In Case You're Curious

by Planned Parenthood

  Certain strains of HPV can go away on their own. However, some other strands can cause cancer, so it is still important to get tested and treated!

  Not always! It can be alarming to look down and see a random bump or rash on the genitals, but the truth is, that bump could be from a lot of different things. Yes, if you have had unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex, it could be a symptom of an STI, but it could also be something like an ingrown hair, allergic reaction, or even a pimple. The only way to know for sure is to get tested!

  Remember: some STIs like herpes and HPV can be passed just by naked genital skin-to-skin contact.

  While this can feel uncomfortable, or even scary, it’s a really important conversation to have. Before having sex, everyone deserves to know all the information they may need to make a decision about what’s best for them. That includes ensuring your partner knows they have a chance of getting an STI. When you have the conversation, it can help to let them know you care about them and their health. You’ll want to let them know what STI you have, how it’s spread, and what you both can do to stay safe. Having an STI won’t necessarily prevent you from having sex—you will just need to make sure you protect yourself and your partner with a condom or dental dam (which you should be doing anyway).

  HOW DO I TELL SOMEONE THAT I MIGHT HAVE GIVEN THEM AN STI?

  It might be as simple as a phone call or text. You would probably want to let them know that you were tested, that it came back positive, and you would recommend they get tested themselves. If talking in person, it can help to find a place that’s private. Either way, thinking about what you want to say ahead of time can be helpful. This may feel hard, but it’s important to be honest so people can get the testing and/or treatment they need. If this does not feel possible, you could use a service like https://dontspreadit.com/, where a person can anonymously inform people of their need to get tested.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “DO BABIES COME OUT OF THE BUTT?”

  AND OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT PREGNANCY

  DO YOU HAVE TO DO YOU-KNOW-WHAT TO GET PREGNANT, OR CAN YOU GET PREGNANT JUST BY HANGING OUT WITH BOYS?

  Pregnancy can only happen when sperm gets inside of a vagina and swims up to meet with an egg in the uterus (Click Here). This usually happens through, you guessed it, S-E-X. And even more specifically, through vaginal sex, when semen (which contains sperm) gets into a vagina. Sometimes people may also get pregnant without having sex, with the help of their doctor. But a person cannot get pregnant just by hanging out with someone. Can you imagine how many people would be pregnant if pregnancy could happen just through girls and boys hanging out together?

  WHAT AGE CAN YOU GET PREGNANT?

  A person with a vagina can get pregnant once they start to ovulate, or release eggs. This happens when a person starts going through puberty, just before they get their first period. Also, a person with a penis can cause a pregnancy as soon as they begin to make sperm, which happens during puberty. A person with a vagina can get pregnant any time between puberty (when they start releasing eggs) and menopause (when they stop releasing eggs). It’s important to remember that sometimes our bodies may be ready for pregnancy before we are, so if you’re planning on having penis-to-vagina sex, it’s always a good idea to talk to your partner(s) about birth control options.

  Nope! Pregnancy cannot happen from “mouth sex,” more commonly known as oral sex. As mentioned before, pregnancy happens when sperm gets in the vagina. Sperm cannot get to the vagina from the mouth (even if that sperm goes down the throat of a person with a vagina). But, it is important to remember that people can get STIs from oral sex. Using a condom can help reduce the risk of STIs.

  Most people believe this is not possible, but guess what, it is! Surprise! Sperm can live in the uterus for three to five days, which means that if sperm are present when the egg is released, it can become fertilized! Also, a person with a vagina can have blood leaving their body when it isn’t their period. Some people with vaginas have spotting between their actual periods. If a person with a vagina is bleeding, for whatever reason, this doesn’t mean they can’t get pregnant if they have penis-to-vagina sex.

  DOES IT REALLY HAPPEN THAT YOU COULD GET PREGNANT WHEN, OR EVEN THOUGH, A GUY PULLS OUT RIGHT AWAY?

  Yeah, it really happens! Once the penis is erect (or hard), it releases pre-ejaculate (or precum) to lubricate the urethra inside the penis. A person can’t control when that fluid releases. Pre-ejaculate can pick up sperm previously left over in the urethra on its way out of the body. Whenever there is sperm, there is the potential for a pregnancy if it is going into a vagina. Because of this, a pregnancy could occur even if the penis is pulled out before ejaculation.

  Pre-ejaculate or precum can also contain any STIs a person might have. If you want to prevent pregnancy or STIs and still have sex, use a condom.

  You better believe it! A person can still get pregnant or cause a pregnancy even if they only have one ovary or testicle (ball). Both ovaries have eggs, and each testicle makes sperm, so even if a person has only one, they are still releasing eggs or sperm from the one they have.

  Yes, you can get pregnant the first time you have sex. Sperm and eggs do not care if it is the first time or the 50th time a person has had sex (in fact, they don’t even know what number it is). Any time sperm gets into a vagina, a pregnancy can happen. If someone wants to have sex but reduce the chance of pregnancy, they should use condoms and/or birth control to reduce risk.

  HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM PREGNANT?

  You’ll definitely know if you have a baby, but the best way to find out if you’re pregnant earlier than that is to take a pregnancy test. However, you can’t take a test right after sex. Tests work as soon as two weeks after sex, or one week after a missed period. Some of the most common signs of pregnancy are missing a period, swollen or tender breasts, and nausea; but taking a test is the only way to know for sure.24

  HOW DOES PEEING ON A PREGNANCY STICK TELL YOU IF YOU’RE PREGNANT OR NOT?

  So, it’s not a stick from a tree, but a special tool that measures hormones that are only present in pee (or urine) when a person is pregnant. The hormone is called hCG. If the hormone is in the body, the test will show a positive result. If a person buys a pregnancy test at the store, they need to read the directions to make sure they are using the test correctly, since each test is different. A person can also go into a doctor or clinic to get a pregnancy test.

  IF I GET PREGNANT, HOW DO I KNOW WHAT OPTION IS RIGHT FOR ME?

  When someone finds out they are pregnant, they have three choices they can make. First, they can continue their pregnancy and choose to parent. Second, they can continue their pregnancy and choose adoption. Finally, they can end their pregnancy by choosing abortion. For some people this is an easy decision, and for others this can be a difficult decision. It is important to know all your options, talk to people in your life who are important to you, understand how each option will affect you, and make the decision that is best for you. For more resources about pregnancy options, Click Here.

  Some things to think about when making this decision are:

  Future Goals

  Finances

  State Laws

  Supportive people in your life

  Personal values

  People have many different opinions about abortion. Some people think it is okay, and some don’t. Talking with someone you trust about how you feel about abortion can be helpful when trying to decide what is right for you. Abortions can be done safely by getting a prescription for medication to end the pregnancy at home, or by having a doctor end the pregnancy at a clinic. If you choose abortion, talking with your doctor can help you decide which method is best for you.

  WILL HAVING AN ABORTION AFFECT MY CHANCES OF GETTING PREGNANT IN THE FUTURE?

  Having an abortion is not likely to change your chances of getting pregnant in the future. There is no evidence that an in-clinic or medication abortion will affect someone’s ability to get pregnant. a
bortion does not affect the ovaries or the eggs.

  I HAVE HEARD ABOUT OPEN AND CLOSED ADOPTION, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

  Open adoptions often refer to there being continued contact, or the option for contact, between the birth parent(s) and the adoptive family and child. This could mean anything from yearly updates through pictures to actual visits between the birth parent(s) and adoptive family. In a closed adoption, the birth parent(s) agrees, typically before birth, to not have any contact with the adoptive family and child.

  WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BODY DURING PREGNANCY?

  So much! The uterus expands, the breasts may swell as they get ready to make milk, the person may go through hormonal and emotional changes, the body can gain weight, and even the feet can get bigger, just to name a few. When a person gets pregnant, their body starts working to grow a fetus. A full-term pregnancy usually lasts nine months, which is time for a lot of changes. Pregnancy is a unique experience for everyone who goes through it.

  Book after book has been written on this subject alone. Check out the Wrap Up for some recommendations.

  DO BABIES COME OUT OF THE BUTT?

  The answer is a big no, babies do not come out of the butt. If a person has a vaginal birth, the baby is pushed out of the uterus, through the cervix, and out of the vagina. Some people have a C-section (cesarean section), which is a surgery. This surgery is performed in a hospital and involves the doctor cutting into the uterus through the skin to remove the baby.

  I HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT A MISCARRIAGE, WHAT IS IT?

  A miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends unexpectedly. Most miscarriages happen in the first few months of pregnancy. It can happen for many reasons, often because the fetus is not developing normally. It is typical for the person to not know why it happened. Miscarriages are actually really common,25 but most people don’t know that because people don’t always talk about miscarriages or their experiences with them.

  As long as your doctor hasn’t given you other instructions, sex is safe during pregnancy. It will not hurt the baby because the baby is inside the uterus. If the person is having vaginal sex, the penis stays in the vagina and cannot go into the uterus. Other forms of sex are also safe during pregnancy.

  WHY CAN PREGNANCY BE PAINFUL WHEN THE BABY COMES OUT?

  Giving birth is painful for a few reasons. The uterus is contracting (squeezing) to push the baby out (think about period cramps but much more intense). The cervix, which is really sensitive and small, is opening and being stretched. The vagina and the vaginal opening are also stretching to allow for a baby to pass through. All of this squeezing and stretching can be very uncomfortable, or even very painful. How painful and uncomfortable depends on the person, the size of the baby, and if they are using any pain medication.

  If a person’s pushing really hard while having a baby, it’s definitely possible they might pee. Some people even poop when they are giving birth. The muscles used to poop are the same muscles used to push a baby out. Peeing or pooping during childbirth is totally normal.

  WHY DO PEOPLE BREATHE FUNNY DURING LABOR?

  It does sound kind of funny—most people don’t breathe like that when they are sitting in class or doing errands. This type of breathing is called patterned breathing, and many people learn how to do it because it can help make labor a little easier to go through. The patterned breathing can help the person concentrate, can increase oxygen in the bloodstream, and can be calming during labor.26

  AFTER BIRTH, IS YOUR VAGINA STILL THE SAME? OR DOES THE VAGINA GO BACK TO NORMAL SIZE?

  Well, not immediately, but the vagina is a muscle and is made to stretch. During pregnancy and birth, the release of hormones allows for the vagina to open and change shape. If someone has a vaginal birth (the baby comes out of the vagina), the vagina is going to change and expand during the birth. But typically, over time the vagina will return to a size and shape that’s similar to how it was prior to birth. After the recommended “nothing in the vagina for the first six weeks” period, sexual partner(s) shouldn’t notice much of a difference at all.27

  First, a person should not ejaculate into a pool because that isn’t a private place and the people swimming have not given consent, nor do they want to be exposed to ejaculate when they are swimming. Pregnancy can only happen if sperm enters the uterus and meets an egg. So, if two people are having sex in a pool, pregnancy can totally happen, but only between the two of them. If someone is ejaculating on their own into a pool, the chemicals, distance, and all that water is going to make pregnancy nearly impossible.28

  IF A LIL’ PIECE OF CUM GETS IN YOU, CAN IT GET YOU PREGNANT?

  It only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg and cause a pregnancy. Semen (cum) is the fluid that sperm live in. Even if a person only releases a little bit of semen (or pulls the penis out just as they are ejaculating), it is possible that pregnancy could happen. Most people release from half a teaspoon to a full teaspoon of semen each time they ejaculate.

  In a teaspoon of semen there are hundreds of millions of sperm.29 In fact, the average ejaculation has 200 million sperm!

  CAN YOU GET PREGNANT WHEN YOU DO IT DOGGYSTYLE?

  You absolutely can get pregnant from doggystyle. This is a slang term for a sexual position. When talking about vaginal sex, no matter the position or its name, there is a risk of pregnancy. If sperm gets into the vagina, a pregnancy may happen; condoms and other forms of birth control are a great way to prevent this. There are so many different ways to have sex—it’s important to talk to your partner about what you do or don’t want.

  HOW ARE TWINS MADE?

  Some people want to know how twins are made because they want twins, and some people want to know so they never have twins. But a person doesn’t have control over whether they have twins. Twins happen in two ways (ha! “Two ways.”). Identical twins—twins that have the exact same genetic makeup and look exactly alike—happen when one egg is released and one sperm enters that egg. The fertilized egg then splits in half and creates two babies. Fraternal twins—twins that may look similar, but not exactly the same—happen when two eggs are released, and one sperm enters one egg while a different sperm enters the other egg.

  There have been two women who have had eight babies at one time. Both of the women had help from doctors in getting pregnant. When it comes to that many babies at once, it can’t happen without the help of a doctor. But twins, triplets, and even quadruplets can happen naturally, without a doctor’s help. It is important that a pregnant person gets prenatal care (health care while the baby is growing); a person with multiple babies often needs to be seen by a doctor more often to make sure that they and babies are healthy.

  Morning sickness, or throwing up, is really common during the first trimester (twelve weeks) of pregnancy, but can last the whole pregnancy. No one knows exactly why it happens, but there are some ideas. For example, it could be from the increased amount of hormones during pregnancy, or it could be from reduced blood sugar. The other thing to know is that morning sickness doesn’t just happen in the morning. Some people have it all day, at night, or not at all.30

  CAN I MISS A PERIOD WITHOUT BEING PREGNANT?

  I’m late! For a very important date! Wait . . . am I? A lot of people worry about pregnancy if they miss a period, or if their period comes later than expected, but there are a lot of different reasons why this may happen! Sometimes stress, exercise, or diet can impact a person’s period. And for teens, periods can be irregular anyways! If you’re ever worried about being pregnant, take a pregnancy test.

  CAN YOU GET PREGNANT FROM PRECUM?

  It is possible to get pregnant from precum. Precum is the fluid that leaves the penis before a person ejaculates (cums). A person cannot control or feel when precum leaves the body. While most precum does not have sperm in it, or has dead sperm in it, small amounts of live sperm can be released or picked up as precum leaves the body. So while the chances are small, it is possible. Using condoms the entire time a person has sex is a great way
to protect against pregnancy.31

  A lot of people think this! There is actually a small chance a person can get pregnant before their first period. This is because they may have their first ovulation (release of an egg) in the few weeks before their first period. If the person has unprotected vaginal sex during this time, it is possible they could get pregnant.

  It’s possible to have some spotting or light bleeding when pregnant, but it’s not common (and it’s not a period). If someone is having any bleeding while they’re pregnant, it’s important they talk to their doctor immediately to make sure they and their pregnancy are healthy.

  The easy answer is yes. All STIs can be treated, and as long as they are treated right away, it shouldn’t change whether or not a person can get pregnant or cause a pregnancy. If an STI is left untreated, it can get worse and cause damage that may make it harder for a pregnancy to happen. If someone has an STI and they are pregnant, it is possible to pass it to the baby (fetus) during pregnancy, birth, or breast feeding. Anytime someone thinks they have an STI it is important to get tested and talk with a health care provider.