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Your sexuality

During your teen years you may face a lot of changing feelings as your body and your mind — and the people around you! — start developing in whole new ways. And if you’re like a lot of teens, these changes may include some pretty strong feelings for someone you like.

Physical and hormonal changes in your body can spark some strong urges — and some serious confusion. During puberty, it can take a lot to understand who you are, what your body is up to, and who you want to be.

You may find yourself thinking more about your sexuality. What exactly is sexuality anyway? Well, a lot goes into it. It’s partly about the way your reproductive system works, feeling attractive, and being attracted to someone else. But it’s also affected by values and attitudes, how you feel about your body, and the messages about bodies and behaviors that you get from the world around you.

As you think about all this, lots of questions may run through your mind. It all can be quite confusing. There’s certainly a lot to learn. A great place to start is knowing that you have the right to feel comfortable, to be treated with respect, and to stay healthy and safe in your relationships.  

Having information can help you take care of yourself and feel more confident. Here at girlshealth.gov you can check out lots of helpful information, from the plusses of abstinence to different types of birth control and much more. Click on the links below to get started.

• Dealing with dating and sexual feelings
• Why waiting makes sense
• Getting help from your parents
• Birth control options
• Straight talk about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• STI symptoms, tests, and treatments

Content last updated October 13, 2010

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