Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
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
Hi.
May 29, 2019 - 4:13amI have been on the pill for two weeks consistently taking it at the same time.
Yesterday, on the day before I should be ovulating, my boyfriend ejaculated and then after I wiped my hands off and waited around ten minutes, and i’m assuming he wiped his hand off too. I’m just worried if the possibility of him having sperm on his finger and then fingering me could have gotten me pregnant in the scenario described while being on birth control for two weeks and taking the pill at the exact same time each night.
This Comment
Hello Anon
A woman does not ovulate on the Pill and you've been on it for two weeks meaning you are protected. So there is no risk.Best,
Susan
May 29, 2019 - 4:31amThis Comment
Hi. I was with this guy and he fingered me (neither of us wearing clothes). We didn’t have sex and he did not ejaculate. I was close to my day of ovulation (or on). I’m worried about pre ejaculate or if there is anyway i’m pregnant. My periods are irregular but it is due in two days and i’ve been having symptoms of PMS but i know such can be similar to pregnancy. Please respond.
May 5, 2019 - 11:23amThis Comment
Hello, Anon.
You can't get pregnant from the scenario you describe. Pregnancy can happen when a woman has unprotected sexual intercourse with ejaculation that enters the vagina. Pre-ejaculate fluid in itself does not contain sperm. Sperm can be picked up the urethra if a man has not urinated since a recent ejaculation. But once he urinates, any sperm would be flushed out.
Helena
May 5, 2019 - 12:48pmThis Comment
Thank you. Just to clarify, is it possible to get pregnant while ovulating from being fingered with pre-cum?
May 5, 2019 - 12:57pmThis Comment
Pregnancy is very uncommon from pre-ejaculate and the urethra would have to contain sperm (as I stated previously, from a recent ejaculation) at the same time as ovulation. You would also need to have intercourse. So, while not impossible, it's a very unlikely scenario.
Helena
May 5, 2019 - 2:31pmThis Comment
Hello
July 7, 2018 - 7:36amMy husband and me had sex. I was wearing an cotton underwear and he was wearing jeans. Is there a change that I can get pregnant
This Comment
Hello.
You can't have sex with clothes on. Unprotected intercourse with ejaculation into your vagina is having sex.
Helena
July 7, 2018 - 12:36pmThis Comment
Hi!
April 3, 2018 - 2:45pmI was making out with a guy and a had my clothes but he did not and he did'nt ejaculated,after this, I was got one month late and recently i had a diferent bleeding, i thought it could be my period, but it was a spotting, can I be pregnant?
This Comment
Hello Anon
We cannot say why your menstrual cycle has changed but it could be due to stress.
You can't be pregnant by not having sex and having all your clothes on, it doesn't matter what the male was doing.
Susan
April 3, 2018 - 3:21pmThis Comment