Pregnancy
How it happens
This is pretty basic, but in order to understand if you or your partner is at risk you need to understand the equipment and events that are involved in pregnancy. This is also helpful in understanding how birth control and emergency contraception work. Check out the link below.
A couple of important points: The 5 days leading up to ovulation and the 24 hours after ovulation are the times of highest risk for pregnancy. If you ovulate close to the end of your period, you might be in that window (though it’s unlikely; most folks are around 7-10 days later). The other risk is pre-ejaculate. Even if he didn’t cum inside of you, pre-ejaculate (precum) often contains small amounts of sperm. Sperm, whether from ejaculate or precum, can live in the vagina/uterus for 3-5 days, waiting for an egg.
How would I know if I have a cryptic pregnancy?
Cryptic pregnancy describes a pregnancy during which a person does not realize or does not acknowledge that they are pregnant. Many times, the individual does not recognize symptoms of pregnancy or does not experience typical symptoms of pregnancy. There are also reports that some women continue to have vaginal bleeding every month which is interpreted as a period. Hearing this tends to cause some panic in individuals who are sexually active, fear pregnancy and continue to have a period.
Here’s the thing to understand about cryptic pregnancies: it is a state of mind. Not knowing or not acknowledging pregnancy is a mental state, but the body is still growing a baby. This means that pregnancy tests will be positive and the doctor (if made aware of the possibility of pregnancy) would be able to find physical signs of a fetus. So if you are sexually active and worry about a cryptic pregnancy DESPITE a negative pregnancy test, don’t. It just won’t happen.
What are the chances?
We’re gonna break this down into a “choose your adventure” activity. Start here if you’re worried that you’ve done something that might cause pregnancy.
First question: what private parts were involved?
Penis and vagina: continue to next question
Penis and female anus: only in VERY limited circumstances is this a pregnancy risk, and that is if there was ejaculation and the semen spread to the vaginal opening. Skip to fourth question.
Any other combo: congrats! No risk!
Second question: was at least one individual wearing one layer of clothing?
Nope, totally naked: continue to next question
Yes (which implies there was no penetration): really, no risk (see question below).
Third question: was there vaginal penetration?
Nope, just touching: very, very minimal risk IF the penis was in the area of the vaginal opening and there was precum or ejaculation.
Yes: continue to next question.
Fourth question: did the person with the penis ejaculate?
Nope: there is still a risk of sperm getting into the vagina through precum. Next question.
Yes: continue to next question.
Fifth question: were you using some form of protection (condom and/or birth control)?
Nope: this is the riskiest scenario. See the previous question to know where in the menstrual cycle is the most likely to result in pregnancy.
Yes: good work! If you’re using birth control exactly as recommended, the chance of pregnancy is minimal. For more information on pregnancy risk rates with “typical use” (meaning, imperfect use), check out the following page:
Can sperm travel through clothing and get someone pregnant?
Great question. Here are the facts:
To cover our bases, medical professionals have to say that any time sperm is in contact with a vagina there is a chance of pregnancy. However, semen on clothing in the area of the vagina is not the same thing.
Zero studies out there have shown that sperm travels through clothing (whether that’s one layer or four).
Pregnancy occurs when sperm (found in semen) from a penis is inserted in the vagina. That sperm then travels up the vagina, through the cervix and into the uterus. That’s a long road, and if the sperm isn’t placed in the right spot it won’t make the trip. It’s kinda like standing across the street from a friend and saying, “Hey! Let’s high-five without crossing the street!” Not gonna happen.
Here’s the real risk of semen and clothing: take a piece of clothing that has been totally saturated (wet) with semen and rub it on the vaginal opening. Don’t do that.
Sperm survival
Whether it’s post-masturbation, post-hand job or an accidental orgasm, sperm won’t survive very long if left on the skin or other surfaces (like a towel or toilet seat). Most studies show that the sperm in semen die within 3-5 minutes of time spent outside of a body (meaning not inside a testicle or a vagina), and once that semen is dry the sperm is definitely dead.
Other things that kill sperm almost immediately: water (yep, just plain water), soap, hand sanitizer, chlorine in pools and hot tubs (sorry Glee fans).
How long does Plan B stay in your system?
Plan B should clear from your system within a couple of days, but the impact on your natural hormones can last a month or two. This will most likely cause some abnormal bleeding patterns (like spotting and irregular periods) until your hormones re-regulate. In fact, bleeding changes are the most common side effect of emergency contraceptive pills.
Whoops!
So you reviewed everything above and you think you might be at risk of having an unwanted pregnancy. What do you do?
First, don’t panic. If you’re within the first 3-5 days after having unprotected penis-to-vagina sex, you’re likely a good candidate for emergency contraception. Emergency contraception works by preventing ovulation (release of egg from ovary), fertilization (egg and sperm fuse) or implantation (fertilized egg getting stuck in uterus wall). There are actually a few forms of emergency contraception, but the morning-after pill (like Plan B and Julie) is the only type available without a doctor.
The morning-after pill is most effective if taken within the first 72 hours (or 3 days) after unprotected sex. Thereafter it is much less effective. You can get the morning-after pill at any drug store without a prescription. You might have to ask the pharmacist for it but it should be given to you without question. You WILL have to pay for it so I suggest asking your partner to chip in.