With Robert Selverstone, PhD., and Pamela M. Wilson, MSW. Dr. Selverstone is a clinical psychologist who teaches sexuality education in a high school in Connecticut. Ms. Wilson is a sexuality education consultant and trainer.

Q: If a man withdraws his penis just before he ejaculates, won't it keep the woman from getting pregnant?

No. In fact it's very risky. Small amounts of semen, the fluid that contains sperm, often leak even before the man ejaculates, so there is still a danger of sperm coming in contact with the egg -- meaning the woman can still get pregnant. Also there is still a risk of STD infection with this method.

Q: My boyfriend told me that if I really loved him, I would have sex with him. Isn't this the best way to prove to him how I feel?

Not at all. Having sexual intercourse with someone does not prove your love for each other. A mature, loving relationship involves many other things besides intercourse, including respect for the other person's thoughts, feelings and needs. This also means respecting a boyfriend or girlfriend's decision to say "no" to sexual intercourse.

Q: My friend told me that taking a bath or douching right after sex can help wash out the sperm and prevent pregnancy. Is she right?

No. It's impossible for a woman to wash out sperm after a man ejaculates (comes) inside her. This is because the sperm swim so quickly into the womb (or uterus) that before she can sit up, odds are that some of the sperm have already reached her fallopian tubes, where they meet the egg.

Q: Does urinating after sex protect a woman from getting pregnant?

Don't believe this one! Urinating has nothing to do with preventing pregnancy. Urine leaves a woman's body from a different opening than the one that sperm travel through to get to the uterus. She can't "flush out" sperm by going to the bathroom.

Q: Can you get AIDS by kissing someone who has the virus?

It is not likely that you would get HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, by kissing someone who is infected, even though HIV has been found in saliva. Doctors say that no one has gotten HIV through kissing. However, the virus could be transmitted if you have an open cut or sore in your mouth (which you can get after brushing or flossing). Doctors advise that both partners avoid brushing or flossing their teeth before kissing so no blood is present. Also don't have oral sex unless you use a condom or other form of protection.

Q: Doesn't birth control make sex less romantic?

Although some people believe this, it is not usually so. For example, a woman can insert a diaphragm several hours before and the sponge up to 24 hours before she has sexual intercourse. Some people also like to incorporate birth control into their lovemaking. For example, a man can help a woman insert her diaphragm or a woman can put the condom on her partner.

Q: Can you get AIDS from a dirty toilet seat in a public restroom?

No. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be transmitted only through contact with body fluids, such as blood, semen or vaginal fluids of someone who has the virus. You cannot get HIV or other STDs from a toilet seat or from other forms of casual contact, such as holding hands with someone who has the virus.