Your sexual health is very important, but sometimes it’s overlooked because it’s less obvious than our physical or mental health. But boy if you take control of it, it will change your life!
I’ve heard some crazy facts and ideas from people about sexual health over the years. Of course, half of them are not true, but the spreading of misinformation is never okay.
To help you dispell myth from fact, I’m here today to debunk some of the ‘fun facts’ that have been going around for years.
‘You can get an STI from a toilet seat’
To end the controversy of this statement, all I need to say is that sexually transmitted infections cannot survive outside the human body for long.
No need to squat and run, but I will say I always lay down toilet paper on the seat just in case of other nasties. But infections cannot get into your body with an opening and skin is a natural barrier.
‘You can’t get an STI from oral sex’
While you have a lower chance of getting an STI from oral sex, it is still possible!
Infections like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis can be obtained in oral sex. You can lower the chances of infection by using protection like a condom or dental dam.
‘Anal sex causes haemorrhoids’
We have all heard how painful haemorrhoids are and no one wants to experience them, but luckily for you they are caused by increased pressure on the veins of the anus. The pressure causes the veins to swell making them painful, but the normal causes of haemorrhoids are excessive exertions during bowel movements.
When having anal sex, as long as you take it slow, relax your body and use plenty of lube you won’t have to worry about a vein swelling.
‘You cannot get pregnant during menstruation’
While getting pregnant while menstruating is unlikely, it is not impossible!
You are most fertile while you are ovulating, which is the period when your egg takes a tiki tour from your ovary to the fallopian tube. This is normally 2 weeks before your period.
Your egg can survive for multiple days in your body, and some women can ovulate closer to their period, so always use protection!
‘Douching cleans the vagina and prevents pregnancy’
Well, the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, so there is no need for extra soap. Funnily enough douching can cause more harm than good. It can knock your pH off to an unnatural state, disrupting the balance of bacteria.
Your vagina has good and bad bacteria in it, douching can cause overgrowth of harmful bacteria. In some cases, people will experience a yeast infection after douching, and if you really want to get freaked out, douching when you already have an infection could lead too pelvic inflammatory disease which is a serious health issue.
Vaginas are not supposed to smell like flowers and rainbows, and your smell will be different to everyone else. The only time to seek help about odour is if your also experiencing pain, or odd discharge.
And to prevent pregnancy…just a big no. Douching should never be used as birth control. Sperm are pretty speedy, and there are thousands that can reach your uterus before you even think about douching.
‘Vaginas are tight or loose depending on the amount of sex a woman has had.’
The tight vs. loose myth is too common. But in fact, the ‘loose’ vagina has been used throughout history to shame women for their sexual activities… It is not true at all. Your vagina is a muscle much like a rubber band, that tightens and loosens depending on arousal. The only things that can change your vagina over time are a result of age or childbirth. Penetration will never permanently stretch your vagina.
You can strengthen your vaginal muscles by doing Kegel exercises.
What are some other myths you have heard? Leave them in the comments below!
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Written by Sophia Ivory
Curly hair and she don’t care, this stylish babe plays by her own rules. With a love for dance and all things body positive, you’ll usually find her searching out the latest fashion trends and digging through local thrift stores. Word of warning, don’t bring your dachshund around her, she’ll want to keep it.
Check out her Instagram for all things goals! @sophiaivory
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