zoe
March 20th, 2002, 09:40 PM
I found this list for my friend who just doesn't seem to believe some of the *unbelieveable* things I say about sex.. like how you can get pregnant your first time having sex *gasp*. And although I know these are duhs for most of you here, I'm hoping maybe it'll help out new visitors.
I'd appreciate any you have to add!
1) There are drugs that can cure HIV/AIDS
MYTH. There is currently no known cure for HIV/AIDS. There are certain drugs, called protease inhibitors, which slow the progression of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Only a clinician can prescribe these drugs.
2) A boy or man who is sexually aroused can harm himself if he doesn't have sex
MYTH. Semen does not get "backed up" in the testicles if the man doesn't ejaculate (come). If a man or boy is sexually excited for a long period of time without ejaculating, he may experience some discomfort in his testicles. This is sometimes called "blueballs". This discomfort will not cause any harm and will go away once he stops the sexually stimulating activity.
3) Most STDs have symptoms that will let a person know if they are infected.
MYTH. The symptoms of many STDs may not show up for many months or a person may never experience symptoms. In the case of HIV, symptoms may not show up for years. If you have had unprotected sex with someone who you believe may have a STD, it is important to go to a clinic to get tested.
4) Two condoms are better than one
MYTH. Two condom should not be worn at once. The friction can cause the condoms to tear or break. If you are using condoms, you should use only one new condom each time you have sex.
5) If a girl or woman takes a birth control pill each time after sex, she
will prevent pregnancy.
MYTH. In order to prevent pregnancy, a girl or woman must take her birth control pills (also called oral contraceptives) at the same time every day. Birth control pills must be prescribed by a clinician. There are some pills, called emergency contraceptive pills or ECPs, which may prevent pregnancy if they are taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. These pills must be prescribed by a clinician that knows the right number and type of pills to take to prevent the pregnancy.
6) Birth control is the girl or woman's responsibility.
MYTH.. Birth control is the responsibility of both sexual partners. Boys or men should not assume that their partner is using a birth control method. It is best to talk to your partner about birth control before you become sexually involved.
7) A teenager has to be 18 to get contraception from a clinic, without a parent's consent.
MYTH. In most states, teenagers under 18 may get birth control without their parent's consent or notification. Family planning clinics ensure confidential services, which means they do not tell anyone, including parents, about the services they provide for their patients.
8 ) Anal intercourse is a safe way for a woman or girl to avoid
pregnancy and STDs.
MYTH. Having anal sex is one of the easiest ways to spread HIV and some other STDs. Because the anus is not as elastic as the vagina and is not lubricated, it can tear more easily, allowing viruses and bacteria to enter directly into the blood of a partner. In addition, it is possible to become pregnant from anal sex if semen from the ejaculation seeps out and moves into the vagina.
9) A girl or woman cannot get pregnant if she has unprotected sex while she is on her period.
MYTH. It seems like you would be safe from pregnancy during your period since this is the beginning of your cycle and ovulation occurs around the middle of the cycle. However, it is not possible to predict when ovulation will happen and many things like stress, illness and other factors can make you ovulate sooner. Also, sperm can live in your body for up to 5 days. Therefore, if you don't want to get pregnant, your period is not a safe time to have unprotected sex.
10) You cannot practice abstinence if you have already had sex.
MYTH. Abstinence simply means choosing not to have sex. This does not mean that you've never had sex or that you never will. Maybe you've had sex before, but now it doesn't feel right. Some people choose to wait until they're ready or until they find the right partner or until they're married. Others may abstain their whole lives. The important thing to remember is that it's your right to decide when you are ready.
11) You must have sex to prove you love your boyfriend/girlfriend.
MYTH. Sex is not a proof of love. There are many ways to show someone that you love them. One of the most important ways is by respecting your partner's feelings. So if your boyfriend or girlfriend are pressuring you to do something you don't want to, you need to think about whether they really care about you and your feelings.
12) If a girl or woman urinates after having sex she will not get pregnant.
MYTH. For a girl or woman, there is a small opening for urine (urethra), and there is another opening for intercourse (vagina). Therefore, urinating after sex does not help to prevent pregnancy.
13) If a girl douche after having sex she will lessen her chances of getting pregnant.
MYTH. Douching does not help to prevent pregnancy because sperm travels through the vagina and into the uterus immediately after ejaculation. In fact, douching can increase your chances of becoming pregnant because it can push the sperm up the vagina. In general, douching isn't necessary to clean the vagina and can cause infection if done too often.
14) A girl or woman cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex.
MYTH. You can become pregnant any time you have sex without using a reliable method of birth control.
15) The pull-out method (withdrawal) is a reliable method of birth control.
MYTH. Withdrawal works only if a boy or man has total control over ejaculation, which is often very difficult to do. He may ejaculate before he has time to completely pull-out and the girl or woman can become pregnant. In addition, withdrawal does not protect against HIV and STD's.
16) A boy cannot get a girl pregnant if they have sex in water.
MYTH. Having sex in the water does not prevent sperm from getting into the vagina and into the uterus.[/list]
I'd appreciate any you have to add!
1) There are drugs that can cure HIV/AIDS
MYTH. There is currently no known cure for HIV/AIDS. There are certain drugs, called protease inhibitors, which slow the progression of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Only a clinician can prescribe these drugs.
2) A boy or man who is sexually aroused can harm himself if he doesn't have sex
MYTH. Semen does not get "backed up" in the testicles if the man doesn't ejaculate (come). If a man or boy is sexually excited for a long period of time without ejaculating, he may experience some discomfort in his testicles. This is sometimes called "blueballs". This discomfort will not cause any harm and will go away once he stops the sexually stimulating activity.
3) Most STDs have symptoms that will let a person know if they are infected.
MYTH. The symptoms of many STDs may not show up for many months or a person may never experience symptoms. In the case of HIV, symptoms may not show up for years. If you have had unprotected sex with someone who you believe may have a STD, it is important to go to a clinic to get tested.
4) Two condoms are better than one
MYTH. Two condom should not be worn at once. The friction can cause the condoms to tear or break. If you are using condoms, you should use only one new condom each time you have sex.
5) If a girl or woman takes a birth control pill each time after sex, she
will prevent pregnancy.
MYTH. In order to prevent pregnancy, a girl or woman must take her birth control pills (also called oral contraceptives) at the same time every day. Birth control pills must be prescribed by a clinician. There are some pills, called emergency contraceptive pills or ECPs, which may prevent pregnancy if they are taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. These pills must be prescribed by a clinician that knows the right number and type of pills to take to prevent the pregnancy.
6) Birth control is the girl or woman's responsibility.
MYTH.. Birth control is the responsibility of both sexual partners. Boys or men should not assume that their partner is using a birth control method. It is best to talk to your partner about birth control before you become sexually involved.
7) A teenager has to be 18 to get contraception from a clinic, without a parent's consent.
MYTH. In most states, teenagers under 18 may get birth control without their parent's consent or notification. Family planning clinics ensure confidential services, which means they do not tell anyone, including parents, about the services they provide for their patients.
8 ) Anal intercourse is a safe way for a woman or girl to avoid
pregnancy and STDs.
MYTH. Having anal sex is one of the easiest ways to spread HIV and some other STDs. Because the anus is not as elastic as the vagina and is not lubricated, it can tear more easily, allowing viruses and bacteria to enter directly into the blood of a partner. In addition, it is possible to become pregnant from anal sex if semen from the ejaculation seeps out and moves into the vagina.
9) A girl or woman cannot get pregnant if she has unprotected sex while she is on her period.
MYTH. It seems like you would be safe from pregnancy during your period since this is the beginning of your cycle and ovulation occurs around the middle of the cycle. However, it is not possible to predict when ovulation will happen and many things like stress, illness and other factors can make you ovulate sooner. Also, sperm can live in your body for up to 5 days. Therefore, if you don't want to get pregnant, your period is not a safe time to have unprotected sex.
10) You cannot practice abstinence if you have already had sex.
MYTH. Abstinence simply means choosing not to have sex. This does not mean that you've never had sex or that you never will. Maybe you've had sex before, but now it doesn't feel right. Some people choose to wait until they're ready or until they find the right partner or until they're married. Others may abstain their whole lives. The important thing to remember is that it's your right to decide when you are ready.
11) You must have sex to prove you love your boyfriend/girlfriend.
MYTH. Sex is not a proof of love. There are many ways to show someone that you love them. One of the most important ways is by respecting your partner's feelings. So if your boyfriend or girlfriend are pressuring you to do something you don't want to, you need to think about whether they really care about you and your feelings.
12) If a girl or woman urinates after having sex she will not get pregnant.
MYTH. For a girl or woman, there is a small opening for urine (urethra), and there is another opening for intercourse (vagina). Therefore, urinating after sex does not help to prevent pregnancy.
13) If a girl douche after having sex she will lessen her chances of getting pregnant.
MYTH. Douching does not help to prevent pregnancy because sperm travels through the vagina and into the uterus immediately after ejaculation. In fact, douching can increase your chances of becoming pregnant because it can push the sperm up the vagina. In general, douching isn't necessary to clean the vagina and can cause infection if done too often.
14) A girl or woman cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex.
MYTH. You can become pregnant any time you have sex without using a reliable method of birth control.
15) The pull-out method (withdrawal) is a reliable method of birth control.
MYTH. Withdrawal works only if a boy or man has total control over ejaculation, which is often very difficult to do. He may ejaculate before he has time to completely pull-out and the girl or woman can become pregnant. In addition, withdrawal does not protect against HIV and STD's.
16) A boy cannot get a girl pregnant if they have sex in water.
MYTH. Having sex in the water does not prevent sperm from getting into the vagina and into the uterus.[/list]