AS A TEENAGER, YOU MAY HEAR A LOT OF CONFLICTING
INFORMATION FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS AND EVEN ADULTS
ABOUT HOW PREGNANCYHAPPENS AND HOW TO PREVENT
IT.
That’s why it is important to use a reliable resource to
double-check the information you hear. Here we
separate fact from fiction as we debunk some common
pregnancy myths.
1. MYTH: YOU CAN’T GET PREGNANT THE FIRST TIME
YOU HAVE SEX.
FACT: Whether it’s the first time or fiftieth time you
have had sex, your chances of becoming pregnant are
the same. Even if a girl has never had her period,
there is a possibility that she’s about to start her first
cycle. In that case, then she has already ovulated,
which means that an egg is present, and when an egg
and sperm are present, pregnancy can occur.
Fact: Even if a guy hasn’t ejaculated recently, it is
still possible for the girl to get pregnant because some
guys have sperm in their pre-cum.
2. MYTH: GIRLS CAN’T GET PREGNANT DURING THEIR
PERIOD.
FACT: Most girls ovulate in the middle of their cycle on
about day 14 after their period starts, but some
ovulate closer to or during their period. Also it is
important to remember that sperm can survive in the
body for up to seven days. If you ovulate within a
week of having unprotected sex, there is a possibility
you can still become pregnant.
3. MYTH: DOUCHING OR WASHING MY VAGINA OUT AFTER
SEX WILL PREVENT ME FROM GETTING PREGNANT.
FACT: Douching will not prevent pregnancy, but it can
increase the chances of a girl becoming pregnant.
Douching is when a solution of water and some mild
cleanser is used to wash out the vagina. The fluid is
usually in a squeezable bottle with a long tube that can
be inserted into the vagina. The fluid is then pushed
up inside the vagina when the bottle is squeezed. If a
girl douches right after sex, the force of the liquid can
push thesemen further into the girl’s body, increasing
the chance of pregnancy. Douching is in fact not
recommended at all because it can cause infections by
messing with the natural pH balance in the vagina. The
vagina should ideally have a lower pH or be a bit
acidic to protect itself from infection. The vagina
produces small amounts of discharge to clean itself
naturally.
4. MYTH: IF A GUY “PULLS OUT” BEFORE HE
EJACULATES, YOU CAN’T GET PREGNANT.
FACT: Once a guy is aroused, he releases pre-
ejaculatory fluid also known as “pre-cum.” Pre-cum
may contain sperm, and it only takes one sperm to
fertilize an egg. It can also be harder for teens to
control their ejaculation and pull out in time, which
increases the risk of ejaculating in the vagina or
getting it on the vaginal opening. “Pulling out” should
not be the only form of birth control that you and
your partner use, especially when there are other
methods that are more effective at preventing
pregnancy. Also, it is important to remember that
pulling out does not protect you from sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs).
5. MYTH: YOU CAN’T GET PREGNANT FROM PRE-CUM.
FACT: Pre-cum or pre-ejaculatory fluid is released
when a guy gets an erection. Pre-ejaculatory fluid
cleans out the inside of a guy’s urethra. Pre-cum can
pick up leftover sperm on its way out of the urethra if
a guy ejaculated recently. Even if a guy hasn’t
ejaculated recently, it is still possible for the girl to
get pregnant because some guys have sperm in their
pre-cum.
6. MYTH: YOU CAN’T GET PREGNANT IF YOU HAVE SEX
STANDING UP.
FACT: Yes, you can get pregnant this way. No matter
what position you are in, whenever you are
havingvaginal sex, especially without any form of
protection, you are at risk of getting pregnant.
Gravity has no effect on a sperm’s ability to travel
through the vagina, into the uterus, where it can
potentially reach an egg. The truth is that there is no
sex position where you can’t get pregnant.
7. MYTH: HAVING SEX IN WATER— LIKE A POOL OR HOT
TUB— PREVENTS YOU FROM GETTING PREGNANT.
FACT: Whether you are in a bed, underwater or in
space, it is still possible to get pregnant if you are
having unprotected sex. It would be best to use some
form of protection when in a pool or hot tub, such as
a condom. There is some concern that the chemicals in
a pool or hot tub could weaken a condom, but it is
better to use one anyway. A “female” or receptive
condom would be a better option since it’s less likely to
slip out of the body, and it’s made of polyurethane,
which is very durable. You do have to watch out though
because sex in a pool or hot tub can irritate the
genitals, which increases the risk of STDinfection.
8. MYTH: YOU CAN’T GET PREGNANT IF YOU DO JUMPING
JACKS AFTER SEX.
FACT: No, semen will not flow down and out of your
vagina because you’re doing jumping jacks. If you
want to prevent a pregnancy, you need to use a
condom during sexual intercourse or be on some kind
of hormonal birth control.
There are a lot of myths about pregnancy—and some
are completely ridiculous. So it is really important to
differentiate between what’s true and what’s false.
You don’t want to assume you won’t get pregnant when
you’re taking a risk and not practicing safer sex. And
you don’t want to panic when you haven’t done
anything that puts you at risk for pregnancy either.
Knowing the facts makes it so much easier to figure
out what you need to do to prevent a pregnancy—if
you decide to have penile-vaginal sex.
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