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
Hi, I dry humped with a guy. I never took off my undrewear but he did, about half way through he put on a condom, and I did feel his pennis go a bit inside me over my panties. I'm freaking out not so much about an infection but about pregnancy, I was on the ninth day of my period. Is it possible??
February 20, 2011 - 11:04pmThis Comment
A guy and I dry humped in our underwear for a short period of time (less than a minute) before he told me he currently had an outbreak of genital warts (had them frozen off of the shaft of his penis the week before) and a previous girlfriend had a positive pap (meaning he had both strains - the kind that caused warts and the kind that caused abnormal paps). I was wearing a skimpy thong that didn't cover much and he was wearing boxers. It is possible that his boxers could have ridden up exposing his inner thighs, scrotum or penis to my inner thighs and the outside of my vagina. It is unlikely that the spot where the wart was touched me. Am I at high risk for getting either strain now? We stopped physical contact after he told me the situation. However, can't the virus live on other parts of his skin or on his boxers, which my inner thighs would have been exposed to? Is there anything I can do besides sit and wait to see if I end up with warts or a positive pap?
February 15, 2011 - 4:57pmThis Comment
Hello,
What about intergluteal sex ? I would define this as an act where a male has inserted his penis on the butt crack and "going through motions" of sex . I had ejaculated a day earlier and have urinated more than once after that. Will pre-ejaculate be an issue that might cause pregnancy ? I had covered the vulva with a tissue paper or klenex to block any pre-ejaculate fluid that might have trickled over from the butt crack to the vulva. I am positive that I did not ejaculate on her. I did a lot of research but could not find a situation similar to this . Please help,
Thanks.
February 2, 2011 - 9:50amThis Comment
dry sex? can't imagine that. i don't like it..
January 20, 2011 - 7:48pmThis Comment
hi i had an important question. in about the middle of october a guy and i were rubbing and humping each other but while we had underwear on. After my underwear were went and his were too. but im almost 100% sure his penis ever touched under my underwear. i have irregular periods so im never sure when they come. but ive missed mine twice or three times now. I also have been under a lot of stress lately too with trying to keep my grades up and dealing with my parents divorce so could it just be because of that? Please answer as soon as possible and thanks.
December 31, 2010 - 10:21amThis Comment
Please re-read the information above about why your underwear could have possibly have been wet (your vaginal secretions). If you don't know if his penis touched your vagina under your underwear...we don't know, either! If he ejaculated on/near/inside your vagina, you have a chance of pregnancy. If he did not ejaculate, you do not have a chance of pregnancy.
The more important issue: you have missed three consecutive periods? Please tell your parents, caregiver or trusted adult that you need to go to the doctor due to missed periods-- how old are you?
January 6, 2011 - 9:41amThis Comment
I 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 - 9:16pmThis Comment
Dear 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 - 2:44pmThis Comment
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 - 6:45pmThis Comment
You 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 - 12:44pmThis Comment