Sexual Health Myths
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All Sexual Health Myths
Myth
You can't get STIs from oral sex
Fact
Oral sex can transmit herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, HPV, and more.
Many believe oral sex is 'safer,' but infections don't care which body part is involved. Herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis, HP...
Myth
Two condoms provide double protection
Fact
Double-bagging increases friction and makes both more likely to break.
Using two condoms at once (called 'double-bagging') is actually less safe than using one. The friction between the two c...
Myth
If you feel fine, you don't need STI testing
Fact
Most STIs are asymptomatic. You can spread them without knowing.
The most common symptom of STIs is no symptom at all. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and herpes can all be transmitted witho...
Myth
Birth control pills protect against STIs
Fact
The pill prevents pregnancy, not infections. Only condoms do both.
Hormonal birth control (pills, patches, rings, IUDs, implants) is excellent at preventing pregnancy but provides zero pr...
Myth
HPV only affects people with vaginas
Fact
Anyone can get HPV, and it can cause throat, penile, and anal cancers.
HPV (human papillomavirus) doesn't discriminate by gender. It can cause cervical cancer, but also throat cancer, penile ...
Myth
You can't get pregnant on your period
Fact
You CAN get pregnant while menstruating. It's less likely but still possible.
While fertility is lower during menstruation, sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for up to 5 days. If you have ...
Myth
Pulling out before ejaculation prevents pregnancy
Fact
Pre-ejaculate contains sperm and can cause pregnancy.
Withdrawal (pulling out) is only 78% effective—meaning 22 out of 100 couples using this method will get pregnant within ...
Myth
You can get STIs from toilet seats
Fact
STIs don't survive on toilet seats. You need direct sexual contact.
Sexually transmitted infections cannot survive long on cold toilet seat surfaces. They need warm, moist environments to ...
Myth
You can get pregnant without penetration
Fact
Pregnancy is possible if sperm enters the vagina, even without full penetration.
Any contact between sperm and the vagina can result in pregnancy. This includes genital-to-genital contact without penet...
Myth
The morning-after pill is an abortion
Fact
Plan B prevents pregnancy, it doesn't end an existing one.
Emergency contraception (Plan B, ella) works by delaying or preventing ovulation—it cannot and will not terminate an exi...
Myth
Cold sores aren't herpes
Fact
Cold sores are usually oral herpes (HSV-1)—and can be transmitted sexually.
Most cold sores on the mouth are caused by HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1). While this is the 'oral' type and genita...
Myth
You can tell if someone has an STI just by looking
Fact
Most STIs have no visible symptoms. Only testing can confirm.
The vast majority of people with STIs show no symptoms. Someone can have chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, or HPV and l...
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