Pregnancy Myths
Pregnancy can take many teens by surprise. These Pregnancy Myths and Facts explains how easily 'mistakes' can happen.
Myth: I can't get pregnant if I have my period.
Fact: You can get pregnant if you have vaginal sex while you have your period. Sperm can survive inside of you anywhere from a day to almost a week, which means that the sperm could still be waiting for an egg to fertilize when you ovulate. If you decide to have sex while you have your period, you should still use birth control. And you should always use a condom since it is the only effective protection we have against sexually transmitted infections (STI's). STI's don't care if you have your period or not, they can be passed on to you at anytime so it's best to protect yourself every time you have sex. If you think you may be pregnant, take a home pregnancy test right away. Ultra sensitive home pregnancy tests can give you results as quickly as six to eight days after conception.
Myth: I can't get pregnant if he doesn't ejaculate inside of me.
Fact: You can get pregnant if your partner ejaculates inside your vagina or on or near your vulva (this is your external genitals including the opening to your vagina). There is also something called pre-ejaculate which is a small amount of fluid that contains thousands of sperm. It is called pre-ejaculate because your partner releases it before he actually ejaculates. Because of pre-ejaculate, the withdrawal method (when your partner pulls out before he climaxes) is not a reliable birth control method.
Myth: I can't get pregnant if he doesn't put his penis inside of me.
Fact: Pregnancy can occur when your partner ejaculates or pre-ejaculates near or on your vulva. Even if you and your partner do not engage in vaginal sex, there is still a chance of getting pregnant if there is naked body contact. So use birth control, like a condom, which will also help to protect you from STD's.
Myth: I can't get pregnant the first time I have sex.
Fact: You can get pregnant any and every time you have sex, it doesn't matter if it is your first time or not. Plus, females are the most fertile when they are teenagers and in their early 20's, so always use a reliable form of birth control.
Myth: If I washout my vagina after sex, I won't get pregnant.
Fact: Whether you wash with hot water, soap, or use a douche, it won't make a difference. Sperm are really fast swimmers and will get to their destination before you even have the chance to think about it. Additionally, using something like a douche may actually help them along by giving them an extra thrust into your cervix. Also, your body works naturally to suck the sperm up into the womb, so washing after sex won't help you prevent a pregnancy. Only birth control will.
Myth: I can't get pregnant if my hymen doesn't break.
Fact: Your hymen has nothing to do with your ability to get pregnant. As well, many girls' hymens don't break when they have sex for the first time (you might have also heard of this as "popping the cherry"). The hymen is a thin piece of skin that stretches across the opening of your vagina. There are different hymen sizes and openings while some girls may not even seem to have a hymen. Plus, your hymen can break from doing things like horseback riding or even riding your bike. If you have had unprotected sex, you can get pregnant, no matter what state your hymen is in.
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