ your friend/ your family?
Allow people enough time to follow the pictures at their own pace. Allow time for discussion of each picture.
Some people may benefit from reading the larger story from which the extract has been taken. This will allow them to explore their feelings and experiences in more depth. To buy the complete book, follow the link to the bookshop that appears at the end of the story.