Whether or not you are ready to have sex

If you're not sure you're ready for sex but you want to try, it might be best to leave it until you are sure you're ready. Whether or not you are physically ready, and feel passionate and feel an urge to take your relationship to a new level, is not the same as whether you are emotionally ready. Ask yourself what you hope the sex will make you feel like and, for example, how you'd feel afterwards if it wasn't very good, or if your boyfriend left you or cheated on you at some point. All sorts of things can go wrong when you're having sex for the first time, and so you should be absolutely sure that if things did go wrong, you're close enough to your boyfriend to both be able to have a giggle about it and, if necessary, give up and try it again another time. The last thing you want is to risk feeling awkward, let down or embarrassed. So be sure that you have the right kind of relationship and talk about it beforehand.

If you're not sure you're ready, and you're not going to him to talk about it, you definitely aren't ready. Until you can talk openly with him about your fears or worries, don't even think about it. What do you consider to be a long time together? You say there's no pressure on you but the mere fact that you know very well that he's ready and he's not a virgin, suggests that there is some pressure – even if it's subtle. Make him wait a little longer, until you're really ready and if he's not patient enough, you'll know you made the right choice. It really depends on whether you're after something that will cement your relationship or you're interested in a bit of fun and just curious about what sex is like? Remember it'll be different with every partner though, so if it doesn't turn out well, don't be put off!