There is an awful lot of pressure on young people to have sex, and people often tend to rush things to try and get 'losing their virginity' over and done with, but it should be an enjoyable experience, not a chore! It’s definitely worth taking a step back and thinking about the pros and cons. Being naked in front of someone can feel quite embarrassing, especially if it’s a friend with whom there has never been any real sexual attraction. You are much more likely to enjoy having sex for the first time if it’s with someone you fancy, trust and respect. It’s also worth thinking about how this will affect your relationship. Lots of people think that having sex with a friend will be OK, because you know them and trust them, but introducing sex has been the death of many great friendships and, whatever you think now, your relationship is unlikely to ever be the same if you do.

Yes, don’t worry, it’s completely normal. It’s a myth that all women find first time sex painful, and it’s also a myth that all women will bleed the first time they have sex. This is because, for some women, their hymen (the thin piece of skin that covers some, but not all of the entrance to the vagina) has stretched naturally over time through playing sports and exercising or through masturbation or using tampons.