Your questions answered
Sex can be a bit of a tricky subject, so it's not surprising there are so many questions that need answering. We've put together a list of the most frequently asked questions to do with sex. Take a look and find out the real answers below.
Is it ever safe not to use a condom?
Can you still get pregnant if the boy pulls out before he comes?
Can you still get pregnant if you have sex standing up?
If you've had sex once and you don't want to do it again can you say no the next time?
If a girl goes to the loo after sex she won’t get pregnant
When a girl has her period she can’t get pregnant
Washing after sex prevents STIs
You can tell by looking at someone whether they have an STI
If you’re a virgin can you still have an STI?
No, although some girls can find the first time a bit painful. This is when the penis breaks through the hymen – a thin membrane covering the opening of the vagina. This can cause a small amount of bleeding. However, not all girls experience this because the hymen may break before sex because of sport or using tampons.
Is it ever safe not to use a condom?
You should always use a condom or another form of contraceptive to protect you and your partner against unwanted pregnancy and STIs. Check out the contraception pages for more information.
Can you still get pregnant if the boy pulls out before he comes?
Yes. A small amount of semen is released before ejaculation. If this enters the vagina then there is a chance you could become pregnant. It’s always best to use contraception to avoid situations like this. Unfortunately this rumour is still making its way around.
Can you still get pregnant if you have sex standing up?
Yes. It doesn’t matter which position you are in, if you have unprotected sex there will always be a risk that you could get pregnant or catch an STI.
If you’ve had sex once and you don’t want to do it again, can you say no the next time?
You can say no any time – whether you’ve had sex several times or you’ve never done it. It doesn’t matter. Just because you’ve done it before doesn’t mean you have to do it again.
If a girl goes to the loo after sex she won’t get pregnant
Wrong. The only thing to guard you against getting pregnant is using contraception.
When a girl has her period she can’t get pregnant
Wrong. The only thing to guard you against getting pregnant is using contraception.
Washing after sex prevents STIs
Wrong. It’s always good to wash after sex to keep yourself clean. But unfortunately this won’t protect you against STIs.
You can tell by looking at someone whether they have an STI.
This would be handy, but unfortunately it’s not true. There’s no flashing light above people’s heads to tell us that they are infected. Some STIs have symptoms which could show up around the genital areas, but some infections show no signs at all so you can never really be sure. It’s always best to use contraception.
If you’re a virgin can you still have an STI?
You can catch STIs from someone by unprotected sex or oral sex. So, yes you could get an STI if you are a virgin, but only if you’ve had oral sex with an infected person.