Facebook Pixel

Answers for Women: Am I Pregnant After Dry Sex, Making Out with Clothes On?

 
Rate This

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

My boyfriend and I were messing around, both wearing underwear, and he ejaculated on my panties. As soon as I noticed there was a stain on top of my underwear, but no trace of fluid anywhere on my skin, I changed clothes and cleaned up immediately. All of this happened in the span of about a minute. Is there any way I could get pregnant from this incident? I also should note that I was taking progesterone when this happened (day 6 of 10 on a 10-day course). My doctor told me I would most likely have a period after stopping the medicine. So far I've had severe cramps and light spotting but no period. Anyway, is there any possible chance I could be pregnant, or is it high anxiety mixed with PMS? Please help, I've been so anxious I can barely sleep.

March 9, 2018 - 9:19pm
HERWriter Guide (reply to Lo_)

Hello Lo

There is little to no risk of pregnancy. Try to relax - you're period will along when it's ready.

Susan

March 12, 2018 - 3:35am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi, I made out with my boygriend without wearing a bra but I wore my underwear continuously and I had wore jeans and wored a 3 layers over. But we were rubbing our private parts, can pregnancy occur? Please reply soon.

February 28, 2018 - 9:48pm
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello Anon

You were not rubbing private parts, you were making out with clothes on - there is zero risk of pregnancy.

Best,

Susan

March 1, 2018 - 3:13pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi and sorry to bother you. I was just wondering the likelihood of getting pregnant through pre cum on someone’s fingers as they fingered me. According to an app on my phone I was post ovulation (by 2-3 days) but my cycle is irregular so I am not totally confident. Please reply soon.

January 14, 2018 - 8:27am
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Thank you for your post.

There is little risk to no risk of pregnancy. Your boyfriend would have to have live sperm (ejaculate) on his finger and insert it into your vagina to cause pregnancy but you would have to be ovulating at the time. Since your period is due, you're not ovulating.

Pre-ejaculate does not contain any sperm. Sperm may be inside the urethra if he ejaculated recently and did not urinate since. If he urinated since he last ejaculated, there is no sperm at all. Pregnancy is very uncommon from pre-ejaculate and the urethra would have to contain sperm at the same time. You would also need to have intercourse.

Your period will be an indicator you are not pregnant.

Best,

 

Susan

January 15, 2018 - 11:51am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to SusanC)

Also yesterday I noticed a light pink drop on my toilet paper (about a week before my period is due and six days since the aforementioned comment) I was very worried that I could have been pregnant with this being implantation bleeding but I read that that can be caused from stress as well

January 15, 2018 - 7:14pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to SusanC)

Thank you so much, so just to clarify- since I did not have intercourse there is very low chance?

January 15, 2018 - 7:07pm
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Correct - there is little to no chance.

Susan

January 16, 2018 - 5:14pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to SusanC)

Hi i’m the same person who previously left this comment and I was wondering if you could help me again. My period was due yesterday but did not come (my periods are very irregular) However the day before that I had a huge rush of white cervical mucus and bright red discharge which I figured was the breakdown of my lining. Since then I have had heavy bloating, slight cramping, and water discharge. Please help I took a homemade pregnancy test and it came up negative but I am very nervous (I heard stress may cause my delayed period but please respond)

January 22, 2018 - 3:18pm
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Sex & Relationships

Get Email Updates

Resource Centers

Sex & Relationships Guide

HERWriter Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!