Safe sex and sexual health myths debunked
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Sometimes the desire to learn more about sex leads us not to the specialist's office, which can give qualified advice, but on the expanses of the Internet space. The danger of finding tips on the Internet is that some sites about healthy life give distorted, sometimes obsolete and rather confusing advice.
Specialist adolescent medicine from the California clinic Lucille Packard, Dr. Sophia Ian decided to make a list of the most common mistaken opinions associated with sexual life.
Myth number 1
Toilet seat - hotbed of venereal infections
The viruses of sexually transmitted diseases can not last long, being outside the body, especially on the cold surface of the lid of the toilet bowl. Also, the causative agents of these diseases can not be present in urine, so the risk of getting infected simply by sitting in the toilet seat is zero.
What really should be avoided is contact with dubious personalities. With immediate tactile or oral contact, you can catch herpes, chlamydia and oral gonorrhea. And when rubbing the skin on the skin can be transferred scabies, herpes, genital warts and pubic lice.
Myth number 2
The first sexual experience can not become pregnant
All this fiction, it is unclear who invented. At the first sexual contact, the chances of becoming pregnant are exactly the same as in a year after the onset of sexual activity.
Myth number 3
Do not get pregnant during critical days
Yes, indeed, the chances of getting pregnant during menstruation are very small, but still there is such a danger. In some women, menstruation stops during the onset of ovulation.
Myth number 4
Reception of contraceptives in the morning after sex interrupts pregnancy
When a fertilized egg is attached to the wall of the uterus, taking regular contraceptives will not help. According to the survey, 30% of couples are considered effective.
Myth number 5
From contraceptives it is possible to recover
Despite the fact that studies have not found the relationship between the use of contraceptives and a set of excess weight, most continue to believe that it is the reception of contraceptives that causes problems with body weight.
Myth number 6
Intrauterine spiral is dangerous for young girls
The intrauterine device is a small object that is inserted into the uterus in order to prevent pregnancy. This is a very convenient method of contraception, when you do not need to monitor the intake of pills and use a condom. Researches of scientists show, that the spiral does not represent danger for girls under 18 years.
Myth number 7
The HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer
Civarex and Gardasil are vaccines that block two types of human papillomavirus, which most often cause the development of the cervix. However, despite this, about 30% of cases of cervical cancer develop regardless of whether the vaccine was given or not.
Myth number 8
Douching helps maintain sexual health
Sometimes sprinkling can do more harm than good. The vagina is cleaned by itself - this is followed by bacteria that make up the microflora. It is also wrong to think that syringing will protect against pregnancy and from sexually transmitted diseases.