Popular culture, television, and movies often focus on the culturally “taboo” topics, such as sex. For example, in the movie Mean Girls, Coach Carr teaches sex education, stating, “Don't have sex, because you will get pregnant and die!” While most adults understand that this is a funny line about abstinence, some viewers may believe this as true or misunderstand the joke.
Similar instances may result in some wildly incorrect theories that many people believe or take at face value. You may have heard myths about how to prevent pregnancy, different sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or other stigmatizing assumptions about sexual behavior. The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) is here to set these rumors straight.
Myth: Certain Positions or Situations Will Not Result in Pregnancy
Several users of Reddit have posted questions or stories about themselves or people they know in regard to commonly believed “methods” for preventing pregnancy without any sort of contraception or birth control.
- Having sex in the shower, hot tub, or pool. The general consensus is that having hot, chemical-filled water in and around a vagina will prevent sperm from travelling as far as the cervix and uterus. It will be killed or “cleaned out” before it gets that far. This is not true.
- Having sex standing up or with the female partner “on top.” The assumption here is that gravity will make it harder for sperm to travel upwards. Again, this is untrue.
- A woman’s first sexual debut with penetrative intercourse will not result in pregnancy. The truth is that any woman of reproductive age can become pregnant with unprotected sex.
Although nobody knows how these assumptions started, it can be confirmed that any sexual position or situation could result in pregnancy. Additionally, anatomy is not black-and-white when it comes to vaginal positioning or natural douching of semen, therefore, biology is not on your side in these cases.
Myth: There are Other Effective Methods of Contraception Besides Barrier Methods and Hormonal Birth Control (and related)
- Not much media discusses other forms of contraception besides condoms (until recent years). There are other barrier methods available, as well as hormonal birth control in a variety of forms.
- One Redditor revealed she had a friend who believed that if she had sex with a sheet in between her and her partner, that she could not become pregnant. A sheet has microscopic holes in it that microscopic sperm can travel through. Additionally, this will not prevent against STIs as well as true barrier methods (like condoms).
- Another myth is that “the pull-out method” is a reliable form of contraception. Pre-ejaculate may contain sperm, and it is also difficult for many people to control their orgasm and ejaculation in an effective manner.
- Redditors across sexual health advice subreddits pose questions about how effective their emergency contraceptive was, usually stating they had taken multiple. Emergency contraceptive is only effective when taken prior to ovulation in a menstrual cycle. Additionally, it is not advised to take more than one of these in a short period of time, as this may offset your menstrual cycle, leading to more worrying.
- Some people may believe that Mountain Dew will reduce one’s sperm count and be a good form of contraception. This came from a theory that Yellow 5 food dye could cause infertility. You’re safe to Dew but continue to practice safe sex.
Myth: Vaginal Sex and Penetration Are the Only Way to Have Sex and Experience Sexual Pleasure for Both Parties
There are many different ways to be sexually active that do not involve penis-in-vagina sex. Did you know that most women often need extra stimulation of the clitoris and other erogenous zones to reach orgasm? Or that men may require longer periods of stimulation to become aroused and orgasm than a female partner? It’s important to have open discussions with a sexual partner about likes, dislikes, and needs if you want all parties to be satisfied with the experience.
Myth: STIs are Easy to Spot and You Could Die from Them
- In Mean Girls, Coach Carr also says, “But if you do touch each other, you will get chlamydia... and die.” It’s safe to say that most of the time, sexual activity does not result in death. However, the lesson is important, having safe sex and keeping up with STI testing is important for sexual health.
- While some STIs do have visible symptoms like bumps or rashes, most of the time they go undetected. It’s important to pay attention to bodily fluids and smells to catch any sort of infection.
Myth: STIs are 100% Preventable
People may also believe that you cannot get an STI when you have anal or oral sex, or that condoms prevent STI transmission at a rate of 100%. Oral and anal STIs do exist, so it’s important to get tested frequently and use barrier methods like condoms and dental dams. However, it should be noted that even these have a small chance of being ineffective.
It’s important to get STI testing every 6 months if you’ve had any unprotected sex, and if you have multiple partners. Yes, even if you don’t have any signs or symptoms – most STIs do not have symptoms.
Key Takeaways
There are many falsities and misconceptions surrounding sexual activity in popular culture and media. This may come from something a parent said to scare you, a movie, TV show, or a joke that spread too far. It’s important for sexually active individuals to practice safe and protected sex, stay informed about sexual health, and always speak with a sexual health professional if they are concerned about their sexual health.
Resources
Dienberg, M.-F., Oschatz, T., Piemonte, J. L., & Klein, V. (2023). Women’s orgasm and its relationship with sexual satisfaction and well-being. Current Sexual Health Reports, 15(3), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-023-00371-0
Garcia MR, Leslie SW, Wray AA. Sexually Transmitted Infections. [Updated 2024 Apr 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560808/
Higuera, V. (2018, December 6). Does Mountain Dew Kill Sperm: Myth or fact?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/does-mountain-dew-kill-sperm
Ishak, R. (2022, January 14). 33 people share common (but wildly untrue) sex myths that are still, for some reason, believed. BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/ravenishak/sex-myths
Meston, C. M., & Stanton, A. M. (2019). Understanding sexual arousal and subjective–genital arousal desynchrony in women. Nature Reviews Urology, 16(2), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-018-0142-6
Paramount Pictures. (2004). Mean girls. Hollywood, CA.
Walsh, T. L., Frezieres, R. G., Peacock, K., Nelson, A. L., Clark, V. A., Bernstein, L., & Wraxall, B. G. D. (2004). Effectiveness of the male latex condom: Combined results for three popular condom brands used as controls in randomized clinical trials. Contraception, 70(5), 407–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2004.05.008
You may also be interested in...
SMSNA Patients
Sex and Multiple Sclerosis: Barriers Between Patients and Providers
May 18, 2021SMSNA Patients
New Survey Finds Most Adolescents Who Have Labia Minora Surgery Are Satisfied
May 4, 2021Did You Know?
What Is Sensate Focus and How Does It Work?
April 13, 2021Did You Know?
Outercourse
March 23, 2021Did You Know?
Alcohol and Temporary Erectile Dysfunction
February 2, 2021SMSNA Patients
Benefits of Sexual Activity During COVID-19 Lockdown
February 9, 2021Did You Know?
Q&A on “Blue Ball” Syndrome
January 20, 2021Blog
An Overview of Hard Flaccid Syndrome
March 2, 2021Blog
A Versatile Sex Life May Increase Sexual Satisfaction for Women With Endometriosis
January 25, 2021Other Popular Articles
What Is Jelqing, and Does It Actually Work?
The term “jelqing” refers to a set of penis stretching exercises that some believe can make the penis bigger. Although the practice has gained attention and popularity in blogs and internet forums in recent years, there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective way to permanently increase the size of one’s penis. In fact, in some cases, jelqing may actually cause damage to the penis, so it is a good idea to get all the facts before setting off to try it.
What Is the Average Penis Size?
If you have ever wondered how your penis compares to others in terms of size, you are not alone. Many men are curious to know how their penises stack up compared to the average. Unfortunately, general curiosity can sometimes give way to full-on obsession and anxiety about penis size. This can be an unhealthy and often unnecessary fixation, especially because most men who think their penises are too small have perfectly normal-sized penises.
What Is Sensate Focus and How Does It Work?
Sensate focus is a technique used to improve intimacy and communication between partners around sex, reduce sexual performance anxiety, and shift away from ingrained, goal-oriented sexual patterns that may not be serving a couple.
Can Sex Reduce Menstrual Cramps?
The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine.
Having sex while you experience menstrual cramps is healthy and can provide significant benefits. While it might not be the first activity that comes to mind when your PMS or period cramping begins, many people enjoy sex to reduce menstrual cramps, experience increased pleasure and benefit from other advantages. Learn more about having sex while menstrual cramps are happening and how it can help your body.
How Long Does It Take the Average Man to Ejaculate?
On average, it takes a man between 5 to 7 minutes to orgasm and ejaculate during sexual intercourse.
The Effect of Regular Aerobic Exercise on Erectile Function
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity. As men get older, their erectile functioning may naturally decline due to changes in testosterone levels, cardiovascular functioning, and the potential development of other chronic medical conditions that become more common with age.
