“You can read up sex tips, but everyone's first time is different with different circumstances. I know it sounds scary to go into it unprepared, but once you're doing it, you'll somehow just know what to do and where to go. And you'll figure out more through time.”— Jessica Booth, gurl.com
“Honestly? Your first time might feel really anti-climatic. I know mine did. Once it was over, I was like, Wait, that's it? That's what everyone obsesses over?”— Jessica Booth, gurl.com
“Girls should become comfortable with their own bodies before having sex.”— Katie Szymanski, hercampus.com
“It’s uncommon for girls to experience an orgasm during sex for the first time because they aren’t familiar with interacting with a partner.”— Katie Szymanski, hercampus.com
“If you want to tell your partner you’re a virgin, it’s best to clear the air in the beginning. Who knows… maybe he’s a virgin as well! And if he has a problem with you being a virgin, then he’s not worth losing it to.”— Katie Szymanski, hercampus.com
“It can take some people literally years before they figure out how to orgasm with another person, so don’t expect it to happen right off the bat.”— Casey Gueren, buzzfeed.com
“If your first time involves penetration, a little pain or pressure might be expected. That said, it should still be overall pleasurable — not painful. So if it hurts a lot, stop. This could be a signal that you need more foreplay or lubrication.”— Casey Gueren, buzzfeed.com
“Losing your v card might involve penetration, or it might involve anal sex, oral sex, manual stimulation, dildos, whatever. There’s no rule that your first time has to meet a specific set of criteria.”— Casey Gueren, buzzfeed.com
“Make sure you're amply aroused before intercourse. Not only do you want to be genuinely turned on, you want to be sufficiently lubricated. If you're too dry, he'll have trouble entering you, you'll feel discomfort, and the friction can cause the condom to rip. So, keep water–based lube on hand just…”— Ian Kerner, cosmopolitan.com
“Don't forget to enjoy foreplay. All the stuff that leads up to intercourse — kissing, touching, oral sex — is part of the sexual experience; it's not just about penetration.”— Ian Kerner, cosmopolitan.com
“Safety first. There's no such thing as totally safe sex, but you sure can be safer. Make sure he's wearing a condom (even if you're on the Pill) and talk about your respective sexual histories. I know it may sound like a buzz-kill, but heterosexual women have a higher risk of contracting an STI (sex…”— Ian Kerner, cosmopolitan.com