Q .You can't get pregnant or get an STI the first time you have sex.

A. You can get pregnant or an STI anytime you have vaginal (penis-in-vagina) sex. If you're having sex without birth control, you can get pregnant — whether it's the first time or the 100th time. It's even possible for you to get pregnant before you have your first period!

Bottom line: if you're going to have vaginal sex, use birth control to prevent pregnancy. And if you’re having vaginal or anal sex, always use a condom.  

Q. If you get an STD once, you can never get it again.

A. A lot of STDs can be cured with antibiotics. But once they're cured, you can get them again. So if you get treated for an STD, your partner(s) should be treated also — otherwise they could give the infection right back to you if you have sex again. And you should keep getting tested whenever you have unprotected sex or start having sex with someone new.

Q. You can't get pregnant during your period.

A. It's not super common, but it's possible to get pregnant from sex you had during your period. This is because sperm can hang out in your reproductive organs for SIX whole days, waiting for one of your eggs to come out. 

Q. Drinking herbal solutions can prevent pregnancy and STIs.

A. Not true. Herbal solutions will not prevent STIs or pregnancy. In fact, some herbal solutions can cause serious damage.

Q. Sleeping with a virgin cures HIV/AIDS

A. HIV/AIDS has no cure. But there are treatments that can keep your viral load down and prevent HIV from progressing to severe illness.

Q. You can’t have sex when a girl has her period

A. You can have sex at any time of the month, but remember to use condoms or your preferred method of contraceptive. If a girl is bleeding during her period, you can put a towel or sheet down to avoid the tell-tale stain on the bed! 

Q. Anal sex is less risky for passing STIs

A. Anal sex is actually more risky for STIs because the tissue in your anal canal is thinner and therefore more able to be infected by diseases. Wear a condom and use a lubricant every time you have sex.

Q. Men have a higher sex drive than women.

A. Men and women on average have the same level of sex drive, according to scientists. None of us are alike in when we will want to have sex, how often, and with whom. 

Some guys want sex at an earlier age, some at a later age. Likewise, some girls want to have sex at an earlier age, some at a later age. Some want more sex and some want less sex. But television, movies, magazines, and society in general present us with a false definition of who we are supposed to be and when we should have sex.

So let's get real. You are the one who needs to look yourself in the mirror. You are the one who needs to decide if you are ready to have sex and what the consequences might be.