Is it possible to get pregnant with precum especially when he pulls out? What are the chances or conception rates in such a situation?
There are many questions pertaining sex and pregnancy that you may not have straight answers to. For instance, you could be wondering whether you can get pregnant from precum, grinding and withdrawal sex.
The general answer to these questions are both yes and no depending on the situation.
What is precum made of?
Precum, also called the pre-ejaculate fluid, is the fluid that seeps out of the penis during sex. It is made of a mixture of mucus and some dead cells.
Generally, precum has no role in the body or sex for that matter.
However, it is thought that it is meant to reduce the acidity of the vagina to allow for the survival of the sperms in the acidic environment until they reach the egg for fertilization. Sperm would normally die if placed in an acidic environment.
- Pre-ejaculate is released without ejaculation and hence has no sperms.
- However, some few sperms may pass through it and enter the vagina during sex even if a man withdraws before ejaculation (orgasm).
After ejaculation, the precum will carry along the sperms left in the urinary tract to the vagina while the sperm is still alive.
Otherwise, the sperm found in the precum is mostly dead and has always a low risk of pregnancy.
Can you get pregnant from precum?
The conclusive answer to this question is yes, you can get pregnant from precum. However, the risk is very low given that the amount of sperm in the precum is very low compared to the amount in actual cum.
Even with this information, however, you will need to be cautious with some aspects.
First, pre-ejaculate fluid may still have enough sperm to impregnate you.
This is true especially after the first ejaculation which leaves some sperms in the urethra. These sperms can be carried to the vagina by the pre-ejaculation fluid.
Secondly, if you are practicing withdrawal sex (pulling out), you should be careful since the semen that remains in the urethra can have enough sperms for fertilization.
Thirdly, semen only needs to get in touch with the vaginal opening to be able to travel all the way to the fallopian tubes for fertilization.
These three facts make it possible to get pregnant from precum especially when you are ovulating.
What are the chances (risk) of getting pregnant from pre-ejaculate fluid?
What is the risk of making a girl pregnant from pre-ejaculate fluid? The risk and rate of getting pregnant is very low compared to actual ejaculation.
The reason behind this is all about the low numbers of sperms in precum compared to the real ejaculate.
In studies carried on the issue, only about 40 percent of men have traces of sperm in their precum. The amount is also very low such that the chances of it reaching the fallopian tubes for fertilization are very low.
To draw an example of how difficult it is to get pregnant with precum:
- The normal ejaculate has around 100 million sperms in every milliliter of ejaculate.
- 90 percent of this sperm is retained by the cervical mucus leaving only about 10 million in each milliliter.
- Further reductions by the urinary tract and other parts of the reproductive system will leave just about 100,000 sperms accessing the egg in the fallopian tubes.
- This is just about 0.1 percent of the sperms that remain in each milliliter of ejaculate and be able to fertilize the egg.
Bringing the same scenario to the precum which has just about 3 million sperms for each milliliter, an almost negligible number of sperms will make it to the fallopian tubes for fertilization.
Even with these encouraging statistics, you can still get pregnant from precum given that only a single viable sperm is required for fertilization.
Can you get pregnant from dry humping or grinding?
Dry humping or grinding is considered a form of sexual intercourse by some people. It is also called dry sex and is the act of having sex with clothes on. The clothing may be underwear etc.
According to some sources, most teenagers dry hump because they think it is safe, or because they are not ready. But can you get pregnant from dry humping and grinding?
This short answer to this question is yes. However, the chances are so low that it is almost impossible getting pregnant from dry humping.
All you need to know is that pregnancy occurs when the ejaculate comes into contact with your vaginal canal.
Therefore, given that dry humping does not entail penetrating, your chances of getting pregnant are very slim.
However, you need to know that even a small amount of cum dropping on the vaginal opening can lead to a pregnancy. Whether the grinding is with clothes on or off, sperm can still seep through and reach the vaginal opening.
Pulling out and the rate of pregnancy
Pulling out is also called the withdrawal method of birth control. According to Your Life, “it requires great self-control, experience, and trust, and as such, it is pretty unreliable” when it comes to preventing pregnancy.
This brings us to our question: can you get pregnant from precum in the pull out method? It is a lot more possible.
Even if you practice the pull out method of preventing a pregnancy, chances are quite high that you will get pregnant.
For one, pre-ejaculate fluid itself has a small amount of sperm that may or may not make you pregnant. When in large amounts, it will increase the chances of getting pregnant significantly.
Even if your man pulls out in time, pregnancy can still happen!
With the withdrawal method, your partner has to be very accurate in withdrawing to prevent a pregnancy given that most people fail at this. It is quite easy to withdraw a bit late when the ejaculate has already made its way into the vagina.
Also, subsequent rounds of sex make the precum almost equal to the actual ejaculate in terms of the amount of sperms available.
When your partner ejaculates, sperms will be left in the urethra. They will be carried into the vagina with the precum and increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Can a girl get pregnant from swallowing precum?
Can you get pregnant from oral sex? The myth of whether oral sex can make you pregnant is a misdirected one.
- The only way you can get pregnant is when pre-ejaculate fluid or ejaculate comes into contact with your vagina and not your mouth.
- Even swallowing precum or ejaculate will not get you pregnant.
This is because there is no direct link between your digestive system and your reproductive system that may allow the movement of sperm into the fallopian tubes from your stomach.
Given that ejaculate and precum are mainly proteins, they will simply be digested.
How to prevent pregnancy from pre-cum
While precum has very remote chances of making you pregnant, it is only safe to take the needed measures to stay safe. The use of birth control methods comes into play at this time and they include:
- Cervical caps
A cervical cap is small object shaped like a cup that is inserted into the vagina until it reaches the cervix where it prevents sperm from reaching the fallopian tubes.
- Diaphragm
A diaphragm is similar to a cervical cap in that it works by physically preventing the entry of sperm into the fallopian tubes.
- Birth control pills
Birth control pills are among the most effective birth control methods available today. Their use will help you with preventing unwanted pregnancies from precum and ejaculate.
- Vasectomy
Vasectomy is the permanent sterilization of the man to prevent any chances of getting pregnant from sexual intercourse. It works by preventing the sperms from reaching the urethra by sealing the duct between the testicles and the urethra.
- Birth control implant
This is an implant for the arm which is used to prevent pregnancies for up to three years. If you need a method to stay safe without doing much, this is the best option.
- Birth Control Sponge (Today Sponge)
The birth control sponge is a foam with spermicide which is inserted into the vagina a few moments before sex. The spermicide in the sponge will kill any sperms released into the vagina during sexual intercourse.
- Birth control shot
This is a once-in-three months injection which will prevent pregnancies effectively. It is one of the least involving methods you can use to keep unwanted pregnancies at bay.
- Birth control vaginal ring
The birth control vaginal ring is also called the NuvaRing and is inserted into the vagina for three weeks to prevent a pregnancy. It is quite effective when it comes to preventing pregnancies.
- Abstinence
At times, other methods may not be enough to prevent pregnancies since even condoms break. Most other methods do not also have 100 percent guarantee of preventing pregnancy. This leaves you with the option of abstaining from sex until you are ready with the risks it poses.
- Birth control patch
Also called the Evra patch or the Ortho Evra patch, this is a patch applied to the skin once every week for three weeks in a row followed by a patch-free week.
- Use condoms
Condoms are among the most common birth control methods available. They are very effective when it comes to preventing pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
You and your partner should get used to using condoms if at all you want to prevent unwanted pregnancies since there are both male and female condoms.
References
- Birth Control Options – Birth Control
- The Withdrawal Method – Your Life.
- Pregnancy & Birth – Parents
- Pregnancy and Conception – WebMD