Sexually Transmitted Diseases can destroy a person’s ability to have children.

Undetected or untreated STDs can cause sterility, or even death.

You can always tell if you have an STD.

More often than not you don’t experience any symptoms. The only way to find out for sure is to get checked by a medical professional.

Wearing two condoms at once (known as “double-wrapping”) better protects against STDs and unexpected pregnancies.

You might think this is a good idea, but it’s definitely not. Wearing two condoms at once creates additional friction and can actually increase the odds of the condoms breaking.

You can contract gonorrhea of the throat if you have oral sex with someone who has it.

Yeah, it’s a terrifying thought, but it’s very real. Both giving and receiving oral sex can transmit STDs.

Mountain Dew can kill sperm, and women can “douche” with Mountain Dew after sex to prevent pregnancy.

This is an odd rumor, but it’s apparently common enough that we should talk about it. No, drinking Mountain Dew or other similar soft drinks will not have a negative impact on your sexual health. It won’t shrink your testicles. It won’t lower your sperm count. And washing out or “douching” your vagina with it will not prevent a pregnancy.

Unless you go “all the way” you won’t be exposed to STDs.

Vaginal, anal, and oral sex can lead to getting an STD. Being sexually active just once puts you at risk for STDs and unexpected pregnancies.

Taking “The Pill” prevents STDs.

This is probably the most common and dangerous myth about sex and STDs. Taking birth control only helps prevent pregnancies, and it does that job really well the majority of the time. But in no way does it prevent STDs. You’re putting yourself and others in harm’s way if you believe this myth.

When your symptoms go away, it means you’re cured.

Some STDs present with symptoms that come and go. There’s no predicting it, but you can prevent it. Make sure you consult a doctor who can prescribe the right medication and treatment options to completely cure your STD.

You can contract an STD from a toilet seat, door knob, swimming pool, or hot tub.

They’re called sexually transmitted diseases because they’re transmitted sexually. Sitting on a toilet seat recently used by someone with an STD will not give you that same STD. Although we can’t blame you for wiping it down anyway. Those things are pretty gross sometimes.

I’ve only been sexually active with one person, so I don’t need to worry about STDs.

There’s no way to know for sure how many other sexual partners your sexual partner has had in the past. No matter how much you trust your sexual partner when he or she says you’re the first, it’s always smart to use protection anyway.