How You Can And Can't Get Pregnant

So how can and can’t you get pregnant questions…

1.      My boyfriend wasn’t wearing a condom, could I get pregnant if he pulled out?

2.      Can my girlfriend get pregnant during anal sex?

3.      If I have a condom on, can I still get pregnant?

4.      Can I get pregnant from oral sex, even if he goes in my mouth?

5.      Can a girl get pregnant even if she is not ovulating?

6.      If he ejaculates on his finger and then fingers me, can I get pregnant?

7.      Could I get pregnant while on the pill?

8.      Pregnant? Guy Came In My Mouth = Kissed Him + He Gives Me Oral?

9.      Can I pregnant from a toilet seat?

Here are the ins and outs of pregnancy.  Read more on the myths and facts about getting pregnant…

Let’s start with a basic orientation on how a woman gets pregnant • the sperm has to meet the egg and then the egg implants itself into the uterus.  Sperm are tough creatures whose sole mission is to make its way to the fallopian tube and join with an egg.   Each tiny droplet of semen contains thousands of sperm.  Sperm has to be wet to be alive.  Once sperm dries up, it is no longer viable. 

So let’s clear up some of these questions & myths about getting pregnant… 

1. My boyfriend wasn’t wearing a condom, could I get pregnant if he pulled out?

Absolutely - Withdrawing is not a method of birth control!  Withdrawing only prevents the women from the male’s ejaculation.  It does nothing for the pre-ejaculatory fluids which most men cannot even feel and is expelled from the penis naturally during sexual activity.  Pre-ejaculatory fluids absolutely contain sperm which can cause pregnancy.  Again and very important, each tiny droplet of semen in pre-ejaculatory fluids can contain thousands of sperm.

2. Can my girlfriend get pregnant during anal sex?

YES - There is a good chance a girl can get pregnant if ejaculation occurs close to the vaginal area.  Anal sex poses a high risk for both pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted disease.  The tissue around the anal area is very susceptible to damage and disease transmission, so you need to be just as careful, if not more than during vaginal intercourse. You should always use a condom and be safe especially when having anal sex.

3. If I have a condom on, can I still get pregnant?

Condoms if used correctly are an excellent method of birth control and STD prevention.  In fact, most family planning centers recommend that a male use a condom from the very beginning (once the penis becomes hard) to end of each sexual experience.  Also, they recommend an additional method of birth control like the pill or another hormone based method. For more information on how to use a condom correctly, please check out FX’s answer to “How Can Cum Escape Condom?”

4. Can I get pregnant from oral sex, even if he goes in my mouth?

You cannot get pregnant by swallowing semen.  However, if for some reason, the semen from your mouth ends up in the vagina then the possibility exists that pregnancy can happen.  It is probably best not to have semen in your mouth from an STD prevention standpoint.  Semen and the mouth are excellent modes of transmission for STDs.

5. Can a girl get pregnant if she is not ovulating?

No • Technically, a female has to ovulate (produce an egg) in order to get pregnancy.  However, the problem lies in the female’s ability to identify when she is ovulating.  Most women cannot tell when they are ovulating and rely on the rhythm or a calendar-based method.  This can work well for some women but when a teen-aged girl first gets her period, it takes time for the body to regulate itself and get on fairly reliable schedule.  THIS IS NOT A RECCOMMEDNED METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL!  And, it is the one that is most often messed up.

6. If he ejaculates on his finger and then fingers me, can I get pregnant?

YES • If there is wet or moist semen on his hand while he is fingering you then there is a possibility of pregnancy.

7. Can I get pregnant while on the pill?

It Depends!

The pill if used correctly is an extremely reliable method of pregnancy prevention.  The key is to take it correctly • exactly as directed.  The general directions are to take 1 pill each day, at the same time of day.  If a person takes it as directed and has not missed any pills, then the chances of becoming pregnant are very unlikely. If a person takes pills incorrectly or have missed pills and not used a backup method of protection then your chances of becoming pregnant are certainly greater.

8. Pregnant? Guy Came In My Mouth = Kissed Him + He Gives Me Oral?

A lot has to happen for a female to get pregnant this way but a relatively small chance exists that you could become pregnant. 

9. Can I get pregnant while in a hot tub?

Can I get pregnant in a shower?

YES AND NO –

YES • If the male ejaculated inside the female.  The sperm never hits the outside heat and it swims up the fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg.

NO - If the sperm was released into the water, there is an extremely small, small possibility that a female could get pregnant.

Again, either way sperm are very tough creatures whose sole mission is to make its way to the fallopian tube and join with an egg. A bath may not be a friendly environment for sperm but when you consider that the tiniest droplet of semen contains thousands of sperm, one of these really energetic sperm could reach their mark.

There is a false assumption out there that if you have sex in a hot tub that the heat will kill the sperm. Anytime you ejaculate inside a woman there is always a risk of pregnancy. Furthermore having sex in water does not protect you from sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy.

10. Can I get pregnant from a toilet seat?

Although it is extremely unlikely that a woman could get pregnant from a toilet seat, the possibility exists.  Sperm is alive as long as it is moist. Once it dries up, it is no longer a threat. Anytime live sperm comes in contact with the vagina there is a chance pregnancy could occur.  So for pregnancy to occur there would have to be live sperm on the toilet seat, it would have to enter the woman's vagina and that woman would have to be extremely fertile.  A lot needs to be happen but it is possible.

More importantly then how you get pregnant is the idea of how to prevent pregnancy and not get yourself in the situation where you will need to worry about if you or your girlfriend will become pregnant.  In addition to the facts and myths about getting pregnant, let’s also not forget Sexually Transmitted Diseases as well.  If you believe you are ready and responsible enough to have sex, then you need to be ready and responsible enough to protect yourself   As always FX recommends that you remain abstinent and delay sex for as long as possible.  However, if you feel you are ready to have sex, then please be responsible and practice safer sex by using a condom and a second method of birth control like the pill.  For information on method of birth control, please see our question Birth Control Methods.

No conversation about pregnancy and birth control would be complete with FX recommending that you visit a doctor before you become sexually active. If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-6475 for an appointment or contact your local teen health center or Planned Parenthood. You can also contact your insurance company for a list of in-network providers.