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

 
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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

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I was wearing a underwear and a pant but my gf was naked and i cummed is there a chances of her getting pregnant

October 4, 2017 - 8:44am
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hi Anon!


Thanks for your post!  Did you have sex ed at school? If not, it's a good idea to study on your own so you know how sex and the human body works. You can read books on this or search our own site. This will eliminate a lot of stress than the unknown can cause.

A woman cannot get pregnant unless she has unprotected sex (naked) with ejaculation. She would also have to be ovulating. Sperm will not travel through a layer of clothing to impregnate.


So a pregnancy cannot occur from what you did.


Best,

 

Susan


October 4, 2017 - 4:23pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi. Me and my girlfriend dry humped this september. I'm naked but she is wearing pants and underwear. She masturbated my penis and ejaculated on her arm and hands. Yet after that, she's been experiencing pregnancy symptoms and she's really paranoid about it. She's been having backaches, headaches, nausea, white discharge, cramps, sensitivity to smell, morning sickness and such. We tried doing some home pregnancy tests such as sugar and urine where the sugar mostly didnt dissolve and it means its a positive. Another is the bleach and urine where when mixed, creating a foam would mean positive. Ours resulted with no foam which means a negative but in other articles, its a positive. And lastly the soap and urine we stirred and formed bubbles, it is considered positive. Are these home tests reliable? My girlfriend is still a Virgin and the best we can do is dry humping. Is it possible that she is pregnant?

September 12, 2017 - 9:16pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Hi id like to ask, was she pregnant?

March 12, 2018 - 11:15am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

hello. My boyfriend and i have sex frequently. The only birth control we rely on is condoms. However, we are extremely careful while using it and we always make sure that he ejaculates outside. Today marks the 6th day after im supposed to get my period and i havent gotten my period yet. My boobs hurt and i have slight abdominal pain but not the pain im usually used to. Is there a chance that i might be pregnant? Please help me i'm freaking out

September 12, 2017 - 7:30am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

i have touched my penis on my girlfriend's panty during her periods days . does there any chance of pregnancy as her periods late by 10 days

September 11, 2017 - 7:23pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hi. Me and my girlfriend dry humped with clothes just this september yet she's been feeling dizzy even before she got to our home. We finished when she masturbated my penis and ejaculated on her elbow. Yet after that, she's bee experiencing pregnancy symptoms and she's really paranoid about it
She's been having backaches, headaches, nausea, white discharge, anf such. We tried pregnancy home remedies yet there are different results. Is it possible that her mind could be playing tricks on her because i know too myself that we still havent any penetrative intercourse. Her period is bound to be next next week and we're really hoping an answer thank you

September 7, 2017 - 6:22am
HERWriter Guide (reply to Anonymous)

Hello Anon

Your girlfriend can't get pregnant from ejaculation on her elbow - I'm going to assume both of you know that. I not sure what "different results" mean on a test. They are either positive or negative. 

Best,

Susan

September 7, 2017 - 1:58pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to SusanC)

Oh thank you so much mam. Oh another thing, how about her pregnancy symptoms? She's been having light cramps, sensitivity of smell, white discharge, and the others mentioned above. We really just need affirmation about her symptoms when she's actually not pregnant. And about the tests, we tried home made pregnancy tests. We used sugar, bleach, and soap. On the sugar, not most of the sugar dissolved saying its a positive. In.the bleach, when mixed with urine, shows no foam which means a negative on other articles and positive on others. And lastly, on the soap, when applied with urine it forms bubbles which means positive. Are these accurate?

September 7, 2017 - 5:39pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to SusanC)

Oh thank you so much. But how about her pregnancy symptoms ma'am? Is it possible that its only paranoia and stress that is causing her symptoms?

September 7, 2017 - 5:31pm
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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.

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