- A girl can’t get pregnant the first time she has sex. Not true – a girl who is ovulating (and ovulation starts before she even has her first period) can get pregnant any time she has sex without using contraception.
- A girl can’t get pregnant if the boy withdraws before ejaculation or she’s got her period or if she stands up when they have sex. None of these statements is true and it’s possible for a girl to get pregnant in all of these circumstances. Only using a condom or some other form of contraception will stop you getting pregnant.
- You can get pregnant from oral sex. This is not true – even swallowing sperm cannot possibly make you pregnant. Oral sex, however, presents a danger of contracting a sexually-transmitted infection (STI). Condoms and dental dams act as a barrier to protect you from such infections.
- Clingfilm and plastic bags will do if you haven’t got a condom. No, they certainly will not. Condoms are the only effective protection against pregnancy and STIs so don’t be tempted to improvise if there’s only an old crisp bag to hand.
- You can use condoms more than once. Don’t even think about this one. Condoms are made from very thin latex or rubber and so can tear easily, reducing their effectiveness as barrier contraception. Once used, throw them away – they are no longer any use at all.
- Not having sex will harm a boy’s testicles. He might feel sexually frustrated but there is no other harm done to a boy if he doesn’t have sex or ejaculate during a sexual encounter. This is one of the oldest myths around about sex but it’s no more true now than it was 50 or 100 years ago.
- If you get an STI, you’ll spot the signs of infection right away. This is definitely not true – often there are no signs of infection at all and you may be unaware for some time that you have actually contracted an STI. If you feel you have been exposed to the risk of an STI, consult your doctor right away.
