Sexo y salud sexual
Consent and healthy relationships
Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026
Solo en inglés por ahoraConsent means freely and clearly agreeing to sexual activity, every time. Here is what real consent looks like, and the signs of a healthy or unhealthy relationship.
What consent means
Consent is a clear, active yes to sexual activity. It is how each person shows the other that they want what is happening. Both people need to give it, every time, for every kind of sexual activity. This is true with a new partner and with a long-term partner. Sexual activity without consent is sexual assault or rape.
What makes consent real
Real consent is given freely, without pressure or manipulation, and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is informed: if someone says they will use a condom and then does not, there is no full consent. It is enthusiastic, meaning you only do what you want to do, not what you feel is expected. It is specific, so saying yes to one thing, like kissing, is not a yes to anything else.
You can always change your mind
You can stop or say no at any point, even partway through and even if you have said yes before. Silence is not consent. What someone wears, where they go or what they have done in the past never counts as a yes. Someone who is very drunk, high, asleep or unconscious is not able to agree to sex.
Checking in with a partner
The clearest way to know is to ask. Simple questions like 'Is this OK?' or 'Do you want to keep going?' work well. Pay attention to body language too. If a partner seems unsure, goes quiet, tenses up or pulls away, stop and check. A good partner will be glad you asked and will respect your answer.
Healthy and unhealthy relationships
In a healthy relationship, you feel respected and safe. You can say no to sex, or to anything else, without fear of what will happen. You can see friends and family, make your own decisions, be yourself, and talk honestly when you disagree. Warning signs include a partner who pressures or forces you into sex, keeps track of everything you do or demands your passwords, controls your money or your contraception, keeps you from friends and family, puts you down, or threatens or hurts you. Often feeling pressured, controlled or scared around a partner is a warning sign too.
If you feel unsafe
If a relationship feels unsafe, or someone did something sexual to you without your consent, it is not your fault. You do not have to deal with it alone. You can talk to a doctor or nurse, a sexual health clinic, or a local domestic abuse helpline. After sex without consent, try to get medical help as soon as you can. Emergency contraception must be used within 3 to 5 days and works best the sooner you take it. Medicine that lowers the chance of HIV (PEP) must be started within 72 hours. A doctor or clinic can also test you for STIs. If you are in danger right now, call your local emergency number.
If you feel unsafe in a relationship, you deserve support. Talk to someone you trust, a doctor or a local helpline, or call emergency services if you are in danger.