This information is for young people aged 16 years and older.
What is sex? 16+
Sex can be lots of different things.
Partners might touch each other’s bodies and private parts (nipples, breasts, bottom, penis or vulva).
You need to get and give consent for every kind of touching. It should feel good for both people.
Partners might touch their own and each other’s genitals – penis, testicles, vulva, clitoris and vagina.
This is called mutual masturbation.
You need to get and give consent for mutual masturbation. It should feel good for both people.
Some people enjoy having the inside of their vagina touched.
The person or their partner might gently slide their finger, or fingers, in and out of the vagina.
You need to get and give consent for every kind of touching. It should feel good for both people.
Some people like having oral sex.
Oral sex is when partners use their lips or tongues to touch each other’s penis or vulva.
You need to get and give consent for oral sex. You should only have oral sex if both people want to and enjoy it.
Oral sex on a vulva
One partner uses their tongue and lips to kiss, lick or gently suck the vulva.
They might do this to the clitoris, vagina or labia.
You should only have oral sex if both people want to and enjoy it.
Oral sex on a penis
One partner puts the penis inside their mouth.
They might lick or gently suck the penis.
You should only have oral sex if both people want to and enjoy it.
Another way some people might have sex is to have anal sex.
Anal sex is when a person puts their penis into their partner’s anus (bottom).
You need to get and give consent for anal sex. Anal sex should feel good for both people.
Not everyone has sex in the same way.
You should only have sex if both people want to and enjoy it.
You need to get and give consent for every kind of sex.
You can get STIs from having sex.
STI is a short way of saying sexually transmitted infection.
Condoms and dams can stop you from getting or passing on STIs.
Condoms or contraception can prevent pregnancy.
Move down the page to learn more about bodies can feel different before and during sex.
Our bodies feel different before and during sex
This section is about how our bodies can feel before and after sex.
This is called sexual arousal or sexual pleasure.
People might get sexually aroused when they think about sex, or start kissing and touching their partner.
A person’s body might show their sexual arousal.
Private body parts may feel nice, tingly, wet or feel bigger.
A person’s penis may get erect (hard).
It might feel sensitive and good to touch.
There might be a bit of fluid or wetness at the tip of the penis.
A person’s clitoris might feel more sensitive.
It might feel good to touch.
It might feel bigger than usual, feel hard, or stick out a bit more.
A person’s vulva and vagina might feel wet and slippy.
They might feel more sensitive and good to touch.
A person’s nipples might get hard.
They might feel sensitive and good to touch.
The good feelings people get when they touch their private body parts or have sex is called sexual arousal or sexual pleasure.
Sometimes sexual arousal and pleasure feels really strong and intense. This can become an orgasm.
An orgasm is really good feeling.
Learn more about sexual arousal and pleasure.
Learn more about how do I know I am ready to have sex.