Your first time

The first time a person has sex, it may be amazing or it may be a disaster - and, let's face it, sadly more often the latter. Whatever the case: it is a learning curve.

The legal age of consent is 16, whether homosexual or heterosexual, girl or boy. With girls, the first time can be a little difficult, partly because the opening of the vagina is sometimes still partially covered with a thin membrane of skin called the hymen. (If it is not, it has been broken already, perhaps through physical exercise.) This may result in a little bleeding, which is completely normal. It may also be painful - communication here is vital - and the boy must take extra care in making sure he does not rush it and that both of you are comfortable and happy. Don't panic if it all goes wrong. It is almost certain to get better with practice!

Your second time. And third, and fourth, and fifth, and sixth.

The more confident you become with your partner, and depending on what each one wants and feels, trust being important here, you can experiment with different ways of having sex, or sexual positions, to get different feelings of intensity or sexual excitement. Other than the traditional face to face 'missionary' position, you could try it with the girl on top or side to side or from behind. It can be fun to experiment! Changing positions also varies the element of control during sex, sometimes putting the girl more in charge, at other times the boy.