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
I know this might be a silly question but i get really nervous and anxious to wear the same clothes i put on after i had sex because I fear i could get pregnant. If you have sex and then you put your clothes on right after, do you have to wash those clothes before you wear them again so that you make sure you do not get pregnant?
September 25, 2012 - 12:59pmThis Comment
Ok so me and my boyfriend were making out in a car and things got heated but I'm still a virgen..we nevet engaged in sexual intercourse we were just laying down,he never even dry humped me but after wards I decided to sit on his lap straddle position.. and I got wet from that and I felt something..I'm guessing he got hard so I immediately got off..we were completely clothed..a combination of 5 layers !and I went to the bathroom and saw alot of white creamy stuff on my panties.. . I've veen goin crazy to the thought of pregnancy ! So is there any chance I am ? And would I still be considered a virgen even though i somewhat felt his thing?
September 22, 2012 - 8:59pmThis Comment
Hi, my bf and i dry humped and i had a little cum in my underwear but i removed it as soon as i noticed it. could i be pregnant?
September 21, 2012 - 6:51pmThis Comment
Hello ripn,
No, once semen is dry the sperm die. I think you would benefit from reading some information on reproduction or how pregnancy happens.
Please take the time to visit the EmpowHER Sexual Health 101 resource page https://www.empowher.com/sexual-health-101.
Take a look at this slide show: Am I Pregnant? Myths and Facts About Sex https://www.empowher.com/pregnancy/content/am-i-pregnant-myths-and-facts...
Maryann
September 21, 2012 - 4:21pmThis Comment
Hi, if dry semen touch my hand to my girl friend hand and then touch her vagina himself. When vagina was some wet. Is it can pregnant?
September 21, 2012 - 12:13pmThis Comment
wait 4 ur reply
September 21, 2012 - 4:43amThis Comment
Hi, if dry semen touch my hand to my girl friend hand and then touch her vagina himself. When vagina was some wet. Is it can pregnant?
September 20, 2012 - 10:49pmThis Comment
Hello ripn,
Though your jeans were wet from semen, the actual sperm could not get through and onto her fingers. You can both stop worrying because there is no way she could have become pregnant.
Maryann
September 20, 2012 - 4:15pmThis Comment
Hi maryann, actually she touch my penis with jeans which was wet. After 5min she went bathroom for pee where she does not use any tissue. Touch her vagina with the hand to wash vagina after pee. I m so worrid. Plz give me reply. Plz
September 20, 2012 - 9:35amThis Comment
Hello ripn,
Do I have the facts correct: you were wearing jeans, your girlfriend rubbed your penis, urinated and wiped with her hands not toilet tissue? No, she cannot become pregnant from this?
Maryann
September 19, 2012 - 5:24pmThis Comment