Sexual Myths

Far too many teens and adults do not know enough facts about sex and sexual interactions. Because there is a lack of available information, sexuality has come to be surrounded by many myths: some are blatantly false, while others are only partially true.

Everyone must make sexual decisions during their lives. Decisions that are based upon fictitious information can lead to disastrous consequences including disease, unintended pregnancy, unnecessary suffering, and/or death. These words are not intended to frighten you, because human sexuality is a beautiful thing, as long as we have accurate knowledge and act in responsible, caring, and sensible ways. Sexual knowledge can lead to happy, healthy lives, both sexually and otherwise. Here is a list of common myths, which you may or may not know, followed by accurate information that you should know.

1. All teenagers are having sexual intercourse these days.

Although many teenagers are having sexual intercourse, a large proportion of the teenage population is not.

2. A girl cannot get pregnant the first time she has sexual intercourse.

If a girl has begun puberty and/or had her first period she can get pregnant and should use proper protection all the time. If a woman begins to ovulate (when the egg leaves the ovary and travels down the fallopian tube) she is considered fertile and she may or may not have had her first period at the time. The female human body was designed to bear children.

3. A female cannot get pregnant if she is breast-feeding.

Even though a nursing mother may not be having her period, she can still become pregnant.

4. Withdrawing the penis from the vagina prior to ejaculation ("cumming") is an effective contraceptive technique as long as the ejaculate does not come near the vagina (This technique is called coitus interuptus or 'withdrawal').

Withdrawal is a very ineffective method of birth control and most men secrete a fluid from their Cowper