Conception Myths: Experts Say Women Can Get Pregnant From 'Dry Humping'

You can get pregnant even with your clothes on. Experts said men can accidentally impregnate women even if they're just dry humping.

Dry humping, or outercourse, is when a man and woman grind their private parts against each other without penetration and while wearing underwear. According to experts, women can get pregnant from dry humping if the semen of her male partner comes into contact with her vagina by soaking through underwear, the Daily Mail reported from Family Planning NSW.

The incidence of getting pregnant from dry humping may be possible, but it's extremely rare. Romper wrote that many teenagers use dry humping as sexual experimentation, though adults also do it because they think it's a safe method to express desire while lowering the risk of pregnancy.

READ ALSO: 6 Interesting Facts About Breastfeeding and Sex

The Situation Varies

The Coalition for Positive Sexuality said sperm cannot swim or travel through people's clothes. This means that as long as couples have jeans or underwear on while they're dry humping, they are safe from pregnancy. But penises and sperm get too close to the vagina if a woman's underwear gets pushed aside, making the prospect of conception likely.

Sexual health educator Dr. Debby Herbenick said sperm can travel inside the vagina if a man ejaculates inside the vaginal entrance or somewhere close to it, Kinsey Confidential reported. This proves that birth control methods are always better options when it comes to avoiding pregnancy.

Other Misconceptions About Pregnancy

Some people believe that breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive and protects women from getting pregnant, but experts said this is untrue, the Daily Mail further reported. Breastfeeding up to six months after birth doesn't lower the chances of conception either.

The rhythm or calendar method is also an unreliable way when it comes to avoiding pregnancy. With this, couples avoid having sex during a woman's fertile cycle. However, experts said women can still get pregnant at all times during their monthly cycles even while they are menstruating.

Another misconception about pregnancy is the pull-out method used by men. According to NSW Health, women can get pregnant even when the penis is pulled out from her vagina before ejaculation. This is because penises excrete small amounts of semen through pre-ejaculation fluid, which goes into the vagina.

It's also untrue that having sex every day increases the chances of conceiving. Parents.com wrote that having sex multiple times a day wouldn't result in a pregnancy if a woman isn't ovulating. Also, a man can lower his normal sperm count if he ejaculates several times a day, making impregnating a woman less likely.