teenage sex

You need to make intelligent choices to protect yourself from accidental pregnancy and nasty sexual diseases

There's no doubt about it: Sex can be one of life's most fulfilling experiences. But it also has risks, and there are precautions everyone can take to stay safe and healthy. These days, what you don't know about sex can hurt you so you'll want to get the facts - and fast. Whether you're currently having sex with someone or not, you probably have lots of questions - about contraception, sexual disease, and the other intimate topics. Fortunately, we have some answers.

Know Your Body

Of course it's your body and it's up to you what you do with it. That's why you need to make intelligent choices to protect yourself from accidental pregnancy and nasty sexual diseases, as well as the emotional fallout that can occur from having sex with the wrong person. Making smart sexual decisions is easier than you might think - all it takes is a little foresight and planning before you're in the heat of the moment. So make the effort to safeguard your physical and emotional health now and in the long-term.

As a first step, it's very important to know your own body. Knowing what is "normal" for you is important so that you can tell when something is different.

If you're a woman, you should pay attention to how often your menstrual periods are, how much you normally bleed, and what kind of discomfort (if any) you have with your period. A simple and easy thing to do is to mark when your periods start and end on a calendar. Between your periods, you should know what your own vaginal discharge is like, so that you can tell if something changes. Being aware of how your body normally is will help you know if you develop any symptoms that may signal an unintended pregnancy or sexually-transmitted disease.

If you're a man, you need to be aware if you develop any skin changes (like sores) on your genitals, or if you develop any discharge from your penis or discomfort when you urinate; these could be signs of a sexually-transmitted disease.

Now, what can you do to prevent pregnancy?

next: Birth Control Options