Having a ‘normal’ sex life means taking part in sexual activity that feels fulfilling and satisfying to you and your partner, as often or as little as you both want. You should have the freedom to choose and communicate the types of sexual experiences and relationships you are interested in.

It’s important to use contraception to protect yourself and your partner from STIs and to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

If you are experiencing abuse, coercion or violence in relation to your sexual health, or if you or someone you know has experienced or is at risk of female genital cutting, you should tell the police, your doctor, teacher or other professional immediately.

Consent is essential in establishing boundaries within sexual relationships. While the age of consent is 16 years old, this is not the same as sexual consent.

Sexual consent is an agreement between two people to engage in sexual activity. You should never feel pressured or forced to have sex. Within a relationship, it is important that you talk clearly about what you and your partner do, and do not, want to do.

Getting to know your body can help you learn about your sexual preferences and boundaries. It can also help you spot if something isn’t quite right.

If you are considering having sex, then it is important that you are ready. Sex should be an experience you enjoy but are also willing to take responsibility for.

Sex and intimate relationships are a normal part of life. Having good sexual health, regardless of age, has been shown to have positive links with maintaining good physical and emotional health.

To help you experience sexual pleasure, you should:

There is a myth that sexual pleasure reduces during menopause, but this doesn’t need to be true, sex can still be pleasurable in later life.

It is generally safe to have sex during pregnancy. While your baby may feel your movements during sex, any sexual activity that does not harm you will not harm your baby, as they are protected in the womb by amniotic fluid.

Pregnancy is a suitable time to consider what method of contraception you may want to use after your baby is born.

Local sexual health support services for the LGBTQ+ community in Dorset:

National sexual health support services for the LGBTQ+ community:

Sex and intimate relationships are a normal part of life and important to health and wellbeing, regardless of age. Sex has been shown to have positive links with maintaining good physical and emotional health.

Ensure safe and healthy sexual experiences by:

Support groups can help you live your life well after experiencing sexual violence.

Many STIs will clear up quickly, but others can become a long-term condition. There are many ways you can manage your symptoms and relationships to make living with an STI easier.

While there’s currently not a cure for HIV, there are lots of treatments that mean most people can live a long and healthy life.

For further information on how to live well, visit Live Well Dorset:

Any concerns about your sexual health can be taken to Sexual Health Dorset: a free sexual health service for all ages. It offers a wide range of confidential services, including testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI), contraception (including emergency contraception), PEP, and specialist young people’s services.

Continuing scrolling for information on potential problems with your sexual health and what you can do about them.

If you’ve had sex without contraception, or your contraception hasn’t worked (e.g. a condom splits or comes off during sex) you may not be protected from STIs and are at risk of becoming pregnant.

If you are worried about being pregnant or having a sexually transmitted infection, then talk to your doctor or call Sexual Health Dorset 0300 303 1948.

After unprotected sex, to avoid pregnancy, you can either:

If you’re having sex, you shouldn’t regularly rely on emergency contraception to stop you getting pregnant. Talk to your nurse or doctor, or visit a sexual health clinic, to explore what type of contraception is right for you.

If you have had unprotected sex with someone who is HIV positive (or someone your doctor considers likely to have HIV) and is not on treatment, you may benefit from Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) that can reduce your likelihood of becoming infected. This treatment must start less than 72 hours after sexual contact, or it won’t be effective.

If you’ve forgotten to take your pill you may not be protected against pregnancy. If you have trouble remembering your pill every day, you could consider another form of contraception.

Certain illnesses, like being sick, can stop the pill working properly. Always read the leaflet inside the packet so you know what might affect it.

Some medicines can also prevent the pill from working properly. Talk to your doctor if you’re taking medication while on the pill.

If you are worried you are already pregnant, the first thing to find out for certain by taking a pregnancy test. There are lots of places you can have a free pregnancy test and get confidential advice, even if you are under 16.

If you’re pregnant and it’s unplanned, you’ll need to decide if you want to continue with the pregnancy. If you decide to have an abortion, the sooner this is done, the easier and safer it is. You can talk to Sexual Health Dorset’s specialist team on 0300 456 2217.

STIs are common and can be passed on during sex or through sexual contact. They can usually be treated at a sexual health clinic.

Most STIs can be easily treated, but some have no symptoms and can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.

Chlamydia is one of the most common STIs in the UK. You can take a test at home for free if you think you might have chlamydia .

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects your immune system and makes it harder for you to fight everyday infections and disease. It can be passed from one person to another through sexual activity. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when your immune system has been severely damaged by HIV. AIDS cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

If you are concerned about HIV or AIDS, talk to your doctor or contact Sexual Health Dorset:

If you have had unprotected sex with someone who is HIV positive (or someone your doctor considers likely to have HIV) and is not on treatment, you may benefit from Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) that can reduce your likelihood of becoming infected. This treatment must start less than 72 hours after sexual contact, or it won’t be effective.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a tablet taken by men (cis and trans) and transgender women who have sex with men. It is taken before sex when you are HIV negative, and if you are at higher risk of HIV infection, to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV.

Difficulties with sexual intimacy can have lots of causes – biological, psychological and social. If you are having trouble during sex or experiencing symptoms of sexual dysfunction (such as finding it impossible to orgasm) speak to your doctor or a healthcare professional at Sexual Health Dorset.

Sex should not be painful. If you’re experiencing pain during or after sex, talk to your doctor or a healthcare professional at Sexual Health Dorset.

Some conditions which cause pain during sex can also cause pain or difficulties with other activities, like using a tampon.

Find out more about conditions which might cause pain during sex on our Gynaecology and Pelvic Health pages:

For help and support with sexual violence or female genital mutilation see emergency help and advice below.

Any general concerns about your sexual health can be taken to Sexual Health Dorset at your local sexual health clinic.

Sexual violence covers a range of acts including sexual harassment, rape, sexual assault and domestic violence.  Everyone has a right to control what happens to their bodies and a right to say no.

If you have been a victim of rape or sexual assault then contact the police by calling 999 and the Dorset Sexual Assault Referral Clinic (SARC), The Shores.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is sexual abuse and a crime. It is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there is no medical reason for this to be done. Not only is it very painful, but it can seriously harm the health of women and girls and cause long-term problems with sex, childbirth and mental health.

Sexual Health Dorset offers a free sexual health service for all ages. It offers a wide range of confidential services, including testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI), contraception (including emergency contraception), PEP, and specialist young people’s services.  To make an appointment at Sexual Health Dorset call 0300 3030 1948.

Opening times are between 08.15 and 16.45 Monday – Friday.

The Dorset Working Women’s Project (DWWP) provides free, non-judgemental sexual health services to sex workers in Bournemouth. The project offers a range of support to help people working in the sex industry including:

Sexual Health Dorset has specialist teams for young people under 25.

There are two walk-in clinics for under 18s on a Monday 13:30 – 16:30 in Weymouth and Thursday 15:00 – 19.00 in Bournemouth. No appointment is required and, if the team can see you on the day, you can wait for an appointment.

You can also chat confidentially with someone online using Chat Sexual Health Dorset, Monday – Friday 8am, to 6pm on 07312 263101

Let’s chat sexual health