Sex myths and misconceptions

1 Any STDs you have will be uncovered in your annual Pap smear

Nearly half of women mistakenly believe they are being screened for all kinds of infections when they undergo their annual gynaecological exam, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. And many women err in thinking the Pap smear picks up diseases other than cervical cancer. Actually, the primary job of the Pap smear is to detect cellular changes in the cervix that may indicate the presence of cancer, and it is not a good screening tool for infections. Although the Pap smear does give doctors clues about some STDs such as chlamydia and herpes, these infections may be present even when the Pap smear does not hint at their presence, so other tests are usually needed to detect them. The Pap smear does not identify HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

2 Oral contraceptives are dangerous to your health

Actually, the pill is considered quite safe. Although early versions of the pill were associated with health problems, such as heart disease, stroke and breast cancer, many of these conditions were related to high hormone levels. The earliest birth control pills contained 10 times the amount of oestrogen and four times the amount of progestin (synthetic progesterone) than today’s formulations.

The fact is, today’s pill, one of the most studied drugs around, boasts numerous health benefits. For instance, a woman taking oral contraceptives has a 40 to 60 per cent lower risk of developing ovarian cancer, a rare but deadly disease. Pill users also decrease their risk of endometrial cancer by half. Moreover, pill use also diminishes the incidence of benign breast lumps and ovarian cysts, and decreases the risk for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) by thickening cervical mucus, which, in turn, hampers the movement of microbes or infectious agents. Oral contraceptives also reduce the incidence of ectopic pregnancies and may help shore up bone mass during perimenopause (the period just prior to menopause), when bone loss tends to accelerate.

Under certain conditions, however, you should not take oral contraceptives: If you have a history of heart disease, stroke or any blood-clotting disorder; have had breast or endometrial cancer or liver disease; or smoke AND are over the age of 35, taking the pill could be dangerous. If you have a family history of breast cancer, consult your doctor before going on the pill.

3 Most women CAN have an orgasm from intercourse

According to sex experts, less than 50 per cent of women have had orgasms through intercourse while another10 pe rcent to 12 per cent of women have never had an orgasm under any circumstances. So you are not alone if you can’t climax without direct stimulation of the clitoris.

But don’t lose hope. Many women learn to reach orgasm in other ways, once they become more familiar with their bodies. For example, it wasn’t until the 1980s that many women became aware of the presence of the so-called G-spot. That’s when researchers John Perry, PhD, and Beverly Whipple, PhD, began promoting this secret source of feminine pleasure, which was named for the German-born gynaecologist Ernst Grafenberg who first identified it in the 1950s. The G-spot is a bean-sized area that can be felt through the vaginal wall about halfway between the back of the pubic bone and the cervix. It feels like a small lump but swells when stimulated and, according to Whipple, eventually produces an unusually intense orgasm in some women. The idea that the vaginal wall is sensitive to stimulation and capable of triggering pleasurable feelings is now well accepted, and researchers have even identified other areas of special sensitivity in the vagina, including the cervix itself. So hang in there if you’re one of the many women who hasn’t had an orgasm through intercourse. Sometimes all you need are a little patience, practice and the support of a loving partner.

4 Douching is healthy — it keeps you clean

Though it’s often advertised as a fresher way to live, douching just doesn’t clean up when it comes to health. Those who douche may be putting themselves at risk for health problems, says Sharon Hillier, MD, professor of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive science at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In fact, women who douche have a greater chance of contracting bacterial vaginosis, a vaginal infection that has been linked to higher rates of preterm birth, pelvic inflammatory disease and several other ailments. And those who douche before a gynaecological exam are more likely to remain undiagnosed, since they wash away the evidence of infection before the exam. Douching has also been associated with ectopic pregnancy and impaired fertility.

Douching can be harmful because it tends to disrupt the normal, self-cleaning mechanism in the vagina, which is usually inhabited by both good and bad “bugs”. When the system is running properly, friendly bacteria called lactobacilli constantly manufacture hydrogen peroxide, in effect churning out small amounts of bleach to keep less than desirable organisms — like the bacteria responsible for infections and sexually transmitted diseases — in check. Douches, however, contain chemicals that can irritate the vaginal walls, disrupt the normal flora and allow bad bugs to flourish. Experts agree that soap and water are all you need to practise good hygiene.

5 If I had an STD, I’d know it

Don’t count on it. Certain sexually transmitted diseases such as HPV, chlamydia and herpes are notorious for being silent, so if you have them, you may experience few if any symptoms. Plus, a woman is more likely than a man to harbour infections without symptoms, meaning the disease quietly wreaks havoc before she even learns she has become infected. For example, up to 85 per cent of women with chlamydia, a bacterial infection, have no symptoms, according to one recent study, while only 40 per cent of men don’t experience symptoms. From 30 per cent to 80 per cent of women, but only 5 per cent of men, with gonorrhoea don’t have symptoms. Women with gonorrhoea or chlamydial infections are often not diagnosed until serious complications arise. One of the most serious consequences of unchecked chalmydial infections is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can lead to infertility.

-Women.com