Material girl
Question
I feel a bit silly asking this, but I'd like to be reassured anyway. My boyfriend and I have decided not to have sex yet, but we have been doing other stuff, like touching and kissing. We worked out a system where he would wash his hands before fingering me, so this way I wouldn't be scared of getting pregnant. The last time we fooled around, though, I allowed him to finger me without him washing his hands. I'm just a bit worried that he might have brushed his hands against his pants, which were damp from his precum. Is it possible that a girl could get pregnant this way?
Answer
There is a risk of pregnancy if sperm comes into contact with the vagina in any way, including from sperm on fingers, so this wasn't a silly question to ask at all. Be reassured, though, that it's unlikely that sperm could pass through material onto your boyfriend's hands. Also sperm doesn't live for more than a couple of hours outside of the body.
It is important to remember that the penis leaks a few drops of semen (liquid containing sperm) as soon as it is hard, so there is a risk of pregnancy if the penis enters the vagina, even if the man doesn't ejaculate.
From the situation you describe, it doesn't sound like there's a risk of pregnancy, but if you think that sperm may have come into contact with your vagina, it's best to get checked out just in case. If you are concerned about this and it happened within the last five days, you should seek advice on emergency contraception as soon as possible.
If you are worried about pregnancy, or anything to do with sex and relationships, you might find it helpful to chat to your doctor (GP) or nurse at your nearest Brook Centre about it. If you're thinking about starting a sexual relationship you could also talk to them about your contraception choices.
Updated: 07/06/2011
Question answered by YouthNet in association with Brook
