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
so i know there are a lot of similar questions but I'm just gonna ask....
July 13, 2015 - 1:48pmCan I get pregnant through leggings and a thong if we were dry humping? I was also just getting off of my period and I had a small spotting of blood. Am I just freaking myself out or should I take a test? please help...
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
No, there was no risk for becoming pregnant and thus no need to take a pregnancy test.
Maryann
July 14, 2015 - 8:33amThis Comment
Me and my boyfriend were taking a shower and he sort of put it in without a condom.. I know stupid right but it was only the very tip and I stopped it so it hardly went in and it was like 3 sec at most. But later on we tried with a condom but he didn't really fully go in bc it hurt too much. But he had a condom at all times at that point. My period was so irregular that week. I don't want to take the Morning after pill or anything if not necessary but do you think I should? I don't know if I'm being paranoid bc my bf keeps telling me I should take it...technically I'm still a virgin bc he never went in fully bc it hurt me really bad so idk. What do you think i should do? I don't want to mess with my cycle even more. A couple months ago they found a very tiny cyst in my ovary and I didn't want to be put on bc to get rid of it but I assume it's what's causing my irregular periods and pelvic pains. I also want to mention it was the last day of my period I was hardly bleeding mostly spotting and after everything the spotting stopped. It usually happens normally like this but I can't help but wonder if it's bc of our attempt to have sex
July 6, 2015 - 7:26pmThis Comment
Hello, I was in a similar situation in which my girlfriend and I were making out in our underwear, I had boxers on, and she had knickers on, afterwards I noticed a few dots of precum at various places on my boxers, very small amounts, is there any chance of them getting her pregnant?
I understand from various research that is highly unlikely, but I am very paranoid and need advice. I am aware that precum carries very little sperm especially if you urinated since previous ejaculation. Also, in that it would have to find its way through my boxers and through her knickers then make the long journey to the egg, even typing this I can tell its highly unlikely, but doubt is and paranoia are flooding my mind now. Please some advice.
July 5, 2015 - 9:19amThis Comment
Hello. I know you get this kind of questions a lot, but the situation I'm in scares me a bit. Just like every other girl here, I was dry humping with my boyfriend, we had our clothes on and I am not sure if he ejaculated(he says he didn't but there was quite a big spot on his pants, very visible). Fifteen or twenty minutes later I got a discharge with blood in it, not too much but it was there. I don't know what is this. Is it because maybe it was too rough? The lower part of my belly hurts too. Should I be worried? I would like to add the fact that I am a virgin.
July 4, 2015 - 9:16amThis Comment
I will have been married 43 years this August and we have not had intercourse in many years due to my wife having vulvodynia -painful sex. Outercourse is a way to be intimate without intercourse and avoids the pain she experiences. I don't read much about this being an alternative when painful sex is an issue and I feel more examples and explanations of outercourse for this reason would be helpful.
July 2, 2015 - 11:56amThis Comment
Hello Sushma
June 30, 2015 - 6:26pmThank you for all the info. But just to ask you once,
Me and my boy friend were both wearing clothes had sexual things and were rubning our bodies against each other. During all this, there were clothes on.
I was wearing undies and a legin and he had cotton shorts and underwear. It's been a month since we had this and I'm still not having my periods.
Once we had done that I checked my pants. There were no dryness and he didn't ejacuate also.
I'm quite nervous for this. So, I wanted to describe my situation and wanted to ask your advice.
This Comment
Hi Susan me and my bf where making out one day and we got excited and he cmmed but we had clothing on he had boxer and shorts and I had underwear and pajama pants on i also released v
June 27, 2015 - 10:14amiginal fluid. He out paper on his penis to be safer. He also rubbed his hand on my area with the hand he didnt touch his penis. I was still wearing my clothing. After we did that i washed my hands just in case and the took a shower. I still haven't gotten my period and it's been 2 days and I only 3 days till the month ends. I have been very worried. Can you please tell me if I'm at risk of being pregnate. Thank you so much
This Comment
Hello Anonomus,
You were not at risk for becoming pregnant because you were both wearing clothing the entire time.
Relax because stressing over this can cause a delay in the start of your period.
Regards,
June 29, 2015 - 8:52amMaryann
This Comment
Hello, I was in a similar situation in which my girlfriend and I were making out in our underwear, I had boxers on, and she had knickers on, afterwards I noticed a few dots of precum at various places on my boxers, very small amounts, is there any chance of them getting her pregnant?
I understand from various research that is highly unlikely, but I am very paranoid and need advice. I am aware that precum carries very little sperm especially if you urinated since previous ejaculation. Also, in that it would have to find its way through my boxers and through her knickers then make the long journey to the egg, even typing this I can tell its highly unlikely, but doubt is and paranoia are flooding my mind now. Please some advice.
July 5, 2015 - 9:22amThis Comment