Web of confusion
It’s great to learn more about your body and your choices, but explore those search results with caution: A recent Stanford University study on adolescent reproductive health found that health websites are often riddled with errors, omissions, and outdated advice, and that it’s not always easy to find the truth about common myths believed by many teenagers (and probably many adults as well!).

MYTH: You can catch an STD from a toilet seat
What you do need to worry about, however, is what may seem like benign skin-to-skin or mouth-to-mouth contact. Kissing, for example, can spread herpes (and deeper kissing can even spread oral gonorrhea and chlamydia, Dr. Yen warns), while skin rubbing together can pass infections such as genital warts, herpes, scabies, and pubic lice.
MYTH: You can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex
MYTH: You can’t get pregnant during your period
Say you have a short cycle (21 days, for example) and your period lasts a week. If you have sex close to the end of your period, you could become pregnant since sperm can live for up to 72 hours in your reproductive tract.
There’s also the infamous late-in-life pregnancy that can occur during perimenopause, when periods are erratic. Experts say it’s not safe to ditch birth control until you haven’t had a period for a year.
MYTH: Women need a Pap smear when they turn 18
Now, Pap tests aren’t recommended until women have been sexually active for about three years, or until they turn 21.
An early Pap test may seem harmless, but the stress of needing a Pap—often thought of as an uncomfortable and invasive procedure—may cause young women to avoid their gynecologist or refrain from asking about birth control. Young women should be able to approach their doctors and discuss these issues without the scrutiny of unnecessary tests, says Dr. Yen.
Why the reason for the change? Most cases of human papillomavirus (HPV) clear up on their own within three years; it’s only the cases that stick around longer—and will be picked up by a later Pap test—that are real causes for concern because they can lead to cervical cancer.
MYTH: The “morning after” pill causes an abortion
In previous research, more than 30% of sexually active adolescents said that they believed emergency contraceptives induce abortion. And in Dr. Yen’s study, 10 of the 34 websites studied failed to mention the difference between the two drugs.
“No one likes the word ‘abortion’,” says Dr. Yen, “so I think a lot of websites aren’t going to state that Plan B is not, in fact, an abortive agent.”
MYTH: The “morning after” pill is not available to minors without a prescription
Nine states—Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington, and Vermont—have sold and will continue to sell Plan B directly to women of any age.

MYTH: Birth control pills make you gain weight
Specifically, a review article published in 2006 analyzed 44 previous trials and found that while some participants did gain weight during their studies, there was no evidence that their birth control was to blame.
“We’ve heard from several of our patients that they’re concerned about gaining weight on birth control,” says Dr. Yen. “And no woman wants to gain weight. I’d rather prevent pregnancy than propagate a myth that’s not supported by science.”
One type of contraceptive that may cause weight gain is injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), commonly known as the birth control shot. In a study published in March 2009, University of Texas researchers linked the shot to an average 11-pound weight gain over three years.

MYTH: IUD birth control is not safe for use in adolescents
Outdated information suggested that IUDs may increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease in women under 18.
But as of 2007, ACOG has said that IUDs are a safe and highly effective birth-control method in most adults as well as adolescents—a population at particular risk for unintended pregnancy.

MYTH: If you get the HPV shot you’re safe from cervical cancer
Gardasil was approved for boys and men in 2009 to reduce the risk of developing genital warts. This may also help prevent the spread of cancer-causing HPV to their female partners.
MYTH: Douching is a healthy way to clean the vagina
Regular washing with warm water and mild, unscented soaps will help keep the outside of the vagina clean. Try to avoid scented tampons, pads, powders, and sprays, which can increase the chance of vaginal infections.
Trusted resources
- Go Ask Alice, a question-and-answer service maintained by Columbia University
- The Center for Young Women’s Health, an educational effort of Children’s Hospital Boston
- TeensHealth, a part of KidsHealth.org
- Teenwire, an educational site for teens maintained by Planned Parenthood.