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Sex
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- What are the laws and advice about giving contraceptive advice or treatment for girls under the age of 16 years?
- What are the laws about termination of pregnancies?
- What about legal responsibility for children?
- Why do we choose to use contraception?
- What is contraception or birth control?
- Where can I get emergency contraception?
- Is contraception the same as safe sex?
- What is the best method of contraception?
- Will contraception stop me getting infections?
- Which partner should use contraception?
- What are the different ways to prevent pregnancies?
- Which types of contraception are most commonly used by young people?
- What methods of contraception are used by other women?
- Should I have Sex?
- Peer Pressure
- If you need to talk to GP or Nurse…..
- If you are being hurt
 Introduction
Hi welcome to 11up Sex section; we will be explaining about sex and the law, making choices on whether to have sex. We will also talk about peer pressure - when you feel you have to do something because your friends are. There's also information on contraception, talking to a GP or Nurse and what to do if you are being hurt.
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Sex and the Law
The legal age of consent for sex between a man and a woman in England, Scotland and Wales is 16 years. In Northern Ireland, it is 17 years;
- The legal age of consent for anal sex between a man and a woman in England and Wales is 18 years. In Scotland, it is 16 years. In Northern Ireland, it is illegal;
- The legal age of consent for anal sex between two men in the UK is 18 years, provided both men consent. A lower age of consent is currently being considered in Parliament;
- There is no specific law on the age of consent for sex between two women. However, certain laws suggest that both women must consent and be over 16 years, except in Northern Ireland, where they must be over 17 years;
- You can't have sex with a close blood relative: father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle (this is because you will share too many genes, which makes you more likely to give genetic diseases to any children you might have);
- You can't have sex in a public place;
- You can't receive money for sex (ie prostitution is illegal).
What are the laws and advice about giving contraceptive advice or treatment for girls under the age of 16 years?
The ability of doctors to provide contraceptive advice and treatment to girls below 16 years, without their parents' consent, is still controversial, following a case brought some years ago by Mrs Victoria Gillick.
The Law Lords decided that the criterion of capacity to consent in Law is not a matter of age, but of the ability of the person to understand what is involved in a particular transaction or procedure, which in turn involves a combination of maturity, intelligence and understanding.
Doctors usually use the following guidelines (by Lord Fraser):
- That the girl, although under 16 years of age, will understand the doctor's advice;
- That the doctor cannot persuade her to inform her parents or allow the doctor to inform her parents that she is seeking contraceptive advice;
- That she is very likely to begin or to continue to have sexual intercourse with or without contraceptive advice;
- That unless she receives contraceptive advice or treatment her physical or mental health or both are likely to suffer;
- That her best interests require the doctor to give her contraceptive advice, treatment or both without parental consent.
What are the laws about termination of pregnancies?
In England, Scotland and Wales, under the Abortion Act of 1967, a termination operation (abortion) can be carried out up to the 24th week of pregnancy (or later than this on medical grounds), but the earlier it is done the safer it is. Most abortions are performed well before week 16 of a pregnancy. If you are considering having a termination, you will have to meet some legal conditions. Do get advice from your doctor, family planning clinic, advice organisations (such as the Family Planning Association) or from shac (at Clinic 1A).
What about legal responsibility for children?
In the UK, if a girl or women has a baby, part of the responsibility for its financial upkeep is considered to be the father's - even if the child was conceived during a casual contact. If the mother is claiming a benefit, the father will be tracked down by the Child Support Agency and asked to pay towards the upkeep of the child. Failure to pay this support is an offence.
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Contraception
Why do we choose to use contraception?
Some people have sex just to have children. Others have sex sometimes to have children but also have sex when they don't want to have children. Many people have a good and enjoyable sex life without ever having children. Most people use some form of birth control (also known as family planning or contraception) at some time during their lives. This is because most people think that pregnancy should happen only if and when you want it to
What is contraception or birth control?
Obviously, a completely effective form of birth control is not to have sexual intercourse (called abstinence - which means deciding not to do something). You can decide not to have sexual intercourse but still have a full sex life by doing some of the other things couples enjoy during sex. However, most people do want to have sexual intercourse at some point in their lives, and many choose to use contraception until they decide to start a family.
Contraception is a name used for all the things you can do to make sure that you (or your partner) don't become pregnant when you have sexual intercourse.
In the UK, it is very easy to get free advice and contraception
Where can I get emergency contraception?
It is also very easy to get emergency contraception, which is a type of pill you can take up to 72 hours (about 3 days) after having sex. Sometimes we can fit a coil/intrauterine device up to 5 days after you have had sex or even longer in some cases. The earlier you get emergency contraception, the more likely it is to prevent a pregnancy. Most clinics can give you emergency contraception. If the clinic is closed, you can get it from a family planning clinic, your GP, or the Accident and Emergency Department of hospitals. From early 2001, it will be possible to purchase emergency contraception from pharmacies (chemists); this costs about £20 and pharmacists are not able to sell emergency contraception pills to girls under 16 years old.
Is contraception the same as safe sex?
"Contraception helps prevent pregnancies, safe sex prevents infections."
Contraception is about NOT getting pregnant (so you would use it only if one of you is a fertile girl/woman and the other a fertile boy/man).
Safe sex is about NOT getting infections
What is the best method of contraception?
There are many different methods of contraception. Each one has its good points and bad points depending on who you are, what age you are, your past medical history, and how and when you usually have sex. So there is no easy answer to the question 'what is the best method' - it is better to consider what is the best method for you now
Will contraception stop me getting infections?
"Barrier methods can stop both pregnancy and infections."
Not all contraceptive methods can stop infections. Some so-called 'barrier methods' can stop most infections (if they are used perfectly and every time). These are the male and female condoms, which are made of either latex (a type of rubber) or polyurethane (a type of plastic). Condoms stop infections in the same way as an umbrella stops you getting wet hair, by physically stopping rain from getting to you.
Unfortunately, the methods that help to stop you getting infections are not the most effective at preventing pregnancy. Therefore, it is often a good idea to use one method to prevent pregnancy and another to prevent infections.
Which partner should use contraception?
"The person who is most concerned about preventing pregnancy is most likely to use contraception perfectly."
There are some methods of contraception that the boy or man can use, and other methods that the girl or woman can use. Who actually uses which methods and when depends a lot on the type of relationship and the circumstances. It also depends on the level of trust within the relationship. If you are in a long-term relationship and neither you nor your partner are having sex with other people, you might be less likely to use a barrier method of contraception. Most people have heard about pregnancies that were the result of one partner assuming (or being told) that their partner was using contraception. If you are really sure you don't want to get pregnant, or be responsible for getting your partner pregnant, make sure YOU are using contraception (which means knowing how to use it perfectly). There is no reason why you can't use more than one method at the same time (check with an 'expert' at a family planning clinic or a genitourinary medicine clinic if you want advice about this).
For girls and women: the contraceptive pill (which is a very good birth control method) with a male/female condom (which is very good at stopping infections) would be a good combination.
What are the different ways to prevent pregnancies?
If you are planning to have sexual intercourse but don't want to get pregnant, there are four main types of contraception you can use.
Barrier methods of contraception include the male and female condoms (and diaphragms and caps). These stop sperm reaching an egg.
Spermicides are best used with a male or female condom or diaphragm or cap, and kill any sperm that haven't been stopped by the barrier method
Hormonal methods of contraception are based on modified natural female hormones. These female hormones can be taken by a girl/woman as a pill or as an injection or implant. Depending on the types of hormones in the contraception, they prevent pregnancy either by preventing the release of eggs, or by altering the mucus at the cervix (neck of the womb) so that it stops the sperm reaching the egg and making the womb lining unsuitable for fertilised eggs to implant. Soon there will be hormones that the boy or man can take to stop him releasing ripe sperm.
Coils [intrauterine devices (IUDs) or intrauterine systems (IUSs)] are 'physical methods' but can also use hormones. They set up reactions in the womb, which stop sperm fertilising an egg and/or stop a fertilised egg implanting in the womb lining
Which types of contraception are most commonly used by young people?
You can get contraception and advice from family planning clinics or your doctor
Male condoms: boys and men can use male condoms. Anyone can buy them without embarrassment 'over the counter' at pharmacies or other shops. Some people can get them free from many family planning clinics if they are their only method of contraception. Some condoms already have spermicides (which kill sperm) on them, others can have spermicides put on them.
Female condoms: girls and women can use female condoms. Anyone can buy them without embarrassment 'over the counter' at pharmacies or other shops. Some people can get them free from a family planning clinic. These condoms can be used with spermicides, which kill sperm.
Hormonal methods: depending on their age and medical history, girls or women can also use hormones either in the form of the (contraceptive or birth control) pill or an injection or implant just under the skin. Both contraceptive pills and the hormone injection are very popular with girls and younger women. Hormonal methods are very good at preventing pregnancy but won't prevent you getting infections - so think seriously about using a condom too.
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Making Choices
Everyone, boys and girls, young men and young women have to make all sorts of choices about different things including what clothes to wear, whether to go out with someone, whether to let them touch you or whether to have sex. It is important that you feel confident and comfortable about your choices and that you are not pressurised into anything. Talk to a friend or an adult you trust if you are not sure about something.
Should I have Sex?
Having sex is a very big decision to make. Lots of people of about your age think that everybody is doing it. They are not. Only about one in four young people under the age of sixteen have sex, and that means three out of every four do not. Lots of people who have sex very young feel bad about it later and it is important that you try not to make decisions that you will regret later. Make sure that you are able to take responsibility for contraception and safer sex that you feel safe and sure about your partner, and that you have thought about the reasons for delaying sexual activity.
Peer pressure
Sometimes people pressure others into doing things that they do not want to do. If you do not want to do something, or you think that something is wrong then try and resist doing it. You can try talking to a teacher or your parent or another adult you trust.
If you need to talk to a GP or nurse about sexual health
Even when you are under 16 you are entitled to get free confidential advice and support about sex and contraception from a doctor or nurse. You can discuss your worries or needs with them and it will remain confidential. If you are worried about confidentiality then ask the doctor first so that you are sure.
If you are being hurt
There are times that people will bully or hurt you. This is not your fault and it is important that you get some help and support. There are a number of people and places that you can get help from. Here is a list, but you may have particular people that you talk to and trust.
- Parent
- Older brother or sister
- A teacher
- School counsellor
- Sexual health clinic such as Brook or a young people's service
- School nurse
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