How you feel about your gender and who you’re attracted to is very personal. It has nothing to do with your SMA. If you find that you identify as heterosexual, lesbian or gay, bisexual, transgender or another identity, it’s perfectly ok.  It’s up to you who you want to tell. You may or may not feel you can talk to your family or friends.

There are other organisations that you can talk to including:

Kooth > – available in most areas in England. This is a free, safe and anonymous online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop.

Regard > – a national organisation of disabled lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people.

Your SMA may make it more challenging to find positions which are comfortable. You may need to experiment with this and with different ways to enjoy a sexual relationship.

Enhance the UK > – a user-led charity that offers disability awareness training as well as advice and information on sex and disability >

Scope – Talking about Intimacy, Disability & Relationships with a new partner >

The Mix > – online guide to life for 16-25-year olds. It provides non-judgemental support and information on everything from sex, exam stress, debt and drugs.

The Outsiders Trust – a peer support and dating club, offers information and advice on overcoming the possible physical difficulties of having sex when you’re disabled. They also have an online club for people aged over 16 years and a sex and disability helpline: Phone: 07872 681 982

Safer sex is about using contraception if you don’t want to get pregnant and to avoid the chance of getting a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).

A GP or family planning clinic will give young people over 16 years of age confidential advice. If you’re under 16 years of age the advice may not be confidential. To help you choose the best contraceptive, they will need to ask you how your SMA affects you. They will ask about any medication you take and any allergies you have, such as to latex.

You can also get advice from these organisations:

Brook Advisory Centres > – free and confidential advice on sex, relationships, contraception and pregnancy to young people under 25.

Family Planning Association > – free advice on contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy.

Emergency contraception can be used by women whose contraception didn’t work or who didn’t use any. It must be taken quickly to stop a pregnancy so needs immediate contact with the GP or family planning clinic.

You have the right to say no to sex. No one should ever make you have sex or touch you in a sexual way if you don’t want them to. If you’re worried that this has happened, or might happen to you, it’s important to tell someone you trust about what’s happened.

ChildLine > or Phone 0800 11 11 – for anyone under 19 years old.

Support Line > or Phone 01708 765200 – confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults.