Dear Thomas

Don't be afraid to speak up and say what you think you might be ready for. Kathy might also be thinking the same questions of taking your relationship to another level. You just need confidence in yourself and your decisions. Sit her down and tell her how you feel and that you've been thinking about taking your relationship to the next level. Remember to be assertive about what you want so be calm but also get your point across without making/her feel uncomfortable and upset. Maybe when you sit with her, hold her hands and look her in the eyes but not too much because it might make her feel uncomfortable. You'll feel relieved that you had courage to open up about your feelings with Kathy.

Thomas

Dear Year 11 Health student,

I am a 17 year old male and my long term girlfriend Kathy is 16.  We are both virgins.  I feel very ready to have sex as I respect and love her a lot.  The issue I have is that I’m really not sure how to bring up the topic of sex without appearing to be putting pressure on her. How can I bring sex up without it seeming like I am pressuring her? 

Help!

Thomas