Wisconsin Coalition for Responsible Sex Education

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From the Wisconsin Coalition for Comprehensive Sex Education (CCSE)

Myth 1: I can't get pregnant the first time I have sex.
Truth: Any time an individual engages in vaginal intercourse, there is a chance the female could become pregnant.

Myth 2: He didn't have an orgasm, so I can't get pregnant.
Truth: Males release something called "pre-ejaculate," a small amount of semen before ejaculation. This is enough semen to impregnate the female partner.

Myth 3: I'm having my period, so I can't get pregnant.
Truth: When a female menstruates, her body is releasing that month's egg and uterine lining. At the same time, her body is replacing that egg with a new egg. This means a woman can become pregnant at any time during her menstrual cycle.

Myth 4: I can't get pregnant if I douche after sex.
Truth: Once a male has entered the vagina without any form of contraceptive barrier, pregnancy could result.

Myth 5: If I don't have an orgasm, I can't get pregnant.
Truth: While some studies have shown that the female orgasm aids in sperm travel through the vaginal canal, not having an orgasm is not a substitute for contraceptive use or abstinence.

Myth 6: I can't get an STD if I have oral sex.
Truth: Some STDs, such as genital herpes, can be transferred through direct skin-to-skin contact. This means that STDs can be contracted if an individual chooses to engage in unprotected oral sex with an infected partner.

Myth 7: If I have oral or anal sex, I'm still a virgin.
Truth: Some people debate this issue, but the fact remains that any type of sex is sex. More than five in ten boys have received oral sex from a girl and slightly more than a third have performed oral sex on a girl. What's more, many of these teens say they do not consider oral or even anal sex to be sex—some even called it "abstinence."

Myth 8: I had sex, so now I'm an adult.
Truth: Engaging in sexual intercourse is not a "right of passage" into adulthood.

Myth 9: Double-bagging a condom is more effective than using just one.
Truth: Putting on two condoms does not increase the effectiveness of the barrier. In fact, "double-bagging" increases the likelihood that the condom will break or slip off during intercourse.
Girl 1: I get so scared sometimes, because I'm afraid the condom will break and I won't notice it.
Girl 2: Don't worry, just double-bag with two condoms; you'll get better protection. If one breaks, there's a backup.
"This was the conversation between two girls at my lunch table. The double-bagging myth is one of many sexual health myths that teens hear and take as truth," says Elizabeth Marchetta, 18-staff writer for sxect.org.
"I used to double-bag till I realized that it isn't any safer than using just one condom," says George, 17, of Plainwell, MI.
Michael Drain, 16, of Pittsburgh, PA, describes a popular condom myth at his school. "Probably the most well-known myth is that putting on more than one condom at a time will increase protection. But actually, it increases the friction between the condoms, making it easier for the condoms to break," explains Drain.

Myth 10: Masturbation makes guys' semen dry up.
Truth: Masturbation is a healthy and natural component of sexual activity. Masturbation does nothing to biologically alter the health of men and women.

Myth 11: A girl can get pregnant from oral sex with a guy.
Truth: Unless a woman's vagina is in contact with the male's ejaculation, it is impossible to get pregnant from oral sex. Swallowing semen does not lead to pregnancy. Ejaculation swallowed during oral sex goes to the gut; ejaculation during unprotected vaginal intercourse goes to the female reproductive system, where pregnancy occurs.

Myth 12: A girl can't get pregnant if she has intercourse in the water.
Truth: Contact with water does not kill sperm. In fact, sperm can live a few hours in a water environment.
"I remember someone telling me that water kills sperm," says Ruth, 15, of Montclair, NJ.

Myth 13: Anal sex is unclean and unsafe.
Truth: Anal sex is simply an alternative to vaginal intercourse or oral sex. It is still a sexual behavior and is not dirty or dangerous. More than one in ten boys has engaged in anal sex. The important thing to remember is that no matter what type of sexual behavior an individual engages in, it is vital that males wear condoms to prevent the transmission of STDs and HIV/AIDs.
"It's just nasty. Paul, 17 of NJ, remembers his sex education teacher talking about the stigma regarding anal sex. "She mentioned how people say, 'Things are supposed to come out of your anus, not go into it.'"

Myth 14: Boys won't or can't transfer HIV to girls via oral sex.
Truth: HIV is a virus that is carried through bodily fluid such as semen. Any time the semen of an infected individual comes into direct contact with another individual, there is a risk of transmission. Abstinence is the only 100% effective way of avoiding HIV transmission, yet condoms are proven effective barriers against HIV.

www.womensissues.about.com
www.sxect.org-website by and for teens
www.salon.com-"A Teen Sex Guru (Lynn Pontom) Speaks": by Amy Benfer Jan 2001)