Sexual Health Mythbusters

Bananna with cross section of grapefruit, organge, onion, strawberry lined up with a tape measure underneath

Since 1995 SexTalk has been answering questions about sex and relationships from UA students. Here are some of the persistent myths that we often hear:

MYTH: I heard ASU has its very own STD. Is that true?
FACT: Wildcats get the same sexually transmitted infections that afflict Sun Devils. The top 3 at UA are chlamydia, HPV, and herpes.

MYTH: If I go to Campus Health for birth control, my parents will find out.
FACT: If you are 18 or older, your medical records are confidential and protected. Your parents cannot access them without your written permission. However, if you’re covered under your parent’s insurance plan, that info could be accessible through your insurance carrier.

MYTH: You can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex.
FACT: First time, tenth time, 100th time – it doesn’t matter. Young adults and teens are at their peak fertility.

MYTH: Peeing after sex keeps you from getting an STD.
FACT: Sorry, urine won’t prevent herpes, chlamydia, HIV, or other STDs. Peeing after sex might help avoid a urinary tract infection, so it IS a good idea to take a trip to the bathroom after sex.

MYTH: Mountain Dew shrinks your testicles and lowers sperm count.
FACT: Good news: NO. Bad news: Mountain Dew is not the new male birth control.

MYTH: Women can’t get pregnant when they are “on top,” right?
FACT: Fertile females get pregnant in all kinds of positions (read the Kama Sutra for ideas).

MYTH: Anal sex isn’t really “sex,” so it’s safe, right?
FACT: Anal sex increases your risk of sexually transmitted infections like hepatitis, syphilis, and HIV.

Want more SexTalk? Explore the archives here. Have a question about sexual health or relationships? Email it to sextalk@email.arizona.edu.
SexTalk is written by health educators in the Health Promotion Department at Campus Health.