Sex Myths Exposed

MYTH #1 

If a girl's hymen is broken, torn, or missing, she is not a virgin.

-OR-

If a girl doesn't bleed during sex, she is not a virgin.

TRUTH

The hymen is a thin layer of skin that partially covers the vagina. Its purpose is to protect the vagina from bacteria and other harmful pathogens. This skin is very sensitive, and easily torn. Some girls are born without a hymen, and others have their hymens broken from sports, horseback riding, using tampons, or during manual sex. While the hymen is often broken during a girl's first time having intercourse, there is a high possibility that the hymen will already be torn before that, or not fully torn after that. Every girl is different. So, the presence or absence of a hymen is no indication of virginity.

If the hymen does break during sex, most often there will be some bleeding, because the tissue has blood vessels in it. However, some women don't experience bleeding, and of course their hymen may already be torn. Also, some bleed the first few times they have sex. So if she doesn't bleed, it doesn't necessarily mean she has already been devirginized.

MYTH #2 

If a guy doesn't come, or ejaculate, during sex, there is no chance of pregnancy.

TRUTH

This method, called the withdrawal method, AKA pulling out, AKA coitus interruptus, is a totally ineffective method of pregnancy prevention. After a guy is aroused, and during sexual activity, pre-ejaculatory fluid, AKA precum, is secreted from the urethra. The purpose of this fluid is to neutralize the urethra so the sperm can survive. This fluid contains - you guessed it - SPERM! And as we all know, sperm can very well impregnate a woman. While the amount of sperm is considerably less than released during ejaculation, there is still a significant chance of pregnancy. Consider this: An average of 300 million sperm are released during ejaculation. If one tenth of that amount is released in the precum, that's still 30 million sperm, and it takes only ONE to get pregnant, so wrap it up boys! Another interesting fact: A girl who doesn't use protection during sex has a 90% chance of getting pregnant during the first year.

MYTH #3

If a girl has sex during her period, there is no chance of pregnancy.

TRUTH

Theoretically, a girl will ovulate before her period, and during her period the egg will be shed from the uterus, so no egg, no pregnancy. However, this theory is highly unreliable, particularly during the teen years. Most teens have very irregular cycles because their bodies are still trying to regulate themselves. Even if a girl's period shows up at the same time each month, her ovulation could still be out of whack, so there's no way to tell when an egg will or will not be present. Not to mention, sperm can live five to seven days inside the vagina, thereby increasing the chance of pregnancy. So menstruation is by no means a safe time to have sex. The "rhythm method," or determining approximate times of ovulation, should to be used when TRYING to get pregnant, not when trying avoiding it.

MYTH #4 

You can't get pregnant if it is your first time having sex.

TRUTH

There is absolutely no basis to this statement. Most girls have started their period before their first time having sex, which means they all ovulate. If the egg is there, and the sperm are there, there will always be a chance of pregnancy, whether it's the first time or the hundreth time.

MYTH #5 

Drinking lots of Mountain Dew will decrease sperm count, and thus prevent pregnancy, thanks to the coloring agent Yellow No. 5.

TRUTH 

Yellow No 5 is a safe chemical, used for adding a yellow color to Mountain Dew, as well as many other food products. The chemical has no effect on sperm count, thus rendering it ineffective as a contraceptive. Even if it did lower your sperm count, you would still have sperm, and it only takes one to get pregnant.

MYTH #6

You can't get pregnant from anal sex.

TRUTH

Well, this one is partially true. You can't get pregnant directly from anal sex, because the anus has no connection to the uterus or fallopian tubes. However, sperm can very easily dribble out and make their way to the vagina, so there is a very real risk of pregnancy. Your best bet is to use a condom anyway.

MYTH #7 

A girl who hasn't started menstruating can't get pregnant.

TRUTH 

Nobody can predict when they will get their first period. A non-menstruating girl could be ovulating the very moment you have sex with her, but you would never know it, and neither would she since she hasn't had her first period yet.

MYTH #8

Two condoms are better than one.

TRUTH

NEVER use two condoms at the same time. Doing so will increase the friction upon the condoms, and greatly increase their chance of breaking.

MYTH #9 

If you use someone's birth control pills before having sex, you won't get pregnant.

TRUTH 

For one thing, you shouldn't use birth control pills that haven't been prescribed to you. You could be allergic to the pills and cause damage to yourself. It is highly necessary to have a full gynecological exam before taking any kind of hormonal birth control. Secondly, birth control pills take a full MONTH to be at all effective, so one day and one pill won't help you at all.

MYTH #10

If you douche or go to the bathroom after sex, you will decrease the chance of pregnancy.

TRUTH

When it comes to douching, the opposite is true. Douching will actually push sperm farther up the vagina. Besides, by the time you make it to the bathroom, millions of sperm have already made their way through the vagina.

Urinating also has no effect on conception. Urine comes out the urethra, which is in no way connected to the vagina or uterus. However, it is a good idea to urinate before and after sex to get rid of any bacteria that could cause infection in the vagina.

MYTH #11

You can't get pregnant or catch an STD in a shower, bath, or pool.

TRUTH

If a penis is inside the vagina, there is a risk of pregnancy and a risk of getting an STD, water or not. However, if a guy comes in a pool or bath but hasn't been inside you, there is basically no risk of pregnancy. Those little spermie guys can swim, but they aren't olympic athletes and won't survive in the water for very long. And of course, you can only catch an STD if your partner has one in the first place, so get tested!

October 04, 2008