Some teens might experiment sexually with friends to practice and learn about sex or to have sex outside of the context of a romantic relationship. Friends sometimes have sex because they feel more comfortable and already have a level of emotional closeness with each other.
Sometimes problems occur when two friends have different expectations of the relationship after they have sex. One person might think having sex moves the relationship into the “love” category while the other one wants to keep things just as they were. If that happens, someone is sure to get hurt.
As with any sexual decision, it’s important to talk about having sex before you do it. Make sure you both want the same things and are ready to handle the outcomes and responsibilities that come with having sex. This includes protecting yourselves from an unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or both and discussing how you’ll feel if sex creates feelings that you didn’t expect.
