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!
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment665 Comments
Can you get pregnant With having underwear on and him in boxer and rubbing his penis against me?
March 11, 2012 - 7:12amThis Comment
hi uhm im19 turning 20 and i have not had sex yet. However me and my boyfriend were humping with out underwear he i was moist and i think he was a lil too from pre cum, but there was no penetration. However, just to be safe the next day which was approximately 14 to 15 hours i took a pill called plan B (the one that only contained one pill) could i get pregnant.
March 4, 2012 - 3:17pmThis Comment
My boyfriend and i were making out on his bed and we were both had our clothes on. I gave him a handjob and pre cum came out and a little bit had spilled onto my stomach.. I still had my jeans on. I went to the bathroom and i cleaned it off my stomach with water on soap.. After that he put his pants back on and i took mine off and he fingered me while having his pants on... This happened on Sunday (Feb 26th) And we're both very worried about pregnancy or anything.. Should we be worried?
March 2, 2012 - 6:16amThis Comment
Oh by the way no penatration was involved, every time my pants were off his were on.. And when his were off my pants were on.
March 2, 2012 - 6:26amThis Comment
hi uhm im19 turning 20 and i have not had sex yet. However me and my boyfriend were humping with out underwear he i was moist and i think he was a lil too from pre cum, but there was no penetration. However, just to be safe the next day which was approximately 14 to 15 hours i took a pill called plan B (the one that only contained one pill) could i get pregnant. Please i am very scared but i learned a very important lesson that even if fooling around use protection. I slo askend a gynecologist and sge said no.
February 26, 2012 - 4:16pmThis Comment
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for your question and welcome to Empowher. I think you should be safe although there is a risk for pregnancy anytime you have sex. You must wait at least 7 days to take a pregnancy test to get the best results. My guess is that you may have your period in between time and if you have your period, this is a great sign of "not pregnant". Stressing yourself out will cause a delayed period. Our bodies are temperamental and stress can certainly cause the delay.
Keep us posted. If you don't see a period by February 7th, take a pregnancy test. Perhaps in the future, you should look into birth control for yourself and also use condoms.
Good luck,
Missie
January 29, 2012 - 6:12amThis Comment
really need advice from someone fast because i think im going to go insane. Im 17 and i turned 17 on December 30th this year. I got my period on my birthday. Then me and my boyfriend were "fooling around" a few weeks after. He only stuck it in but he said he did not cum and he hardly moved he was just trying to get his penis to go in in vagina. I have never had sex before and so of course i feel so guilty and paranoid. but then on the 21st of January me and my boyfriend had sex but he was wearing a condom and he even pulled out when he came. But what im REALLY REALLY worried about is that im pregnant so i set up a period tracking account and it said that the day that my boyfriend stuck his penis inside but he said he didnt cum was when i was ovulating or fertile. Im 1 day late on my estimated period! Im so scared im pregnant! but ive been stressed out thinking Im pregnant for like i week so idk if thats why i missed it but i feel like im about to get my period ive had cramping and or like gas alot and i feel like ive had mood swings and my discharge stops and goes. What dose this mean?! am i pregnate or am i stressed and making myself freekout. Should i take a test?! When should I take a test. Could my period come on January 30th? or a week later because of my stress even though i fee like i could get my period soon. and my stomach always hurts. Whats wrong with me?! my sister has gone through sorta the same thing and told me to wait and i would probably get my period three weeks later like she did but i feel like mine is coming soon. am i feeling this way because im pregnant? Some PLEASE HELP! IM SO SCARED!
January 28, 2012 - 3:10pmThis Comment
me And my bf had a thing but Idk if I'd call it dry , cuz i didn't have my underwear on though he was wearing his underwear And his jeans , his zip was a little open What Are the possibilities that i Will get pregnant ? Please reply required Asap
January 3, 2012 - 5:22amThis Comment
I was dry humping with a boy tha I have been dating. He had on boxwes and jeans, and I had on underwear and soffee shorts. My period is now late, and I have been experiancing sore breasts (and nipples) for a week...but no period. Do I have anything to worry about? I have read online that sperm can swim through clothing. Is this true? Could I be pregnant?
December 11, 2011 - 10:40amThis Comment
My wife has a vibrator that she would rather have in her and I have seen how it turns her on so I don't have a problem. We stopped having intercourse a few months ago and after I use the vibrator on her I then rub my cock on her clit but I don't put it in anymore. I actually said to my wife I like outercourse better and she surprisingly said that she liked it better than actual sex. I come on her belly and it is a real turn on for her. Any woman that has had a vibrator in her would probably rather have that if she was honest.
December 6, 2011 - 2:39pmThis Comment