Let's Talk about Sex, part 2: PREGNANCY MYTHS

I was going to discuss STIs/STDs for the second posting of this, but pregnancy seems to be more of a concern. I will stand by one of my former statements- if you can't openly talk about sex to a potential partner, then you are either not ready to have sex or are not with the right person. It's important to be able to talk about the risks in sexual activity, including the chance of pregnancy.

MYTHS
1. "You can't get pregnant if you don't have intercourse."
All it takes to get pregnant is for one tiny sperm to reach one single egg. The likelihood is very small, but there is a possibility. Sperm can live in open air for several hours and in the vagina for up to a week. Basically, anytime a penis and vagina come into contact, there is a slight risk.

2. "If a man 'pulls out' before he ejaculates, the woman cannot get pregnant."
Sperm can exit the penis before actual ejaculation (pre-ejaculation is the liquid that seeps out anytime before actual ejaculation). This method is still used by some, but is less effective than any other method, aside from natural family planning.

3. "Certain positions make it impossible to get pregnant."
Some believe that gravity will keep a woman from getting pregnant. Standing up during sex does not decrease chances of pregnancy. Along with that, jumping up and down after or urinating are not going to get rid of sperm inside a vagina.

4. "A woman cannot get pregnant if she has sex in water."
Although it is true that sperm die within a few minutes in water, a woman can get pregnant any time she has intercourse. All the same rules apply for any other time people have sex.

5. "A woman cannot get pregnant if she is on her period or breastfeeding."
A woman's menstrual cycle changes. Although this just brings risk factors up and down for pregnancy, no time in a woman's cycle will necessarily eliminate this risk.

6. "Vaginal intercourse is the only sexual act than can get a woman pregnant."
Obviously, we saw this to be untrue with myth #1. However, some believe that anal sex will eliminate the risk. Usually, this is true. Consider the anatomy of a woman. The anus is very close to the vaginal opening. Sperm could, in fact, enter the vagina. I also want to break the myth that swallowing sperm can get a woman pregnant. That one isn't really worth it's own number.

7. "The 'morning after pill' is abortion."
The "morning after pill" is generally used when a condom breaks or when a woman is raped. This is for PREVENTION OF PREGNANCY- not an actual abortion pill. It takes days for a woman to be pregnant after the sperm and egg unite, and may even take days for the egg to actually be fertilized. The fertilized egg must travel to the cervix and attach itself to the cervical wall and start getting nutrients from the woman for her to be considered pregnant.

Is there anything I missed about pregnancy myths? Does anyone have any questions?

Next up: STDs/STIs, probably followed by sexuality, unless someone has a better idea.

You can ask any questions, even message me for privacy. If I don't know the answer, I'll find it.

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