For Boys: Deciding About Sex

Making the decision to have sex is a complex choice. In school and around friends, it can feel like there’s pressure on you to prove yourself. But before you make a decision to have sex, make sure you think about what’s at risk.

Your health risks

Sex can be risky for your health. When you have sex with someone, you’re in contact with possible germs from their past sexual partners. This may include a sexually transmitted infection (STI), including HIV. In many cases, you can’t tell if someone has an STI unless they tell you. And, they may not even know that they have one. Barrier devices like latex condoms and dental dams can only lower your risk of contracting an STI. Nothing is 100% effective.

Your pregnancy risk

If your partner gets pregnant, some very serious decisions will need to be made. These decisions could affect the rest of your life. Like it or not, you may not have any control over these decisions. The only guaranteed way to protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy is to abstain from sexual intercourse.

However, if you are sexually active, you can reduce the risk of your partner getting pregnant by using a condom every single time you have sexual intercourse (even if your partner is using another birth control method). In addition to helping prevent pregnancy, using condoms correctly with every sex act from start to finish will reduce your risk of HIV and other STIs.

Did You Know

• Did you know a girl can get pregnant the first time she ever has sex?

• Did you know that birth control does not protect against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)?

• Did you know most teens are NOT having sex?

  Talk it out

  Before you make a decision, talk with a trusted adult or healthcare provider about your thoughts. He or she can help you figure out the best choice for you, and help you learn how to stay safe with condoms and other protection if you do have sex.