Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share The Most Wildly Inaccurate Thing They Were Taught About The Birds And The Bees

Comprehensive sex education is lacking, but some of the things people are taught are simply bonkers. For example, the stimga around HIV is still rampant. And the idea that women get the periods during full moons is laughable. Still, these things are taught, despite their harmful lack of truth. Sex is a part of life, and people have the right to know how it works.

wollyhammock asked, People who received no or terrible sex education: what was the most wildly inaccurate thing you were taught or told about sex and sexual health?


Submissions have been edited for clarity, context, and profanity.

Religion keeping people in the dark about sex? Groundbreaking.

Giphy

I received absolutely no sex education. I was raised a religious fundamentalist, married at 19 to a girl that was as ignorant as I was and lost our virginity on our wedding night. Married for 13 years. I learned what and where a clitoris was from my 2nd sexual partner at the age of 32.

ImNoScientician

This is so sad.

In addition to the usual (condoms aren't effective, sex before marriages gives you cancer, zero information about discharge or where clitoris is located) I was taught that women don't feel sexual arousal. At all. Those who think they do are just confused. Women have sex to please men and make babies, no other reason.

I still wonder if the woman who taught me this was just asexual and didn't know it, and she assumed this was the norm.

dreamfisher

It really depends on the penis.

Giphy

I always thought you were supposed to be really gentle with the penis. So my first time giving a hand job I had the lightest grip possible so I wouldn't hurt him. When he showed me just how I was shocked lol.

I also thought your period was supposed to be just a dot of blood, hence the name "period." Had a rude awakening with that one.

nicestpossibleway

This is a lot to, erm... wow.

I taught that a woman releases a special chemical in her brain during/right after sex that makes her attached to the man for the rest of her life, because he made that happen. Only women tho, and only your first.

My parents were so hellbent on this that me and my mom often argued about it... she was adamant that I could barely know the guy, yet this would happen and it would ruin my life, she was that convinced (as a teen, they didn't like my boyfriend and used this to say I won't know who he will grow up into, in highschool you've known him only a few years, this will forever taint your life when you eventually get married etc.... very strong belief they hold). Many other misconceptions as well, but that's the craziest. Others include:

*Tampons cause infertility because the ovaries cannot 'air out'

*Having cold feet outside leads to infertility by 'freeze damage' to the ovaries

*Sex is a donation to a man, not at all something to share as it can never truly be pleasurable for the woman. However, you're in luck because women happen to release a forever-bonding chemical when she loses her virginity so you won't mind "doing what is needed to him when do you have to".

*Women/girls do not discharge. It's either dry, or period time.

Manonxo

No such thing huh...

My mum told me there was no such thing as ovulation when I was 9. To this day I haven't had the courage to ask her how she thinks I got here!

kirstopheles

The worst thing to teach about sex is that it's somehow bad.

Giphy

Basically sex = your life is ruined and there's nothing you can do about it then.

Little bit inaccurate.

NumberOneBacon

This sort of HIV stigma still exists, and it's dangerous.

That you can get pregnant from hugging and that you can get AIDS from kissing. It was 1999 when it had been proven that HIV was not spread through casual contact.

gouwbadgers

"Watching the animals" are probably not the best example of how to teach sex.

My sex ed was cassette tapes of an old man basically just saying don't have sex before marriage, but one of the things he said was "I grew up on a farm, and I learned all I needed to know about sex by watching the animals."

Fruitloop800

"Abstinence only" is destructive and unscientific.

Giphy

My middle school teacher told the class that condoms were not effective at all for protecting against STDs and only worked 50% in stoping pregnancies, and that anyone who told you otherwise was a diseased pervert trying to trick you into sex. Abstinence teaching, ladies and gentlemen.

LilBuddyRem

This can't possibly be true.

"If you both keep your virginity until your wedding night, you will have an amazing sex life forever."

False.

Deuce_is_Dead

More from Trending

Screenshots from @sweetteataylor's TikTok video
@sweetteataylor/TikTok

Gay Man's Story About A Recent Hookup Takes An Awkward Turn At The Car Wash—And Yikes

We've all heard of the walk of shame, but have we heard of the car wash of shame?

TikToker @sweetteataylor found himself in a uniquely awkward situation after he hooked up with a guy a few nights before via Grindr. When the guy was getting ready to leave, he dropped his wallet, exposing a photo of him with his wife and children.

Keep ReadingShow less
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and Jason Kelce
@newheightsshow/TikTok

Taylor Swift Just Appeared On Travis Kelce's Podcast—And Hilariously Trolled His Fans

There is one vital, earth-shattering, no-going-back difference between Swifties and a certain subgroup of male football fans: Swifties are big fans of Taylor Swift's relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. But this group of male football fans?

They hate the relationship so much, they're counting down the days until Kelce retires, just so they hopefully don't have to see Swift in the stands anymore. Talk about conditional love!

Keep ReadingShow less
Matt Rife
Gilbert Flores/GG2025/Penske Media/Getty Images

Fans Outraged After Makeup Brand Features Controversial Comedian Matt Rife In New Ad Campaign

Content warning: domestic violence, joking about domestic violence

From tasteless and harmful domestic violence jokes on Netflix to becoming the protector for haunted dolls, Matt Rife has been hot in the news lately, but honestly, not all news is good news.

Keep ReadingShow less
Skyler Gisondo; Ariana Grande
River Callaway/Variety via Getty Images; Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Ariana Grande Costar Offers Hilarious Reaction After Fan Claims She's Never Cast Opposite 'Hot' Actors

In our chaotic world, there are still a few things you can count on: the sun rising and setting, and "Stan Twitter" being unhinged.

After the announcement of him being cast next to pop diva Ariana Grande, actor Skyler Gisondo was the latest star to learn how pop stans just go on X and say anything that comes to mind.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nikki Hiltz
Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Trans Nonbinary Track Star Nikki Hiltz Shares Powerful Video Documenting Their Top Surgery Journey

United States Olympian Nikki Hiltz is a middle distance runner who in 2021 came out as transgender and nonbinary on International Transgender Day of Visibility.

On August 6 of this year—four years after coming out and four days after winning the national title in the 1500 meter race at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon...

Keep ReadingShow less