What is the law on sex?

It is legal for you to consent to have sex from the age of 16. In Northern Ireland, you have to be 17. Gay sex is legal if you're both 16 in England, Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland it's 17.  The law also says you must have sex in private.  As long as girls are over 16 and both agree to it, lesbian sex is legal.

However, even if you are under 16 you can get free and confidential sexual health advice, information and treatment from a range of places.  Go to Need Help In a Hurry to find a service in Kirklees.

Why is it illegal to have sex under 16?

The laws on sex are there to protect young people from abuse or from having sex before they are ready. Different countries have different laws, but in this country it is considered that people are not ready to have sex until they are 16. You might think it's unfair, but laws are there to protect you and not to try and spoil your fun. Think carefully before you have sex for the first time and whether it is really right for you as many people do regret having sex too young. If you do decide you are ready for sex then always use a condom to protect against unplanned pregnancies and STIs.

How old do you have to be to get married?

You have to be 16 or older to get married in the UK. If you're under 18 you'll need your parents permission in writing. The exception is Scotland where you can marry once you're 16 without your parents' permission.

Do Doctors have to tell anyone if I go for contraception ?

No. Doctors and nurses have a strict rule on Confidentiality which says they have to keep all patient records and information completely private, even if you are under 16. Even if they think you are in serious danger they will always try to talk to you first before breaking any confidentiality.

If you're still worried about the doctor telling someone, or even about being seen at the clinic or surgery, there are lots of other options. Go to Need Help In A Hurry to find out where you can go for information, advice and treatment on anything to do with sex, relationships, contraception and abortion.

What's the law on abortion?

For an abortion to be legal, you must be less than 24 weeks pregnant and two doctors must give their consent.

If you're under 16 you can have an abortion without your parents/carers knowing about it, as long as the two doctors who have seen you are sure you completely understand the advice and implications of having an abortion.   Doctors are guided by rules that say they should always try to encourage you to talk to your parents or an another adult you trust, however if this is something you definitely don’t want to do they will respect your wishes.