Alex's Answer

Hi there, thanks for contacting Ask Alex.

 

We’re sorry to hear that you have been feeling upset lately. It sounds like you are feeling this way because you had sex with your boyfriend.

 

It’s important to feel ready for something like having sex and remember you have the right to say no if you are not comfortable. This is what is called giving consent. While it’s not clear what age your boyfriend is, it’s worth knowing that the legal age of consent in Ireland is 17 years old. This means that someone can’t legally consent to having sex until they are 17 years old. You can learn more about this here: www.childline.ie/sex-and-consent/

 

Since this has made you feel upset, it is worth considering how you might keep yourself safe and avoid being in a similar situation in the future. Think about ways to avoid this situation with this person and how you might handle it if it does happen again. Remember that you have a right to be safe. If there is anyone in your life that you can get help from, like a family member, friend, or trusted adult, consider chatting with them.

 

It can be difficult to talk about this kind of topic, but you’ve done a great job reaching out to Ask Alex. It shows that you care about yourself and want to share your thoughts and feelings. If you want to talk more, always remember you can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and chatting is free and confidential. You can talk to us by phone at 1800 66 66 66 or use our webchat service by clicking on the purple messenger icon at www.childline.ie. Our Team would be happy to have a conversation with you about how you are feeling or anything else that is on your mind.

 

Thanks for asking your question, and take care of yourself,

 

Alex