Yes, you can get pregnant without having penetrative sex — but it's extremely rare
- You could become pregnant without having penetrative sex if live sperm enters the body via ejaculation on fingers or a sex toy.
- If you find penetrative sex painful, you can still become pregnant using fertility treatments.
- To prevent unwanted pregnancies it's important to use a form of birth control like an IUD or the pill.
- This article was medically reviewed by Sherry A. Ross, MD, OB/GYN a women's health expert in Santa Monica, California and author of she-ology and she-ology. the she-quel.
Penetrative sex is the most likely cause of pregnancy, but it's not the only one.
"I know of no cases of this happening, but theoretically, it is possible for pregnancy to occur without penetrative sexual intercourse," says Felice Gersh, MD, an OB/GYN and founder of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine. "For that to occur, viable sperm must reach the egg. This requires sperm to enter the vagina, the cervix, the uterus and the Fallopian tubes."
Here's the breakdown of how pregnancy happens, and the likelihood of becoming pregnant without having penetrative sex.
How do you get pregnant, anyway?
In the most basic terms, pregnancy occurs when a mature egg released from an ovary during ovulation is fertilized by a sperm.
Typically, someone's ovaries contain around 300,000 eggs by the time they hit puberty. Roughly 300 to 500 of these eggs will mature over that person's lifetime. Egg maturation is triggered by hormones, and while hundreds of eggs start to mature during each menstrual cycle, only one egg will become "dominant" and fully mature. Once it's mature, the egg is released into the Fallopian tube.
The mature egg can then be fertilized by a sperm cell, which creates a zygote — a fertilized egg cell. After fertilization, the zygote needs to successfully implant into the uterine lining, where it can continue to grow and develop into an embryo.
Individuals can become pregnant by having vaginal sexual intercourse, or undergoing fertility treatments in a clinical setting. You cannot get pregnant from oral sex, and the only way to become pregnant from anal sex is if sperm is accidentally transferred from the anus to the vagina.
Only sexual intercourse between a person who produces sperm and a person with functioning ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and a uterus can result in pregnancy. Timing matters, too — there are only about six days per menstrual cycle when a mature egg can be fertilized by a sperm. That's because healthy sperm can live up to 5 days in the reproductive tract even though a mature egg is only viable for 24 hours.
Data suggests that the likelihood of conceiving after one month of unprotected intercourse is approximately 25%. This increases to 85% to 90% after twelve months.
You can become pregnant without having penetrative sex
Pregnancy can theoretically happen whenever a sperm and mature egg come into contact, not just during sexual intercourse. For example, if live sperm enters the body via ejaculation on fingers or a sex toy, pregnancy could occur. But, Gersh described this as "exceptionally rare," noting that she's never seen a case.
Gersh adds: "There is also the unlikely potential for sperm to fertilize an egg if the male ejaculates at the vaginal entrance or if pre-ejaculate is deposited there." Pre-ejaculate is a fluid released from the penis during sex, and, while studies are mixed, experts think it's possible for some live sperm to be present in pre-ejaculate fluid.
Still, "the chance that pregnancy will occur is exceptionally low when intercourse does not occur," Gersh says.
It's also likely that varying definitions of sex can contribute to stories of people getting pregnant "without having sex." For example, if someone defines sex as penetrative sex where both partners orgasm, it's still entirely possible for pregnancy to occur without this happening. Female orgasm isn't necessary for pregnancy, and while pregnancy is more common if a male orgasms and ejaculates, it is not required.
How to get pregnant without penetrative sex
If you're trying to get pregnant but penetrative sex is painful for you, then you may want to consider alternative options. One clear situation in which you could get pregnant without penetrative sex is through fertility treatments. Two common procedures are:
- IUI (intrauterine insemination), which is when sperm is collected into a sterile container, washed, and concentrated, and then placed into the uterus during ovulation.
- IVF (in vitro fertilization), which is when eggs and sperm are separately harvested and exposed to each other in a petri dish to see if fertilization occurs. If fertilization occurs, one or more embryos is then placed into the uterus .
How to prevent unwanted pregnancies by practicing safe sex
Following safe sex guidelines can drastically lower the likelihood of unintended pregnancy occurring. When used correctly, birth control is extremely effective. Common options include:
- An Intrauterine Device (IUD). An IUD is a small, t-shaped device that a physician inserts into the uterus. Currently, two types are available: a copper IUD that is non-hormonal, and the hormonal–levonorgestrel IUD. Copper IUDs are effective for up to 10 years, and hormonal IUDs for three to five. The chances of becoming pregnant with an IUD is between 0.1% and 0.8%.
- Birth control pills. Oral contraceptives are 99% effective when used correctly. However, proper use entails taking the pill every single day at the same time. Because it's easy to forget or miss pills, stats suggest that the pill is about 91% effective across all users.
- Condom use. When used correctly, condoms are approximately 98% effective in preventing pregnancy. They also protect against sexually-transmitted infections unlike other birth control options. However, for optimal protection, pair condoms with another form of birth control.
Other methods of contraception include contraceptive implants, shots, skin patches, vaginal rings, and abstaining from sex.
The bottom line
Ultimately, while conception from non-penetrative sex is extremely rare, it is possible. Gersh describes it as "not a serious worry," but notes that "having sex just outside the vagina can quickly evolve into penetrative sex, and so in that way, unintended pregnancies occur."
In order to prevent unintended pregnancies, experts recommend researching birth control methods and finding something that works best for you.