One of the most frequent questions that visitors have been asking lately on the website of the Bogolyuby Medical Center is: “Can I get pregnant from petting ?” Getting pregnant from caresses is unlikely, but under certain circumstances it is possible. In this article we will try to understand the above issue in more detail.
What exactly is petting ? In English " to pet means "to stroke". During caresses, physical contact occurs between partners. Petting looks like a gentle foreplay. Stimulation, hugs, much is possible , except for the sexual act itself. Simply put, petting is love play without sex.
When can pregnancy occur?
Pregnancy occurs when a sperm meets an egg. Since there is no vaginal penetration during caresses, the likelihood of pregnancy is very low. However, it is not absolutely impossible for a woman to conceive during petting . This should be understood and taken into account if pregnancy is not in your immediate plans.
How to get pregnant during petting? On the days of ovulation, cervical mucus is produced in the female body (namely, in the cervix) and removed from the vagina. If sperm come into contact with mucus at the moment of greatest intimacy without penetration, there is a chance that they will “get” through the vagina to the egg. This is due to the fact that cervical mucus can serve as a kind of “elevator” for motile sperm, which will help them rise upward. Thus, whether a woman can become pregnant through petting largely depends on where exactly the sperm ends up.
Is it possible to get pregnant from pre-ejaculatory secretions? During male arousal, so-called pre-ejaculatory fluid is formed, which may also contain a certain amount of sperm. Since theoretically one sperm is enough to fertilize an ovarian cell, in very rare cases a woman can actually become pregnant through this secretion. Therefore, for conception to occur, a man does not have to ejaculate .
how high the probability of getting pregnant from pre-seminal fluid during petting is, but in principle it is possible.
What are the risks of pregnancy from manual stimulation or anal sex?
Sperm cannot move across the skin (without cervical mucus), so they cannot move to the vaginal opening on their own. Fabric (such as underwear) also forms a barrier in which sperm are more likely to get stuck and dry out. However, if, as mentioned above, they connect with the cervical mucus through finger movements, then theoretically you can get pregnant.
What are the risks of petting? Even if petting seems like an erotic practice with no health consequences, it is always important to pay attention to safety when talking about sexual practices. It is important to keep in mind that the chances of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection here are not zero.
Through oral sex or contact with the mucous membranes of the genitals (without penetration), although less frequently, you can still become infected with genital herpes, urinary tract infections, candidiasis, gonorrhea and even HIV.
Petting during pregnancy
Petting without full penetration can be a safe and satisfying practice during pregnancy. According to research, many women find that such caresses not only provide physical pleasure, but also contribute to emotional well-being during pregnancy. Petting is an experience that brings a couple together and that gives certain discoveries about your own sexual fantasies and the sexual fantasies of your partner.