A wise man says that a lie that has been told one too many times ultimately becomes the truth. If this is the case, this probably will explain the fact why people believe a ridiculous amount of sex myths. Mastering every bit about sex and sexual health can be like learning language: you may swear that you know the A to Z’s of it, but there is always a new repertoire of words waiting to be learned.
With so much knowledge to absorb, misinformation is bound to happen to some extent. As your reliable healthy sex life advocate, we want you to be able to separate truths from myths. Here are 6 intricate sex myths and the actual truths behind them.
What keeps sex myths alive (and thriving)
Apart from which country you are living in, every person can be prone to being exposed and subjected to misconceptions regarding sex. Many reasons and factors contribute to this, but the main ones revolve around:
- Poor sex education: sometimes, sex education in schools only touch on the surface without going to the core and delving into the most important information and students are left to figuring everything out on their own.
- Particular cultural or religious beliefs: depending on where a person lives, some traditional and conventional values may deem sex inappropriate and dirty. And believe it or not, the topic of STD is still a stigma in Singapore.
- Porn: like every other form of business, the end goal is to rake in the millions, so what is portrayed in these videos does not reflect the reality of sex.
Myth 1: You can always tell if someone has a sexually transmitted infection
Sexually transmitted infections or diseases may sometimes come with conspicuous and obvious symptoms and implications. To elaborate, herpes and syphilis are two common STDs that usually come with cutaneous manifestations (skin conditions) such as red sores and rash. Although some cases of STDs are followed by very telling signs, people can still have them without actually knowing it and even worse, they can pass the infection to their sexual partners. This may happen due to the fact that several STDs are “silent” and asymptomatic, so people who are suffering from them may not experience great discomfort, making them think that their health is in tip top condition. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are two culprits when it comes to silent infections. The only way to be certain if a person is free from STDs is to get tested.
Myth 2: Men cannot get HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV), which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, is always associated with women due to them taking HPV shots to minimise the risk for cervical cancer. Contrary to what society believes, men can also be at risk for contracting HPV. CDC stated that almost every person who is sexually active will get HPV at some point in life. Both men and women can get HPV from performing anal, vaginal and oral sex with an infected partner. Most men, however, do not experience any symptoms, thus leading them to think they never have the infection. CDC recommends every individual (boys and girls) between ages 11 and 12 be vaccinated.
Myth 3: Condoms protect you from all STIs / STDs
Not only are condoms effective in preventing pregnancy, they are also potent in warding off STIs and STDs. Nevertheless, these gloves are not perfect. While condoms are great in averting HIV, gonorrhea and chlamydia, some sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, HPV and syphilis can spread through skin-to-skin contact and the exchange of bodily fluids. That being said, condoms only reduce the risks of contracting STDs but do not fully eliminate them. The only way to avoid the exposure to STIs and STDs is to abstain from all types of sexual activities, and if you are sexually active, make sure that getting tested for STIs or STDs is part of your healthcare routine.
Myth 4: Women-on-top or sex while standing up won’t make women pregnant
Yes, the nature’s force that is gravity is powerful and potent, but it will not prevent sperm from swimming to the egg. In fact, no scientific research has proven that certain sex positions will elude pregnancy. Whether you are having sex while standing up, being on top or in extremes positions such as headstands and being paraded around the room, any unprotected sex where a penis penetrates a vagina can lead to being pregnant. If you do not want to conceive, the only proven thing that will minimise the risk is birth control.
Myth 5: You can get an STD from a filthy toilet seat
Although filthy surfaces are potential places for disease-causing organisms to multiply, you can let out a sigh of relief because these organisms only live for a short time on toilet seats. What is more, besides being transmitted through sexual activities, STDs can only be passed through when your skin is wounded or broken. Owing to these facts, the risks for contracting STDs through dirty toilet seats remain low.
Myth 6: Consuming alcohol and marijuana leads to better sex
Even though you may find yourself more eloquent in spilling some sophisticated vocabulary and confident in socialising after two glasses of Manhattan or Old Fashioned, alcohol really only lessens inhibitions. Alcohol, in fact, does not elevate sexual performance as it reduces blood flow to the genital area, leading people to have a hard time maintaining an erection or experiencing orgasms. To boot, consuming alcohol may cause you to make foolish and spur-of-the-moment decisions, including consenting to doing something you are not fine with or doing things with someone you are not comfortable with.
Myth 7: HIV can be transmitted through kissing and saliva
This is a major misconception. It is true that HIV can be passed on from one person to another through bodily fluids, but saliva is not one of them. The bodily fluids that may carry the virus include blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breastmilk and anal mucous and they have to enter a person’s bloodstream for the virus to develop. After learning this fact, it is obvious that kissing is not a likely cause for HIV transmission, but if two persons happen to have bleeding gums and kiss, the infected person’s blood may enter the bloodstream of the HIV-negative person.
Educating yourself on sexual health and getting tested regularly is one form of self-love and the best gift you can give yourself. Shim Clinic is always here to ensure that your sexual health is in tip top condition. We are a STD clinic in Singapore providing a wide range of services besides STD testing: STD treatments, HIV tests, HIV treatments, HIV PEP and HIV PrEP.