There is no “right age” to have sex because there is a lot to consider before you do. Some people may be emotionally ready to have sex before their peers and others may not be there yet. What’s most important is: You should never feel pressured to have sex by your partner, friends or anyone else.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you’re ready for a sexual relationship.

• Is your decision to have sex agreed on by both you and your partner?
• Is your decision to have sex based on the right reasons? (It shouldn’t be based on peer pressure or just to relieve sexual urges. If you decide to have sex, it should be because you feel emotionally and physically ready. Your partner should be someone you trust and someone you feel comfortable discussing sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy with since both of these are very real things that can happen to anyone who has sex.)
• Do you feel you would respect any decision you and your partner made about whether to have sex or not, including to stop in the middle of it?
• Are you able to comfortably talk to your partner about sex and your partner’s sexual history?
• Have you and your partner talked about what both of you would do if your partner became pregnant or got an STI?
• Do you know how to prevent pregnancy and STIs?
• Are you and your partner willing to use contraception to prevent pregnancy and STIs?
• Do you really feel ready and completely comfortable with yourself and your partner to have sex?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, you are not ready to have sex.