Q.
My friend told me that if I douche right after sex, it'll prevent pregnancy. Is this true?
A.
No, it's not true! Unfortunately such urban sex myths leave many women with unwanted pregnancies. If your husband has powerful sperm (strong swimmers), they could reach your cervix and travel up into your uterus and fertilize an egg, despite douching. Even if his little swimmers aren't particularly strong, you never know if one feisty fella might get through. It only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg!
There are many different types of contraception besides condoms. I'd recommend you both go for an STI (sexually transmitted infection) screening at your local sexual health clinic or health practitioner. Once you've been screened for any infections and given the all-clear, you can select the method of contraception that matches your lifestyle best. You may want to go on the pill or the patch, get injections, use an intrauterine device, try the diaphragm, or rely on other methods. It's best to evaluate these with your healthcare provider.
Nestpert: Dr. Pam Spurr, author of Make Love All Night & Talk to Him in the Morning and Naughty Tricks and Sexy Tips: A Couple's Guide to Uninhibited Sexual Pleasure
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