Throughout history, women have been taught when they will most likely get pregnant and when to avoid sexual intercourse in order to avoid becoming pregnant. Teenagers pass along information to their friends, with good intentions, to help avoid an unplanned pregnancy. Unfortunately, many of these so-called facts are myths.
Myth # 1
If you are having your period, you can’t get pregnant.
In the past, the fertile period of a women’s cycle was considered to be mid cycle, between the 10th and 17th day. A study completed by the National Institute of Environmental Sciences in 2000, debunks this theory. According to their research, at least 2% of women enter their fertile period only 4 days into their menstrual cycle and 17% by the seventh day. Since sperm can live for up to five days, this would indicate that a woman could become pregnant even while she has her period.
Myth # 2
You can’t get pregnant if your partner pulls out before ejaculation.
There are three separate reasons why this statement just isn’t true. The first is that men release a small amount of fluid before ejaculation and this fluid can contain sperm. The second is that it is sometimes difficult to know (especially in younger men) when ejaculation occurs and the third is that your partner may not have the willpower to pull out before ejaculation or may pull out and still ejaculate close to the vagina, where sperm can still swim.
Myth # 3
Showering, Bathing or Douching right after sex will prevent pregnancy.
It only takes a second for sperm to travel to the cervix. Therefore, by the time you will take a shower, a bath or douche the sperm has had all the time it needs to create a pregnancy. Douching can cause yeast infections and should not be done except under the advice of a physician. A more recent trend, douching with Coca-Cola is still not effective.
Myth # 4
You Won’t Get Pregnant the First Time You Have Sex or if You Have Sex Infrequently
A woman can get pregnant any time after her period starts. During the fertile period, which can occur anywhere from the fourth day of a menstrual cycle up to the 60th day, a woman (or girl) can get pregnant. If you are within your fertile cycle, the chances of getting pregnant are high, whether you have never had sex before or if you only have sex once in a while.
Myth # 5
You are Too Old (or Too Young) to Get Pregnant
Pregnancy is possible from the time a girl gets her first period until one year after periods stop. It is true that younger women are more fertile and fertility drops as you get older; it is still not impossible to become pregnant up to one year after your period has completely stopped. Young girls that have just begun their periods have fertility cycles and are able to become pregnant, even if they only have sex once.
There is only one foolproof method of preventing an unwanted pregnancy: Abstinence. Even women on birth control pills have a small chance of becoming pregnant.
References:
The Timing of the “Fertile Window” in the Menstrual Cycle, Wilcox et al, 2000, National Institute of environmental Health Sciences
Contraceptive Myths, 2005, Cleveland Clinic
I Can’t Get Pregnant If…, Planned Parenthood, Rochester, Syracuse Region
Fertility and Infertility Myths, Electronic Infertility Network
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