Sex education at school was embarrassing at the best of times and just plain wrong at the worst. It’s about time we clear up some of those classroom sex myths.
Myth 1: If I wear a condom I can’t get an STI, right?
Wrong! You can give and receive an STI while using condoms. They offer good protection against some STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HIV, but they don’t cover all the skin area so you can still give and receive STIs such as genital herpes which are transmitted by skin to skin contact.
Myth 2: I would definitely be able to tell if someone had an STI.
Most likely not. Some STIs have no symptoms. Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed STI in New Zealand and yet about 50 per cent of men and 70 per cent of women are unaware that they have it.
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Myth 3: The first time a girl has sex HAS to hurt.
Not necessarily. The sex can be a little uncomfortable due to people being anxious the first time they have sex. This discomfort can be lessened considerably with foreplay (lotsss of foreplay) and lube – really anything to get yourself in the zone. If your hymen is still intact, it can also stretch a little during your first time which can cause discomfort, but it’s highly unlikely that the following sex will be painful.
A common misconception is that the hymen gets "broken" the first time you have sex. In reality the hymen isn’t a bone but rather a membrane that partially covers vaginal opening and stretches the first time you have sex, or insert a tampon.
Myth 4: Girls who have lots of sex are bound to have a loose vagina.
Nope. The vagina is an elastic tube which stretches to accommodate a penis, and if you’re pregnant, to deliver a baby. It widens when you are aroused because it’s getting ready for the D. So, it won’t become loose from having too much sex, but childbirth can cause the vagina to lose some of its elasticity.
Myth 5: Girls can only orgasm from clitoris stimulation.
Actually, girls can orgasm from penis-in-vagina sex, but they often require extra stimulation to achieve this. This stimulation is often external – that’s where the clitoris comes in to play – but it is totally possible to come only from penetration. Lots of women don't though, so if you can't don't worry, you're not broken.
Myth 6: I can’t get an STI from giving head.
You definitely can. If you are unsure of your partner’s sexual health then use a condom or dental dam for oral sex.
Myth 7: Condoms are 100 per cent effective.
Unfortunately, no contraception is 100 per cent effective, but we get pretty close these days. Implants and IUDs are more than 99 per cent effective at preventing a pregnancy. The great things about these methods is that once you have had an implant put in, you don’t need to remember to take a pill every day. You do still have to worry about STIs, though. The only real risk free way to have sex is not to have it.
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Myth 8: Girls have to clean their vaginas.
The vagina is actually self-cleaning. All that will happen if you try to clean inside your vagina is that you are more likely to get rid of the good bacteria that are there and develop a smelly discharge. Think of your vagina as a delicate eco-system and just leave it be.
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Myth 9: Impotence only happens to old men.
Impotence means that you’re not able to get or maintain an erection and it can happen to people at any age. This can be an issue especially if you are stressed out or have had too much to drink. Some illnesses can cause impotence, too.
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Myth 10: If a guy has big hands or feet then he must be well hung.
The only thing you can tell from the size of someone’s feet is the size of their shoes. Erect penises are generally the same size. So, a penis that is small when it’s soft and a penis that is large when it’s soft will both be pretty much the same size when it’s erect.
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Information provided by Family Planning. For more information, visit their website.
