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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
hello.
September 15, 2016 - 8:37ammy boyfriend and i had dry sex.i had my panties on and a sweatpants... he had on a condom but at some point the condom came off and he ejaculated whilst i was on top of him.. the semen soaked my sweatpants and panties... onto my pubic area... i took an ellaone one to two hours after that because i was scared but i found out i may be ovlating..; is there a chance of pregnancy?
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
There was no chance for pregnancy and no need to take ellaOne because you were wearing panites and sweat pants the entire time.
Your clothing acted as a barrier to keep any sperm from entering your body.
Regards,
September 15, 2016 - 9:03amMaryann
This Comment
One week ago I had dry sex, but I was naked and my boyfriend had only his thin cotton pants. I'm so scared beacuse I don't know if he had might put his penis into me, a little bit... I didn't feel it , he also didn't. He had his pants all the time. After situation I saw a little spot on the right side of his pants, it was from precum. He didn't ejaculate. I freaked out and after 16 hours I took one day morning pill. I'm still scared some precum could get me pregnant. Also I know that he urinated a couple times after his last ejaculation. Chance of pregnancy?
August 29, 2016 - 12:20pmThis Comment
Hello there, my boyfriend and i had dry sex and his ejaculation seeped through my underwear but only a small amount around my pubic area. Are there chances of me getting pregnant?
August 17, 2016 - 4:51amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Though the moisture from the semen made your underwear wet, any sperm in the semen did not get through. Sperm cannot pass through cloth, so no chance for getting pregnant.
Regards,
August 17, 2016 - 9:15amMaryann
This Comment
Hello.
August 5, 2016 - 5:34amThings heated up between me and my girlfriend on 24th of July. I was naked but she was wearing her panties. I got some precum (not a lot) on her underwear near the lower abdomen and after that went down on her. After some time she went and washed her vagina and the underwear with water and we went out. She has PCOS, bicornuate uterus and was on Ovral tablets for the same. After this she got her period within 3 days (i.e 27 ) and then another one last month, both regular ones. Now sometimes she says she has headaches, some tiredness and once she said dizziness. Can she be pregnant? We are only 17 and students.
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
She did not become pregnant. That is evident by the fact that she had two regular periods since. Her symptoms of headache, fatigue and occasional dizziness are caused by something else and I suggest she speak with her primary care physician about it.
Maryann
August 5, 2016 - 9:13amThis Comment
I had dry sex with a person. Is it possible for someone to get pregnant through underwear? I doubt there was any ejaculation but her doctor thinks she might be.
July 18, 2016 - 3:02pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
A blood pregnancy test will confirm a pregnancy.
Sperm cannot pass through clothing.
Maryann
July 19, 2016 - 8:44amThis Comment
But what about the recent study released by Family Planning NSW that says it is possible for semen to travel through clothes because vaginal fluids give the sperm motility to travel further into the vaginal canal. Essentially, that it's possible to get pregnant by dry humping. Have you read that? Is that true?
August 11, 2016 - 5:19pmThis Comment