In my June 26, 2010 posting, I listed eleven old wives' tales. I stated that each one is completely untrue. However, I did not give you any details. So here is the truth to trump each old wives' tale:
Old wives' tale: Every normal female has a girl ovary and a boy ovary.
Truth: Both ovaries in a woman are the same. Every egg in each of a woman's two ovaries carries an X chromosome.
The gender of a child is determined by the kind of sperm cell that unites with an egg. When a male releases sperm, half the sperm cells carry Y chromosomes and half the sperm cells carry X chromosomes.
If a sperm cell carrying an X chromosome fertilizes a woman's egg, the result is a child with two X chromosomes. A child with XX is a girl.
If a sperm cell carrying a Y chromosome fertilizes a woman's egg, the result is a child with an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. A child with XY is a boy.
Old wives' tale: In every normal male, one testicle produces sperm that make boy babies and the other testicle produces sperm that make girl babies.
Truth: Both testicles in a man are the same. Both testicles produce sperm cells that carry an X chromosome and sperm cells that carry a Y chromosome.
Each of a woman's eggs carries an X chromosome.
If a sperm cell carrying an X chromosome fertilizes a woman's egg, the result is a child with two X chromosomes. A child with XX is a girl.
If a sperm cell carrying a Y chromosome fertilizes a woman's egg, the result is a child with an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. A child with XY is a boy.
Old wives' tale: A woman cannot get pregnant if she has sex with a man while standing up.
Truth: A woman can get pregnant if she has sex with a man while standing up. If a man and a woman have unprotected sex and is pre-menopausal, she is at risk of getting pregnant, regardless of her position.
Old wives' tale: A woman cannot get pregnant the first time she has sex.
Truth: A woman can get pregnant the first time she has sex. It doesn't matter whether it's the first time or the 101st time. If a woman has unprotected sex and is premenopausal, she is at risk of getting pregnant.
Old wives' tale: A man cannot get a woman pregnant if he pulls his penis out of the woman's vagina before he ejaculates.
Truth: Even if a man pulls his penis out of the woman's vagina before he ejaculates, the woman can still get pregnant, because some sperm are released even before the man ejaculates.
Old wives' tale: You can tell by looking at someone if they have a sexually transmitted infection.
Truth: You cannot tell by looking at someone if they have a sexually transmitted infection. Some sexually transmitted infections can be present without causing any signs or symptoms. So it is possible to look healthy and still have a sexually transmitted disease.
Old wives' tale: You will always know if you have a sexually transmitted infection.
Truth: Some sexually transmitted infections can be present without causing any symptoms. So it is possible to feel fine and still have a sexually transmitted disease.
Old wives' tale: You cannot get a sexually transmitted infection from oral sex.
Truth: It is possible to get a sexually transmitted disease from oral sex, including but not limited to infections like gonorrhea and herpes.
Old wives' tale: A woman who has never had sex is not a virgin if she uses tampons.
Truth: If you have never had sex, you are still a virgin, even if you use tampons. Using a tampon does not affect your virginity in any way.
Old wives' tale: A woman will not get pregnant if she showers or douches immediately after intercourse.
Truth: Showering or douching immediately after intercourse will not prevent pregnancy. Sperm cells move very quickly. They can rapidly move through the cervix and into the uterus where douching and showering cannot reach them.
Old wives' tale: Once a male has an erection, he must have intercourse, or he can be harmed by not ejaculating sperm.
Truth: A male will not suffer any harm if he has an erection and does not have intercourse. He may feel uncomfortable for a brief period of time, but he will not be damaged.
John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Share the health.
Deborah White, MD, MBA
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