sex faqs

Sexual FAQs

Q. Can a guy “pull out” to prevent pregnancy?

A. ABSOLUTELY NOT! This is NOT a form of birth control. I answer this question way too often.

Some guys say they will ‘pull out’, and then they get so excited and carried away that they don’t or ‘forget’ . Also, some guys can’t tell when they are going to ejaculate.

Q2 . What are the chances of getting pregnant from this (‘withdrawal’ and pre-ejaculate) ?

There is no way anyone could give you the odds on a pregnancy without an ejaculation as there are many variables involved. There could be a very small number of active sperm in your pre-ejaculate, but could those swim and fertilize and egg? Who knows. Did your partner ovulate, etc. There is no way to calculate this risk. Don’t have unprotected sex, ever. Unless you want to conceive. The worrying and waiting is not worth the risk of taking a chance. If you know you ejaculated, then you might talk to your partner about emergency contraception. For more read about it.

Update, August 2006: Plan B® is no over-the-counter in the United States. See the Plan B® article for information.

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Q. If a guy did not ejaculate, how effective is this?

A. This is a similar answer to the previous question. A female can get pregnant even if the guy does not ejaculate inside of her during intercourse. Most males discharge a small amount of fluid before ejaculation. It is a clear emission that can have a high concentration of sperm if he had just ejaculated before you had sex. This fluid is frequently called pre-cum. It is released during sexual arousal and usually is not felt by the male.

A female could get an STD (including HIV) or become pregnant, if the pre-cum was inside of her or on her vaginal area. If you were using a condom properly it is not all that likely that your partner could become pregnant from pre-cum.

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Q. I was wondering if a tampon might work like a condom or the sponge. Would it?

A. NO WAY! A tampon is not a method of birth control.

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Q. Does the genital herpes virus live in semen?

A. Good question. The herpes virus had not been found to exist in male semen. It is a viral infection spread through direct skin-to-skin contact and sexual contact (oral, anal or vaginal). For more see the Genital Herpes article.

The initial outbreak of herpes usually occurs within two weeks of the initial infection and can last up to four weeks. In the initial outbreak stage, an infected person usually gets sores or blisters in the genital area, and this can be extremely painful. Some other symptoms of herpes are flu-like symptoms, fatigue, fever or swollen glands. The virus remains in the body of the person forever. But, it can be controlled by medication. See the article. Also, check out our sponsor for Valtrex, there is very good genital herpes information on their site! Click on their ad on the top or side of these pages. (If they are there).

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Q. I have been using Ortho Tri-Cyclen for two weeks and was wondering when it becomes effective in preventing pregnancy.

A. Not this cycle of pills. You will need to use additional birth control when you first start on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, or any pill. Follow your doctor’s instructions – or the instructions of the person that prescribed the pill for you. You should also read the instructional insert found inside the package for details, but to be extra safe, you call your doctor to confirm what she or he told you. Most health care providers will recommend using a “back-up” method of birth control, like condoms or abstinence (a better choice) for the entire 1st cycle or pack of pills. Then the next month, you are set. See “The Pill” for more.

Remember, although the pill is effective in preventing pregnancy, it will not protect you from STDs. You can use a condom with the pill to effectively prevent STDs and pregnancy! HIV and Chlamydia are increasingly very high among teenagers, btw.

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Amy - Teen's Health Expert

By Amy - Teen's Health Expert

Discover the dedicated author behind Teen Health Secrets, an experienced expert committed to providing in-depth knowledge and guidance on various aspects of teen health, ensuring young individuals lead healthy, informed lives.