Teenage sex

Matt Whyman, teen agony uncle, says: 'About 30 per cent of my e-mails are from teenagers who have had sex underage and are worried about infection or pregnancy. Nearly one-third of boys and one-quarter of girls under 16 report having had sex.'

• The average age for first having sex is 16.
• Eight out of 10 teenagers use a condom when having sex for the first time.
• Less than one in 10 use no contraception.
• Of those who had sex under 15, four out of five women and two out of five men in their late teens wish they hadn't.
• Pregnancies in under 18-year-olds have fallen by more than six per cent between 1998 and 2000, with 41,000 conceptions to women under 18, of which 8,100 were conceptions to girls under 16.

Some teens can handle sex and the associated emotions better than others. Aim for an open atmosphere at home, so they feel able to discuss problems if they want to.

'Doing the 'big talk' is embarrassing for parents and teenagers alike,' says Melissa Dear from the Family Planning Association. 'Start as young as possible, or do it in small bits.'

- Next: Getting information and help

More help and advice

- Let's talk about sex: how to bring up the topic with your teen
- What to do if your teenage daughter is pregnant
- Read in-depth information on HIV and AIDS
- Read the facts on STIs
- Worried about your teen's sex life? Share your concerns in Chat