Sexual Health FAQs 25

Q. Can a man withdraw from a woman before ejaculating to prevent pregnancy?

A. Absolutely not. This is not a form of birth control. Some guys say they will pull out, and then they get so excited and carried away that they don't or forget. It is not always possible for a guy to tell when they are going to ejaculate. A female can get pregnant even if the male does not ejaculate inside of her during intercourse. Most males discharge a small amount of fluid before ejaculation. It is a clear emission that can have a high concentration of sperm if the male had just ejaculated before you had sex. This fluid is frequently called "pre-cum." It is released during sexual arousal and usually is not felt by the male.

Q. What are the chances of getting pregnant from this withdrawal and pre-ejaculate?

A. There is no way anyone could give you the odds on a pregnancy without an ejaculation as there are many variables involved. There could be a very small number of active sperm in a man's pre-ejaculate, but could those swim and fertilize an egg. A female could get an STD (including HIV) or become pregnant if the pre-ejaculate was inside of her or on her vaginal area. If you were using a condom properly it is at not all that likely that your partner could become pregnant from pre-cum.
Another factor is if the female has ovulated. There is no way to calculate this risk. Don't have unprotected sex, ever, unless you want to conceive. The worrying and waiting is not worth the risk.


Q. I was wondering if a tampon might work as a birth control device such as a condom or a contraceptive sponge.

A. No. A tampon is not a method of birth control.


Q. Does genital herpes virus live in semen?

A. The herpes virus has not been found to exist in male semen. It is a viral infection spread through direct skin-to-skin contact and sexual contact (oral, anal or vaginal).

The initial outbreak of herpes usually occurs within two weeks of the initial infection and can last up to four weeks. In the initial outbreak stage, an infected person usually gets sores or blisters in the genital area, and this can be extremely painful. Some other symptoms of herpes are flu-like symptoms, fatigue, fever or swollen glands. The virus remains in the body of the person forever. But, it can be controlled by medication.


Q. I have been using Ortho Tri-Cyclen for two weeks and was wondering when it becomes effective in preventing pregnancy.

A. You will need to use additional birth control when you first start on Ortho Tri-Cyclen or any pill. Follow your health care provider's instructions. You should also read the instructional insert found inside the package for details, but to be extra safe, call your doctor to confirm what she or he told you. Most health care providers will recommend using a "back-up" method of birth control such as condoms or abstinence (a better choice) for the entire fir1st cycle or pack of pills. Remember that although the pill is effective in preventing pregnancy, it will not protect you from STDs. You can use a condom with the pill to effectively prevent STDs and pregnancy.