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Mythbusters 101

Elizabeth Schroeder, EdD, MSW


Executive Director

Office of Adolescent Health


Technical Assistance Regional Training
Agenda

Myths  and   o Teens still think WHAT?


Trends:  Teens

Trends  among   o How are professionals perpetuating myths/ misinformation?


YSPs
o What does this mean for TPPPs nationwide?
Implications  for  
TPPPs
o What role do we all play in making a difference?
Action  Steps

o Where can we get more help/support?


Resources
Categories  of  Common  Myths  and  
Trends  Among  Teens

How Pregnancy Happens

Myths  and  
Trends:  Teens Virginity
Trends  among  
YSPs

Implications  for   Sexual Orientation


TPPPs

Action  Steps
STDs and HIV
Resources
Category One

How Pregnancy
Happens
Can a girl get pregnant from
pre-cum?
NO
o Pre-cum made
LQ&RZSHUlV
Gland (#10)

o Sperm made
in testicles (#4)
Can a girl get pregnant from anal
sex?
NO
o Anus and rectum separate

o Not
connected to
reproductive
system
Does drinking Red Bull, Mountain Dew, or
other high caffeine drinks lower sperm count?
NO
o Anabolic steroids o Hormonal imbalance
o Certain meds o Intensive/over-exercising
o Smoking/ recreational drugs o Age
o Physical trauma
o Excessive heat
,VmSXOOLQJRXWnDQHIIHFWLYHIRUPRI
birth control?
:HOOKHUHlVWKHWKLQJe
For pregnancy prevention ONLY: Contraceptive Technology:
stats all over the place
o Perfect use: approx. 96%
As safer sex: effective
NO PROTECTION
o Typical use: approx. 73%
effective
If a guy ejaculates, gets some semen on his
hand, and an hour later touches his female
SDUWQHUlVYXOYDFDQVKHJHWSUHJQDQW"

NO
If a guy ejaculates on his female partner and the
semen lands on her thigh, stomach, arm, foot p
can she get pregnant?

NO
If a male-female couple are having dry sex, and
he ejaculates, can she get pregnant?

NO
(but be careful re: clothing placement)
Trends
o Much more concerned re: pregnancy than STDs (HIV-
depends on location)

o Paranoia among girls: Taking multiple pregnancy tests


even if menstruated

o Very limited accurate info re: how pregnancy happens


(boys and girls)
From Sexetc.org
My ex-boyfriend fingered me right after he had touched or rubbed his penis so he had
fresh precum on his fingers. This was on November 27th. I took a pregnancy test on
December 9th which was negative. I had a period or period like bleeding from December
13th till the 16th. I took another test on December 31st, it was negative as well. I had
another period or period like bleeding from January 9th through the 12th. I took more tests
on: January 16th, January 24th, January 27th, January 31st, and February 4th. I had
another period from February 5th through the 9th. I took more tests on February 8th,
14th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, and 27th. at least 4 of the tests i have taken were Clearblue
digital. All the tests resulted with negative answers. But i experience lower back aches
sometimes and Ii have gained 2 pounds. I am very worried, i come from a very religious
family and would be kicked out of my house if i was pregnant. Please help!!! -- 17,
female
Trends
o Girls go on hormonal birth control but have no clue how
it works.

o $QRYXODWLRQDPHQRUUKHDWKH\WKLQNWKH\lUHSUHJQDQW

o )DWDOLVPFRSLQJm2KZHOOZHFDQMXVWGRLWWKLVRQH
WLPH,lPVXUHLWlOOEHILQHn
Category 2

Virginity
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0DUFLDm'RXJ\RXUKDQGLVRQP\VKRXOGHUn

'RXJm<HVLWLV0DUFLDn

0DUFLDm:HOOWKDWlVWKLUGEDVHDQG,GRQlWJRWKDWIDUn
o 1RPRUHmEDVHVnp or very different

o :DQWWREHmVH[XDOO\DFWLYHnEXWVWLOO
ZDQWWREHmJRRGn JLUOV
$P,VWLOODYLUJLQLIe"
o I got fingered? o We had vaginal sex, but it
was only inside me for like a
o We had oral sex? minute?

o We had oral sex, but I o We had vaginal sex, but it


GLGQlWVZDOORZ" GLGQlWIHHOJRRG"

o We had anal sex?


Trends
o Moralistic judgment on girls

o Gender/masculinity pressure on boys

o Self-esteem: higher for girls the longer they wait;


higher for boys the shorter they wait (research)
o 6DIHUVH[LVVXHm:HlUHERWKYLUJLQVVRZHGRQlWQHHG
WRJHWWHVWHGULJKW"n

o But virgin = no penile-vaginal sex; have had oral sex


with others
Category 3

Sexual Orientation
Myths/Trends
o People can choose whether to be o Having trouble coming out to
lesbian or gay parents as gay, lesbian or
bisexual
o *X\VFDQlWEHELVH[XDO
o Even with internet, often feel
o Lesbians can't get pregnant alone/isolated
(study: higher risk for lesbians/
bisexual girls) o Confusion between gender/ gender
identity and sexual orientation
Biggest myth?
m,WlVUHDOO\QRELJGHDO7HHQVDUHILQHZLWKLWLWlVWKH
DGXOWVWKDWDUHXQFRPIRUWDEOHn

NOT TRUE
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o Homophobia more pronounced toward boys

o *LUOVWROHUDWHGYDOXHGIRUVH[XDODWWUDFWLRQXQOHVVGRQlW
fit in gender role stereotype

"I can see two women together but two men together is
gross."
Category 4

STDs/HIV
Myths and Misconceptions
o STDs are spontaneously created o HIV: Still primarily gay males
by two people (unless community experience)

o <RXFDQlWJHWDQ67'IURPRUDO o /HVELDQVFDQlWJHW67'V
sex

o You can tell who has an STD


just by looking at them.

o HIV can be spread through saliva


or sweat
Trends
o Not as much concern about STDs: Curable, just need a
shot

o More concerned re: pregnancy than STDs


A few consistent concerns
ZHKHDUIURPER\Ve
o My penis is too small
o 0\SHQLVGRHVQlWORRNQRUPDO
o If I masturbate x number of times a day will my penis shrink?
o Am I a pervert for masturbating?
o Is something wrong with me because
o I think of sex/masturbate all the time?
1RZWXUQWRDSDUWQHUe
o What are some of the other common myths you hear
from the young people with whom you work?

o Where do these myths come from?


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trends that face youth-serving
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Trends  Among  Youth-­‐Serving  
Professionals

Logistically:

‡ Professional development $ cut


Myths and Trends:
Teens ‡ Often not invested in topic area/required to
Trends  Among  
attend
YSPs
‡ Those who are invested often isolated, esp. in
Implications for TPPPs
school settings
Action Steps
‡ Topic area often off the radar unless in crisis,
Resources
then unrealistic expectations
Trends  Among  Youth-­‐Serving  
Professionals

Logistically: Administrative support for school-based sexuality


education varies widely:

‡ 6RPHm'RQ
W$VN'RQ
W7HOOZKHQLWFRPHVWRVH[HG
Myths and Trends:
Teachers can do what they want as long as they don't make
Teens waves.
Trends  Among  
YSPs
‡ Others: Progressive; allow just about anything.

Implications for TPPPs ‡ Still others: squash everything (e.g., TX school cancelling all
after-school activities just so a GSA can't start).
Action Steps

Resources
Trends  Among  Youth-­‐Serving  
Professionals

Professionally:

‡ Teach around sexuality (e.g., health curriculum)


Myths and Trends:
Teens

Trends  Among  
‡ Ignore/skew facts/rationalizing teaching
YSPs misinformation (e.g. anal sex and pregnancy:
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Implications for TPPPs

Action Steps
‡ Misinformed, esp. around HIV transmission
(sweat/saliva)
Resources
Trends  Among  Youth-­‐Serving  
Professionals

Professionally:

‡ Resistant to using technology: "What happened to good old


text books, why do I need to let them use the internet?"
Myths and Trends:
Teens
‡ 7RRPXFKWLPHWRGRSSWGRQlWVHHWKHYDOXHLQXVLQJVRFLDO
Trends  Among   networking/Twitter
YSPs

Implications for TPPPs ‡ Many schools: limited internet/tech access or sex ed sites
blocked. Others: Smartboards, tech savvy, etc.
Action Steps

Resources
Trends  Among  Youth-­‐Serving  
Professionals

Personally:

‡ Varying levels of comfort/ background


Myths and Trends:
Teens

Trends  Among   ‡ HUGE boundary issues viz.


YSPs disclosure, religious beliefs, personal
Implications for TPPPs
values

Action Steps
‡ Strong belief in gender-role
stereotypes
Resources
Trends  Among  Youth-­‐Serving  
Professionals

Personally: Significant amount of homophobia (esp. urban


Answer
Overview areas)
Myths and Trends:
Teens ‡ m,GRQlWNQRZKRZWRGHDOZLWKDVWXGHQWZKRKDVWKLV
SUREOHPn
Trends  Among  
YSPs
‡ /*%74\RXWKZHUHDOOPROHVWHGDQGmPDGHn/*%74
Implications for TPPPs

‡ Only an LGBTQ adult can help an LGBTQ


Action Steps
young person
Resources
Trends  Among  Youth-­‐Serving  
Professionals

Personally:

‡ Teaching about sexuality is sterile: fear of


Myths and Trends:
Teens controversy, sex-QHJDWLYH m'RZHUHDOO\KDYHWR
Trends  Among  
VD\WKDWLWIHHOVJRRG"n
YSPs

Implications for TPPPs

Action Steps

Resources
What  are  the  implications  for  TPPPs  
nationwide?

o Myths VERY powerful: Perception = reality for youth.


Data re: condom use vs. belief in data re: condom
use.
Myths and Trends:
Teens
‡ Need to do a lot of work on busting myths p
Trends Among
YSPs remember youth are being actively taught misinformation
(media, culture, peers, etc.)
Implications for TPPPs

o Is about far more than pregnancy prevention-all


Action Steps
sexuality topics relate to this work
Resources
What  are  the  implications  for  TPPPs  
nationwide?

‡ Need to do some more reviews/basic content with


Answer Overview youth (AND ysps!)
Myths and Trends:
Teens ‡ Need to keep our staff current on
content (e.g., sperm in pre-cum)
Trends Among
YSPs
‡ &DQ¶WPDNHDVVXPSWLRQVWKDWRWKHU
Implications for TPPPs
YSPs are progressive/on board with
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Action Steps

Resources
Action  Steps:  Now  What?

Individual Writing: 5 minutes

Myths and Trends:


‡ What are at least 2 things I will do differently relating
Teens to this information?
Trends Among YSPs

Implications for TPPPs


‡ What are at least 2 things I will urge
my staff to do differently relating to this
Action Steps
information?

Resources
For Teens: More Mythbusters
o Top Ten Sex Myths:
http://www.sexetc.org/story/2225

o Popular Sex Myths


http://www.sexetc.org/story/sex/1909

o Sex Myths: Get Your Facts Straight!


http://www.sexetc.org/story/sex/2003
Research citations
o Hatcher, R. et al., (2008) Contraceptive Technology. New York: Ardent
Media.

o Killick SR, Leary C, Trussell J, Guthrie KA. Sperm content of pre-


ejaculatory fluid. Hum Fertil, in press.

o Pudney J. et al., (1992) Pre-ejaculatory fluid as potential vector for


sexual transmission of HIV-1. Lancet; 340:1470.

o Zukerman Z, et al., (2003) Does preejaculatory penile secretion originating


from Cowper's gland contain sperm? J Assist Reprod Genet; 20:157-159
Research citations
o Sawyc, E., Poon, S., Homma, Y, and Skay, C. (2008). Stigma
management? The links between enacted stigma and teen pregnancy trends
among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students in British Columbia. Canadian
Journal of Human Sexuality, 17(3), p. 123-139
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o Answer o Go Ask Alice


o SIECUS o CDC
o Advocates for Youth o Guttmacher
o Healthy Teen Network o American Social Health
o National Campaign Association
o Scarleteen o GLSEN

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