share: Outercourse: Dry Humping, Dry Sex and Other Sexual Behaviors
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 Comment104 Comments
Hello Alison!
Thank you for taking the time to write this! This is full of really great information about a topic that shows up on the site all of the time. This should help so many of the often younger women and others who post about dry humping, etc., and other similar sexual activities. This will be a great resource for those posters. You rock! Michelle
September 21, 2009 - 10:38pmThis Comment
on 9th september, my gf was standing against a wall in underwear and i was wearing underwear and cotton lowers over the underwear, i was pushing her vagina for about 5 minutes, both dressed in the way mentioned above, after a few min i had little wetness over my lowers(equal to a coin size) but i did not have any spots on underwear and then i went to bathroom and masturbated and ejacuated there. She also went to bathroom and washed her vagina and pubic hairs with water. Can she be pregnent.?
September 26, 2009 - 11:11amHer last period was on 28th august and this month not came yet, we both are too tensed, please reply in detail.. I mean can that coin size wet patch may get inside her vagina anyway?? Do we really need to worry, or we are thinking too much over it, please reply soon..
my bf and i had dry nearly two months ago then i had my period on time but this month i am a few days late. whats wrong?
May 29, 2010 - 2:17pmHi Anon
Thanks for your question! The article above should have answered your question, particularly this -
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."
Anon - I hope it resolves your questions and do take care to have this kind of physical contact carefully - and use a condom if it goes any further.
September 26, 2009 - 11:21amhi i wanted to ask about dry hump
if say she was wearing a mini skirt with her panties on and i was wearing shorts with my underwear on. and i humped on her part and cum. would she get pregnant? thanks
by Kaka
September 26, 2009 - 11:48pmKaka,
September 27, 2009 - 7:55pmI wanted to let you know that your question was answered here:
http://www.empowher.com/community/ask/can-you-get-pregnant-clothes?page=3
(page 3 in the ASK section).
Hi, I have a quick question. I was dry humping with this girl. I went in my pants to adjust my boxers afterwards and touched my penis and a bit of precum. I wiped the precum on the bottom of my jeans and then like 2-5 minutes later I began to finger her. No other sexual contact occured. What are my chances of giving her an STD? I have Gonorrhea possibly.
March 2, 2010 - 6:45pmYou would both need to be medically evaluated, to see if either of you have gonorrhea. This is a very treatable STD, when diagnosed promptly.
Please let us know how you are doing, and if you have any additional questions.
May 30, 2010 - 12:44pmI was sexually abused as a child. The perpetrator went through the motions of sex, and his body fluid went through my underwear. I tried to keep my legs together so he couldn't have contact with my vagina, but he did have contact with my buttocks. Since semen spilled over the clothing but the perpetrator did not have much contact with my vagina, would this be considered outercourse or not? What is the technical term for what he did? Should I get tested for STI/STD (especially since I didn't bathe right after what he did)?
November 19, 2010 - 9:16pmDear Anon,
I would not label this as outercourse... you were molested and I would go as far as calling this rape even though there was no penetration. I am so sorry you had to go through that as a child.
If your story had not mentioned being sexually abused as a child, then yes it is outercourse because there is no penetration but he molested you and more than likely would've penetrated if you hadn't kept your legs closed the entire time.
Have you received any help for this? Is this man in prison? How long ago was this? I ask the last question because I am a little confused... you said he molested you as a child, but you are asking if you should get tested now, so I'm curious as to how long ago it was. Have you been to a gynecologist since this happened?
Please keep us posted
November 20, 2010 - 2:44pm