Some people dream of pregnancy, while others, on the contrary, believe that it is too early for this event to occur. In the second case, couples use various means of contraception. In addition, they are interested in in what cases there is a likelihood of conception. For example, such couples may wonder whether it is possible to get pregnant from the mucus that men secrete during sexual arousal.
Many couples protect themselves by interrupting sexual intercourse; some use the calendar to calculate the so-called “safe” days on which the woman’s body cannot conceive a child. In the first case, the contraceptive method may not be effective if the partner is ovulating. In the second case, the woman must have a regular cycle, otherwise it is impossible to accurately calculate “safe” days.
Types of sexual fluid
Before getting an answer to the question of whether it is possible to get pregnant from lubricant, discharge, or mucus from a partner, you should understand their types. In total, there are three types of male discharge:
- sperm;
- lubricant;
- smegma.
Seminal fluid, known as semen or male ejaculate, is a cloudy, liquid, viscous substance that is released by a man during orgasm accompanied by ejaculation. It has fertilizing properties. With unprotected sexual intercourse, there is a high probability of pregnancy.
Male lubricant or pre-ejaculate is a transparent liquid with a viscous consistency, secreted from the urethra when a man is highly aroused and prepares for intercourse. The Cooper and Littre glands are responsible for the production of pre-semen. Male lubricant performs a protective function, preventing the aggressive effects of urine on the male seed. During sexual intercourse, it promotes better penetration of the phallus into the vagina. The released pre-ejaculate can pick up from the urethra the remains of sperm that have lingered in the urethra after previous ejaculation. Thus, male lubricant can indirectly affect the onset of pregnancy.
Smegma is a mixture of sebum and keratinized epithelium of the foreskin. With insufficient hygiene, it accumulates in the prepuce sac and has a whitish color. Does not promote fertilization.
What does the lubricant consist of?
During sex or in case of strong arousal, a man secretes lubricant. Otherwise, in more scientific words, it is called pre-ejaculate . This process occurs to maintain the life of sperm. In other words, without lubrication, sperm died as they passed through the urethra. As a rule, the amount of this lubricant secreted depends only on the man’s lifestyle. Scientists have proven that the minimum secretion of this fluid is 3 ml, and the maximum is 6 ml.
But not everyone knows why this liquid is needed. As already mentioned, lubricant supports the life of sperm, which means that it is this process that contributes to the conception of a child. In more detail, lubricant is secreted to destroy the acidic environment in the urethra directly in the man’s penis.
Pre-ejaculation also plays an important role in a woman’s vagina during discharge. There is an acidic environment in the female vagina, and without the release of lubrication from a man, a woman could not become pregnant.
Another fact is that it is the lubricant that softens the pain when a man’s penis enters the vagina, otherwise a woman simply would not be able to endure such pain.
The likelihood of conception from pre-ejaculate
Many girls who are just starting to be sexually active are interested in the question of how big is the chance of getting pregnant from a guy’s lubricant. The controversy surrounding this issue has been going on for a long time. Some medical experts argue that conception from pre-ejaculate is impossible, while others support the theory that a small amount of seminal fluid entering the lubricant contributes to the onset of fertilization.
Sperm retained in the urethra are able to maintain their viability for another 3-5 days. Thus, with unprotected sexual intercourse during this time period, there is a possibility of pregnancy. The risk increases several times if a girl or woman begins to ovulate. This means that a mature egg that has left the ovary can meet in the fallopian tube with a sperm that has entered from the pre-ejaculate, resulting in fertilization. However, the likelihood of this is negligible. The whole point is that over such a long period of time as 3-5 days, the sperm that enter the urethra will be washed out with urine.
To the question in what cases pregnancy from lubricant can still occur, there is only one answer. There is a high risk of conception if one sexual act follows another. The interruption method in this case is not effective, since part of the seminal fluid will remain in the urethra and then enter the vagina during intercourse.
Is it possible to get pregnant without penetration?
Most young girls, together with their sexual partners, practice a form of sexual relations called petting. This type of sexual activity includes kissing, stroking, stimulation of erogenous zones, rubbing of the genitals, etc. Petting does not involve penetration of the penis into the vagina, but its head may touch the labia majora and minora.
Expert opinion
Elena Belova
Sexologist with 28 years of experience
The onset of ejaculation in a man during deep petting does not lead to pregnancy in a woman, even if the seminal fluid ends up on the labia. This is due to the fact that sperm are not able to reach the cervix on their own, since the vaginal mucous plug gets in their way.
However, there are cases where pregnancy did occur during petting. Unconventional group sex can lead to unplanned conception. For example, in the case when part of the male sperm got onto the external genitalia of one of the partners, after which she had sex with another girl. During genital friction, part of the ejaculate can penetrate the vagina, and can lead to an unplanned pregnancy.
Vaginal lubricants: description of varieties
There are the following types of intimate gel-lubricants for women:
Water based
These funds are especially popular. Their main component – water – is hypoallergenic. Water-based lubricants for women are compatible with condoms, do not stain bedding, are not sticky and are easily washed off with water after sexual intercourse. Their only drawback - relatively fast adsorption - is easy to deal with: you just need to periodically apply a small amount of lubricant during sexual intercourse as it dries.
When choosing a water-based lubricant, it is advisable to clarify in advance whether it contains glycerin. According to some studies, this substance in combination with water can disrupt the normal microflora of the vagina and cause the development of a yeast infection.
Silicone based
The main component of such products is silicone oil, which provides good glide, a long-lasting effect due to slow absorption and the ability to have sex in water. Thanks to easy sliding, they can be used for anal sex. However, silicone lubricants are difficult to wash off. They are also not compatible with many sex toys made from silicone.
When there is a high risk of conception
It is almost impossible to get pregnant from a man's lubricant, but from seminal fluid regularly secreted from the urethra during a disease such as spermatorrhea, it is quite possible. If a partner has this pathology, a woman can easily confuse pre-ejaculate with released sperm. In this case, the release of ejaculate occurs not only during orgasm, but also at the slightest excitement of the man.
A large amount of secretion from a partner before sexual intercourse should alert the girl, since there is a high probability that he has spermatorrhea. The main reason for this pathology lies in the weakening of the pelvic muscles. The disease can occur not only in older men, but also in young people. Predisposing factors to the occurrence of spermatorrhea include genetics, prolonged sexual abstinence, prostatitis, impotence, and injuries to the pelvic organs. If your partner has this pathology, you should completely exclude pregnancy from lubrication.
Another reason for fertilization to occur after intercourse is the “mistake” of the partner. Often men who are not particularly experienced in this matter do not have time to remove the penis from the vagina in time, so some of the seminal fluid still gets inside. The partner may not say anything about this to the woman, and the risk of pregnancy is very high. For this reason, many experts in the field of sexology do not recommend resorting to this method due to its low effectiveness. In addition, frequent interrupted sexual intercourse can lead to serious health problems for men, including spermatorrhea.
Lubricants for pregnancy planning
Intimate lubricants contribute to the conception of a child due to the beneficial properties present in the composition. At the same time, lubricants also have disadvantages.
Benefit
Intimate gels have the following positive properties when used:
- protect the vaginal mucosa from microcracks during intercourse;
- reduce irritation in the intimate area;
- improve friction between the genitals;
- reduce the risk of infections entering the body;
- reduce pain during intercourse;
- make sexual contact comfortable.
Harm
Along with their advantages, lubricants have a negative effect in the following situations:
- reducing the movement of the sperm tail, which prevents possible conception;
- provoking an allergic reaction due to the esters (parabens) present in the composition;
- possible influence on the development of vaginal candidiasis (thrush) due to the presence of glycerin in the composition of some products.
How to reduce risks
If, nevertheless, partners prefer to practice interrupted coitus, they should follow a few tips.
Expert opinion
Elena Belova
Sexologist with 28 years of experience
Before intercourse begins, the partner should be asked to take a shower and thoroughly wash the urogenitals.
If a second sexual intercourse is expected after one, the man should urinate after the first. This simple method will allow you to wash out the remaining seminal fluid from the urethra and several times reduce the chances of your partner becoming pregnant. Using a condom during repeated sexual intercourse will also help prevent sperm residue from entering the vagina.
After sex is completed, it is recommended not only for men, but also for women to empty their bladder. This will reduce the likelihood of pregnancy, even if some of the seminal fluid gets inside.
Why is the interrupt method so popular?
Despite the unreliability of this method against pregnancy, interruption of sexual intercourse is very popular, especially among young people just starting sexual activity. This is primarily due to the fact that this method is completely free, and also does not require taking pills, which can be dangerous for the female body, especially at a young age.
Another reason why many couples are inclined to this unreliable method is the intensity of sensations in both sexual partners.
Disadvantages of coitus interruptus
One of the main disadvantages of the method is its low efficiency, in which there is a high chance of seminal fluid penetrating into the woman’s fallopian tube. In most cases, a partner cannot become pregnant from lubricant, but there is no guarantee that part of the ejaculate did not get inside, especially if the man has all the symptoms of spermatorrhea.
Another disadvantage of this method is the potential harm to the male body, which can subsequently affect the health of the pelvic organs and reproductive dysfunction.
Pregnancy from a finger with lubricant on it
Another interesting way of conception, which seems incredible, but, nevertheless, quite possible, is from a finger on which there was lubricant. There are known cases of girls becoming pregnant at the age of 14, who categorically denied sexual intercourse, but, nevertheless, the rapidly growing belly spoke for itself. How could this happen? It's all about male lubricant, which the partners, in their simplicity of heart, did not consider necessary to wash off their hands.
Of course, the likelihood of conception from lubrication, even without full penetration, is very low, but several factors that coincide can lead to conception:
- lubricant got into the vagina to a great depth, and just a few minutes after ejaculation,
- there was a lot of seminal fluid,
- the partner was ovulating at this time,
- sperm were quite active.
If all these factors coincide, you won’t be able to get away with it—pregnancy will most likely occur.
Proven ways to prevent pregnancy
The safest and most proven way to protect against unwanted pregnancy is barrier contraception. Condoms are very popular. If a guy or man categorically refuses to use this method, the partner can take care of her protection in advance and purchase female condoms. This type of contraception will not only protect against unwanted conception, but also prevent infection with sexually transmitted infections.
For older girls, there are methods of contraception such as the IUD and hormonal pills. These methods, like others, do not provide a 100% guarantee, but are considered one of the most reliable and reduce the likelihood of conception several times.
The risk of pregnancy always exists, regardless of the method of birth control for partners. For this reason, many couples often practice withdrawal, considering it the safest alternative to preventing pregnancy. Experts in the field of sexology and urology are categorically against this method and strongly recommend resorting to more reliable and safer means of contraception. However, most couples are not going to completely abandon the conservative method of preventing pregnancy.
