Think you’re in-the-know about sex and can figure out fact from fiction? Put your knowledge to the test because we’re about to separate fact from fiction and put some sex myths to bed. Here are some of the most popular myths we’ve heard about sex…

MYTH: Everyone is doing it!
REALITY: Don’t believe everything you hear…it may seem like everyone’s doing it, but in reality, less than half (48%) of all high school students have ever had sex. (And actually it’s down to 37% here in NJ as of last year!) People lie and exaggerate and can talk a good game when it comes to sex. But in the end, it doesn’t matter who’s telling the truth or not. The only truth that matters is what’s best for you.

MYTH: You’re a prude if you want to wait until you’re older or married.
REALITY: Actually, you’re being pretty smart. Every person is unique and many teens decide to wait to have sex. The truth is that most teens who have had sex say they wish they had waited longer and the younger teens are when they first have sex, the more likely they are to regret it—and the less likely they are to use protection.

MYTH: Guys are always ready for sex.
REALITY: Guys may have a reputation for always thinking about sex, but, just like all stereotypes, that’s not necessarily true. Think about it—you may love playing soccer, but sometimes, you’d just rather go to the movies. In fact, 2 out of 3 guys say they’d rather have a relationship but no sex—how’s that for busting this myth!?

MYTH: Girls never pressure guys to have sex—pressure always comes from guys.
REALITY: Again, there’s that stereotyping thing causing lots of trouble. Every person, and every combination of people, is different. Pressure can come from anyone, regardless of gender, sexual experience, or age. 1 in 5 guys say they’ve been pressured by a girl to go further sexually than they wanted to.

MYTH: You’ll marry the first person you have sex with.
REALITY: Sadly, this one is rarely true. Even though your first love or the first person you have sex with feels like the one you’ll love forever, the reality is that most first time sexual relationships are romantic but short-lived. 8 out of 10 first time teen sexual relationships last 6 months or less and one-quarter are one-time occurrences.

MYTH: Drinking and drugs make sex much more fun.
REALITY: If you’re drunk or high, it’s hard to make good decisions about sex. 20% of 15- to 17-year-olds say they have done something sexual while using alcohol or drugs that they might not have done if they were sober. It might seem fun to have your inhibitions washed away by alcohol or drugs, but that also means you could end up with something much worse than a hangover: a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or an unplanned pregnancy. People are also much more likely to be victims of rape and assault when substance use/ abuse mixes with sexual activity.

MYTH: You can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex.
REALITY: If you are ovulating it doesn’t matter if it’s the first time or the hundredth time you’ve had sex, you can still get pregnant. You get pregnant when the sperm fertilizes the egg. Neither the sperm nor the egg care how many times you’ve had sex previously. The only way to avoid the risk of pregnancy is to not have sex at all.

MYTH: Girls can’t get pregnant during their period.
REALITY: There is a chance that you can get pregnant if you have sex during your period. Once in the vagina, sperm can stay alive for several days—that  means that, even if the last time you had sex was three days ago during your period, you could now be ovulating and therefore you could get pregnant. It’s kind of complicated, so just remember this: ANY time you have sex you can get pregnant!

MYTH: You can’t get pregnant if you’ve never had a period.
REALITY: You may ovulate 14 days before your first period so it is possible to get pregnant even if you haven’t had your first period yet.

MYTH: There’s no method of birth control that’s 100% effective.
REALITY: Not having sex is a form of birth control and it is definitely 100% effective. If you aren’t having sex, you can’t get pregnant or get someone else pregnant. It’s just that simple. Learn more about waiting.

MYTH: Drinking Mountain Dew will prevent pregnancy.
REALITY: The rumor that ingredients in Mountain Dew (and other popular sodas) lower guys’ sperm count has been around for years, but the simple truth is that ‘Doing the Dew’ doesn’t do anything to sperm. Drinking soda isn’t going to do anything but maybe give you a cavity.