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Questions abound regarding dry humping, dry sex and dry intercourse. It is most often a question asked by girls and women, wanting to know if they can be pregnant when engaging in "dry sex".
The terms has been defined in many ways, depending on the person asking, and I wanted to break through the barriers and actually talk about the "embarrassing" aspects of what these terms actually mean.
What are you actually doing with your partner when you are doing anything "dry" in the sex-realm? Let's take the slang out of our questions, and talk about these taboo topics in the name of sexual health and wellness.
Sexual Health Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on this "Dry" Subject!
1. How would you describe/define the following terms?
- Dry Humping
- Dry Sex
- Dry Intercourse
2. What specific behaviors am I engaging in if I do any of the following?
- Dry Humping
- Dry Sex
- Dry Intercourse
3. Can you "get" pregnant from any of the following sexual activities?
- Dry Humping
- Dry Sex
- Dry Intercourse
4. Can you spread or contract an STI/STD from any of the following sexual behaviors? (STI/STD = sexually transmitted infections or diseases)
- Dry Humping
- Dry Sex
- Dry Intercourse
ANSWERS:
1. Dry= No Bodily Fluid Contact
The word "dry" means that there is no bodily fluid exchange or contact, including fluids or lubrication from the penis, vagina, anus or mouth. These specifically can include pre-ejaculatory fluid ("pre-cum"), ejaculatory fluid or "ejaculation" or "cum", vaginal lubrication or vaginal secretions.
"Dry humping" and "dry sex" can be summed up by using the term: "outercourse".
There is actually no such thing as "dry intercourse", as penetration can never be considered a "dry" activity as there is natural lubrication from your body that is considered a "bodily fluid".
2. Outercourse can include:
- massaging, touching
- masturbation
- body rubbing, humping or "going through motions" of sex while fully clothed (genitals are fully covered)...most commonly called "dry humping"
Outercourse can not include:
- penetration of penis into vagina, anus or mouth
- body rubbing while clothed, but some "slippage" of clothing (underwear, specifically)
- ejaculation near vagina, even while covered, with chance of semen spilling over clothing
3. No, Outercourse would not lead to pregnancy
As explained above, outercourse does not involve the contact or exchange of any bodily fluids, and therefore, would not create a risk for pregnancy
4. Yes, Outercourse may still carry the risk of spreading or contracting an STI/STD
The word "dry" is important when talking about pregnancy and STIs/STDs, as Outercourse is a Good Safer Sex Option, but is not 100% "safe".
Safer Sex is any sexual behavior that reduces your risk for infection or pregnancy. Although most STDs/STIs are spread through exchange of bodily fluids, some are transmitted from skin-to-skin contact (meaning: you don't have to have intercourse/penetration to become infected with an STD/STI). The skin-to-skin contact through outercourse can be a risk for STD/STI.
Lastly,
What are the Benefits of Outercourse (for two consenting adults?)
- Pleasurable form of sexual expression and intimacy
- Type of "safer sex" without need for contraception (for pregnancy prevention)
- Lower risk for contracting or spreading STIs or STDs (sexually transmitted infections or diseases)
- No risk for pregnancy
- It can be a sexual behavior that is pleasurable, exciting and not stress-inducing (from the point of view of women, wondering if they are pregnant)
Let us know your thoughts on these terms "dry humping" and "outercourse".
If you have a specific question about a recent sexual episode that you are wondering about, please click on the Community page above, and ask your question by clicking on the orange ASK button to post your question. This space is for discussion related to this topic, and we are able to answer your time-sensitive questions faster when posted at the ASK page. Thanks!
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Add a Comment665 Comments
thank you so much!! this really puts my mind at ease. i have really irregular periods and been having pre menstrual symptoms lately, and i'm not sure if i'm just psyching myself out because im so worried. thanks again!
May 15, 2012 - 6:32pmThis Comment
My bf and I were fooling around and I took off my underwear and starting humping him when his boxers were on. He usually tucks the tip of his penis beneath the waistband, but i can't remember if his penis actually touched my vagina. My vagina was dry from humping his boxers, but I'm really worried I might get pregnant. Please someone respond im only 16 and am really really scared.
May 15, 2012 - 2:06pmThis Comment
i feel like im faking myself out into thinking im pregnant because im so worried. also later that night a think milky liquid gushed out of my vagina
May 15, 2012 - 2:10pmThis Comment
Hi Anonymous,
It is highly unlikely that you have a chance to become pregnant from what you explained. Good luck and if you chose to have sexual intercourse, you should always protect yourself with condoms and another form of birth control.
Missie
May 6, 2012 - 9:07amThis Comment
My boyfriend and I were messing around and i gave him a hand job...i noticed some precum. After a while he put it back in his pants. I know he had not actually came at all that day and he had peed before that. I'm scared though because he says when he put his penis away he didnt touch the head only the bottom and he said it was dry and so were his hands. 2 minutes later he began rubbing my vagina over my pants. About 5 or 6 minutes later he reached into my pants and rubbed my clit for awhile. He barely touched my vagina and if he did it was really brief. Could I be pregnant? Is it true that to actually have a good risk of being pregnant he would have had to have a glob of sperm on his fingers? I know it only takes one sperm to get pregnant but it also takes 100 helpers. Or so ive read. This all happened seven days ago. 2 days after my period had ended. i'm suppose to start on the 20th this month. Can i take a pregnancy test in a few days? I want to stop worrying!! It was the first time I had givin anybody a hand job! I'm a virgin and I regret doing this. Obviously I am not very well educated. I'm never doing anything again. Please help!! I can't eat i'm so worried!!!
May 5, 2012 - 3:36pmThis Comment
My boyfriend and I were messing around and i gave him a hand job...i noticed some precum. After a while he put it back in his pants. I know he had not actually came at all that day and he had peed before that. I'm scared though because he says when he put his penis away he didnt touch the head only the bottom and he said it was dry and so were his hands. 2 minutes later he began rubbing my vagina over my pants. About 5 or 6 minutes later he reached into my pants and rubbed my clit for awhile. He barely touched my vagina and if he did it was really brief. Could I be pregnant? Is it true that to actually have a good risk of being pregnant he would have had to have a glob of sperm on his fingers? I know it only takes one sperm to get pregnant but it also takes 100 helpers. Or so ive read. This all happened seven days ago. 2 days after my period had ended. i'm suppose to start on the 20th this month. Can i take a pregnancy test in a few days? I want to stop worrying!! It was the first time I had givin anybody a hand job! I'm a virgin and I regret doing this. Obviously I am not very well educated. I'm never doing anything again. Please help!! I can't eat i'm so worried!!!
May 5, 2012 - 3:36pmThis Comment
"My boyfriend and I were dry humping with clothes on. He came in his underwear/shorts and none got on my shorts. He went and wiped himself and washed his hands with liquid soap and bar soap (well he said he did and I heard him but i just dont remember how long) and he dried them and changed his underwear/pants in that order. Then after maybe 10 or 15 minutes (don't know exact) we started dry humping again with pants on still and he slipped his hand down my panties and touched my vagina. It felt like the outer edge because I know I felt dry (his hand was dry too and he was even rubbing his hand all over the sheets and my shorts and stuff just before so I know they were dry too) and I squirmed when he did it and he quickly removed his hand so he never completely fingered me. It was maybe a second or two at most. I'm just worried that maybe when he cleaned himself he didn't get the semen completely off his hands or something. I'm a
Ittle paranoid. Please help. Also, my period was just 2-3 days before if that helps. Thanks.."
This was me. I had my period again on April 6th to about the 12th so I assumed no pregnancy? But after this last period I get a pain in my pelvis if I apply pressure to a certain spot as if I was hit there. Doesn't hurt any other time. I don't know if it's just a pain from working out or something or maybe because I was accidentally hit there playing a game a month ago (just didn't think the pain would come back after weeks of nothing). It's not implantation is it? I don't get any other pregnancy symptoms.
April 16, 2012 - 8:01pmThis Comment
^Can anyone help with my situation? I no longer have the pelvic pain. I randomly get aches on my sides or somewhere. I am hoping it is completely unrelated to pregnancy.
April 27, 2012 - 9:39amThis Comment
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for your question. Having your period is a good sign of not being pregnant even if it is a week early. Your body changes over time and your periods can change too. If your still concerned, take a pregnancy test.
Good luck,
Missie
April 14, 2012 - 10:52amThis Comment
On April 2nd my boyfriend and i were fooling around a bit. I was playing with his penis and a some precum went onto my hand. I wiped it off, and a few minutes later i quickly checked with the same hand to see if i was wet or not.. But then i realized i had the dried precum on my fingers so i stopped. After that my boyfriend fingered me pretty hard to the point where i cummed.. And then i checked myself after that.
April 5, 2012 - 2:47amCould i be pregnant?! I've been thinking about it ever since and i just cant get it off my mind.. Please reply soon!!
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