Old wives’ tales and pregnancy

IF you are not ready to become pregnant, you must avoid activities that will put you at risk. What have you learned, been told or taught about preventing pregnancy either in school, at home, by your peers or online? Let’s clear up some of the myths that are out there.

1. You can’t get pregnant the first time

A woman can become pregnant any time after she begins to ovulate. This may mean that she can become pregnant before she even has her very first period (since she ovulates approximately 14 days before her period begins). Do not be pressured by comments like, “don’t worry, it’s your first time, nothing will happen”, and don’t assume that a woman may be too young (or too old) to get pregnant.

2. Douching, showering, or bathing can prevent pregnancy

Douching (that is, sending a stream of water up into the vagina to clean it) is not an effective method of contraception, as it is impossible to douche fast enough to keep sperm away from fertilising an egg. This is true even if you douche immediately after sexual intercourse. Also, urinating or taking a bath or shower will not wash sperm out.

3. You can’t get pregnant if the male “pulls out” before he ejaculates

This is a huge myth. Withdrawal is not always a reliable method and there are several reasons for this. Once a male becomes aroused, he ejects pre-ejaculate fluid — this fluid can contain at least 300,000 frisky sperm (and it only takes one sperm to join an egg). There is also the risk that he doesn’t pull out in time as in the heat of the moment it can be hard to maintain one’s control.

Even if the man ejaculates outside of the vagina, sperm can still swim, so semen anywhere near the vagina can still lead to pregnancy. Withdrawal can be an effective method, but only if it is done perfectly (which is extremely hard to do).

4. You can’t get pregnant if she has sex during her period

Many women (and men) believe this myth, but it is possible for a woman to get pregnant at any time during her menstrual cycle. Generally, when you are having your period, it means that you are not ovulating. If this is the case, then you will not get pregnant. However, women with irregular or shorter cycles can actually ovulate during their period. It is not guaranteed that you will ovulate in the middle of your cycle. Sperm can live inside a woman’s body for five to seven days, so if you ovulate anytime within seven days after having unprotected sex you could become pregnant.

5. Use a plastic bag if you can’t find a condom

As ridiculous as this is, some people believe it. A plastic bag is no substitute for a condom. If you do not have a reliable family planning method handy, do not use a plastic bag or wrap on or around a penis as a way to prevent pregnancy. It does not work (neither does using a balloon, so don’t try that either)!

6. Pregnancy can be prevented by jumping up and down

The next time someone tells you that by sneezing, coughing or jumping up and down after sex you can dislodge sperm so that you don’t become pregnant, educate them about the fallacy. Sperm are too quick and too tiny for any of these methods to work.

7. Having sex standing up works as a contraceptive

Myths surrounding the way you have sex are very common. The most frequent one that counsellors hear is that “you can’t get pregnant if you are standing up while having sex”. On a similar note, there are stories that you are less likely to get pregnant the fewer times that you have had sex. A note to the wise, any advice you stumble across that relies on how many times you have had sex or the position you are in while engaging in intercourse is not a family planning method, so don’t be surprised if you follow them and become pregnant.

8. Not having an orgasm can be a great contraceptive method

A lot of women believe that if they don’t allow themselves to climax during sex, they will not get pregnant. Pleasure has nothing to do with contraceptives. Whether or not you enjoy sex (with or without an orgasm), you can still get pregnant.

9. You are more protected the tighter a condom fits your partner

This too is a misconception based on the belief that the tighter the condom, the less likely sperm will seep out or that the condom will slip off during sex. However, a condom that

is too tight is more likely to rupture/tear during intercourse. When using a condom, it is also important to leave some space near the tip to safely collect the ejaculate (sperm). This prevents the condom from being over-stretched once the man ejaculates.

Get more information about what it really means to “pinch, leave an inch and roll” from the Marge Roper Counselling service at the National Family Planning Board.