• Your partner hurts or threatens you.

• Your partner controls who you see, where you go, what you do.

• Your partner stops you from making decisions about your own body.

• Your partner threatens to leave or harm themselves if . . .

• Your partner has trouble controlling their temper.

• Your partner acts jealous or possessive.

• Your partner refuses to practice safer sex or get tested for STIs.

• You feel bad about yourself in the relationship.

• You don’t feel safe.

Intimate partner violence can include physical, emotional, verbal, financial or sexual abuse and/or assault. Anyone can experience intimate partner violence, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, or relationship status. No one has the right to hurt you. If you are experiencing any kind of intimate partner violence, it is not your fault. There are supports that can help.

Open and honest communication is very important between sexual partners. The time to talk about safer sex is before you start having sex. Conversations about safer sex including contraception, STI status, and boundaries can be difficult, but they are your responsibility.

Talking with your partner(s) about the kind of sex you want to have and how you can protect one another is an important part of healthy sexuality. Your partner(s) should respect your boundaries, and you should respect theirs. Talking about sex might feel awkward at first, but if you talk about how you like to be touched, ask what feels good for them, and plan for the type of protection you’ll use, you’ll probably end up having better sex.

In every sexual relationship, consent is always necessary. It’s important that both partners feel safe and that consent for sexual activity is explicit, specific and ongoing. This means that each person must give their consent and has the right to change their mind at any time. Even if you are in a relationship, even if you have done it before, you always have the right to say no.

Deciding when you’re ready to have sex for the first time or with a new partner is a big decision, and a personal one. When you’re ready, there are lots of ways to be intimate and/or have sex with your partner(s). As long as sex is consensual, there is no right or wrong way to have sex. With the right partner(s) and at the right time, sex can be great. But, sex also comes with a lot of responsibility. You need to be able to talk with your partner(s) about the kinds of sex you want to have and how you can protect one another. Depending of the types of sex you choose to have, there are risks of STIs and pregnancy.

• Masturbation (touching yourself or using sex toys alone)

• Holding Hands or Touching (with clothes on)

• Hand Job & Fingering (hand-to-genital contact)

• Oral Sex (mouth-to-genital contact)

• Vaginal Sex (vaginal penetration)

• Anal Sex (anal penetration)

Your sexual and reproductive anatomy includes your body parts that relate to sex and/or reproduction. Everyone’s body is unique and so are their genitals, though most people have either a penis and scrotum or a vulva. Some people’s sex anatomy doesn’t fit the typical definition of female or male. This is often called intersex and there are many different combinations of sex hormones and body parts possible under the intersex umbrella.

Every person has the right to sexual and reproductive health. Access to STI testing, contraception options, education about risks, pleasure and consent to sex are an important part of healthy sexuality.