Sex reality and myth
Bogus myth: You can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex—or when you have your period.
Reality check: Lies, lies, lies. You can get pregnant any time you have unprotected sex, even if you are menstruating.
Bogus myth: You can’t get pregnant if he pulls out before he ejaculates.
Reality check: Pulling out isn’t foolproof. A guy’s seminal fluid, which can leak out before he ejaculates, contains sperm and/or the germs that cause sexually transmitted diseases. And though he may be sure he has control, it’s very hard to pull out in time. And
even if he does, he could still be close enough to your vagina for sperm to get inside. Remember: All it takes is one teeny-tiny sperm to fertilize an egg and poof! (you know what happens next).
Bogus myth: You can lose your virginity by using a tampon.
Reality check: You’re a virgin with a capital V until you have intercourse. It’s true that inserting a tampon before you’ve ever had sex might tear your hymen (a thin membrane that stretches across the vaginal canal), but even if your hymen does break from this, it still doesn’t mean you’re not a virgin. Besides, tampons are small enough that they can often be used without breaking the hymen.
Bogus myth: You can’t get a sexually transmitted disease from oral sex.
Reality check: The herpes and HIV viruses are spread from one person to another through vaginal, anal and oral (mouth to genital) sex. Germs that cause certain STDs may be present in the mouth as well as in the genitals (see previous page for more about STDs).
Bogus myth: When he says he wants to have sex with you, it means he definitely loves you.
Reality check: When he drops the L-bomb while unfastening your Warner’s lace bra (and he didn’t even know your last name six hours ago) or after he treated you to dinner and a movie, you have to wonder whether he’s being sincere and whether he’s the guy you want to be intimate with. Doing it just because he wants to does not mean he’ll be yours forever.
Bogus myth: If you’re fooling around with a guy and then decide to stop, he’ll be in major pain (aka “blue balls”).
Reality check: Although a guy will tell you that to elicit your sympathy or to get you to acquiesce, he won’t—we repeat, won’t— be on his deathbed if he doesn’t, um, get off. So if he insists or gets pushy, be firm and walk away. Fast.
Bogus myth: Once you’ve had sex, there’s no turning back.
Reality check: Not. Just because you’ve had intercourse once doesn’t mean that from now on you have to do it with every guy you like, or even with the same guy again. It’s your life and your body, and only you can decide what feels right.
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