R U Thinking?

What makes a relationship work?

A good relationship is about so much more than the sex part. It’s about getting to know each other really well, being mates, trusting and respecting each other and not having to pretend.

When does sex come into it?
There’s no rush. Do things when you’re ready and don’t worry about making mistakes. Don’t expect anything from her either – just because you’ve done it once, doesn’t mean she’ll constantly want sex from now on!

What if we have problems?
Most relationships go through ups and downs – even people who’ve been together months, or years, have problems. The best thing to do is keep talking, say how you feel instead of bottling things up and encourage her to be honest too.

We had an accident

Even when you’re careful, accidents can happen. You need to act fast to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.

What happens after an accident?
If you had sex without contraception, or it didn’t work properly, you can prevent pregnancy – but the emergency contraceptive pill is more likely to work the sooner your girlfriend takes it.

What can I do to help?
Only girls can get emergency contraception - the best thing you can do is always use a condom properly.

If your girlfriend does need the emergency contraceptive pill she can get it from a chemist, doctor, or NHS walk-in centre, and take it up to 72 hours or three days later. She could also have an IUD fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex, but this needs to be done by a trained nurse or doctor.

Read more:
Could she really get pregnant?

I got dumped

Most lads get dumped at some point in life. Some go though it more than others, but no matter how old you are or how many times it happens, it can really hurt.

Why do I feel so bad?
Being dumped by someone you care about is harsh. You’re probably wondering why it happened to you. It can knock your confidence and you might worry about finding someone else special to care about.

Is something wrong with me?
Most people have been dumped at some point. Try learning from the experience and don’t be put off relationships for life. Rather than bottling your feelings up, talk to someone you trust about it.