There is no 'right' age to begin having sex. What is right for one person might be too young for another person. Most people agree that the best place for sex is in a loving relationship between people who respect each other and are mature enough to handle the intensity of a sexual relationship. If you are part of a faith community, your religion will also have guidelines about sex that you will need to take account of. The decision to start having sex is an important one that shouldn't be rushed. It is against the law to have sex if you or your partner are under 16 years old. This law is there to protect younger teenagers from being pressurised into having sex before they are ready. There are also some health risks involved if you have sex too young, as well as the danger of getting pregnant by mistake.