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Answers for Women: Am I Pregnant After Dry Sex, Making Out with Clothes On?

 
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We are glad you found EmpowHER! A common question has been asked: Am I pregnant if I make out with a boy, while wearing clothes? Can I be pregnant without penetration (intercourse)?

There is so much misinformation about sex, and usually the limited information that is given resorts to using scare tactics, so much to where young women are afraid that when they merely look at a boy, or touch a towel that a boy has touched, that this could result in pregnancy!

Please know that becoming pregnant does not just "occur". Sperm must somehow enter the vagina in order to conceive; genitals must touch other genitals, or ejaculatory fluid must come into contact with a woman's vulva. Otherwise, there is no risk of pregnancy.

If you are wearing clothes or otherwise "making out", a congratulations is in order, as you are engaging in "safer sex" practices, which means you were able to express your physical or sexual feelings without putting yourself at increased risk for pregnancy. You can find more information below that pertains to your specific situation, based on our most commonly asked questions.

I missed my period and must be pregnant after making out or being sexual with my partner.
Late Period Fact: It is common for women to be late --or even miss a period entirely--for no "apparent" reason. Our ovulation and menstrual cycles do vary from month-to-month, and can change due to recent illness, new medication, excess stress. There are also medical reasons that women may stop menstruating, and can be evaluated by your doctor (doctors are not usually concerned if you are not experiencing any problematic symptoms until you have missed three periods in-a-row, called amenorrhea).

I am afraid of pregnancy because I did sexual things with my partner while wearing clothes, and I read that women can still become pregnant since clothes and cotton are porous (have holes).
Clothing Fact: Yes, our clothing, and specifically our cotton underwear, are porous. and, it is true that sperm are strong swimmers, but they can't swim through clothes. Sperm are strong swimmers only in liquid: specifically semen and vaginal secretions. Outside the bod, sperm are actually very fragile. Once semen is absorbed into the fabric of your clothes, they die.

Please know in regards to wearing clothes during physical intimacy: what is possible is some ejaculate could spill over the underwear, around the panty line, and possibly get near the vagina. Men's underwear that are not form-fitting can "leak" sperm, so the important thing to remember when "wearing" clothes: they are actually covering up your genitals, the underwear is not pushed to the side, and no fluid is leaking from the side of the underwear.

"Dry Humping" Fact: The term used when you are "going through the motions" of sex and rubbing bodies together, while wearing clothing is called "Outercourse" or "dry humping" because there are no bodily fluids (vaginal secretions or semen) that come into contact with your or your partner's genitals. Click on hyperlink to read more about Outercourse.

I touched some semen on the bed sheet, and want to know if I could get pregnant from this
Sperm Fact: Sperm can live three to five days when inside a woman's vagina during her most fertile time. Sperm can only live when they are in a liquid - like semen or in vaginal fluids- and do not survive long outside the body (including on sheets, towels, etc).

I made out with my boyfriend, and any possible sperm that got in me was quickly washed away after I went to the bathroom.
"Washing Away" Semen Fact: Showers do not wash out sperm that is already inside the vagina, same with urinating, as the urine would only wash away what is inside the urinary tract (semen would have entered into a separate opening, your vagina, and not your urethra).

I have wet spots from my partner's "cum" on the inside of my underwear and jeans, even though we were both wearing clothes.
Self-Lubrication Fact: Your being "wet" could be from your own lubrication, as your partner's semen would most likely not penetrate through multiple layers of clothing (and it would not be able to get you pregnant; see above). Any wetness is from your own vaginal secretions and is perfectly normal when you are sexually aroused.

We hope these answers to the most commonly asked questions were helpful for you and your specific situation! If you are ever in doubt, please talk with your health care provider about birth control options if you choose to be sexually active, and wear a condom during sexual activity (even if penetration or intercourse is not planned). Continue making safer sex choices!

Add a Comment280 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to SusanC)

I sort of had a question. Me and my partner didn't have sex but we weren't wearing clothes. Our genitals rubbed together and he had precum it. But i gave him a blow job prior to that and he would have peed about 2-3 times before the last time he ejaculated. And i had finished my periods 10 days ago. But there was no penetration. What are the chances of pregnancy.

January 15, 2018 - 9:31pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Actully mam after the priod three days my partner wear the underwear and pajama and i wear the underwear and jeans with the sex and fingerd in
my partner pregnent or not please tell me

December 25, 2017 - 7:08am
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello Anon

Thank you for writing.

You can't have sex when you're clothed and a pregnancy cannot occur that way. Fingering does not cause pregnancy.

Susan

December 25, 2017 - 1:09pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to SusanC)

Hello mam, if guy had his track and underwear on but the girl was nude, can rubbing cause pregnancy if her vagina was wet?

February 24, 2018 - 5:47am
Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello,

You can't get pregnant this way. His underwear would prevent any penetration and semen (if there was any) from entering you. To be safe, a condom should be used if genitals touch.

Helena

February 24, 2018 - 6:10am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Helena)

Thank you so much for information ma'am, yet, I was due yesterday but didn't have my periods yet also have no evidence of it comming except for sore breasts since 15 days, why do you think that could be??

February 24, 2018 - 10:47pm
Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello.

Your period is not that late. Many things can impact a woman's cycle, stress, worry, illness, a change in lifestyle or body chemistry. We can't know the reason for yours.

Helena

February 25, 2018 - 6:55am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi, last week I hung out with this guy (4-5 days post ovulation according to my period app) and he fingered me. Now, I don’t think there was any sperm on his hand (because there was at least a 20 minute-Hour difference from when he could have had anything on his hands to when we hung out and we didn’t do anything like that while we were together). I know the answer is most likely no but on the case that he could have had something on his hands (like sperm) in between those 20 minutes-Hour and then fingered me could it result in pregnancy. And just in general, can one get pregnant through fingering and how long can sperm live outside the body? I have my period in six days and I haven’t gotten symptoms yet but that is not unusual.
Thanks so much! Reply soon,

December 21, 2017 - 5:08am
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello Anon

A woman cannot get pregnant post-ovulation. 

Men don't randomly have sperm on their hands - we hear that concern a lot from our readers and not one has ever gotten pregnant. Men simply don't have sperm on their hands no more than women would have vaginal fluids on theirs. 

IF there was sperm, it would be dead within 20 mins and once dry, is dead.  There is no risk for you.

Best,

Susan

December 21, 2017 - 2:55pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Last week me and my bf we’re making out and I was sitting on his lap but I was sideways on his lap. When I got up I noticed he was a little wet. I was wearing leggings and thin underwear and he was wearing jeans. Can it still go through his jeans and into me? I read it was just pre ejeculation, but I’m still worried. My stomach has been hurting for 3 days is there any possibility of pregnancy?

October 17, 2017 - 8:20am
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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