Many young women worry about getting pregnant the first time they have sex. However, there are times of the month when pregnancy is more likely, and using contraception can decrease your chances of getting pregnant.
It is important to know your menstrual cycle so you can have sex at the right time. You can do this by tracking your cervical mucus or using an ovulation kit.
How do you get pregnant?
There’s a lot that goes into getting pregnant. First and foremost, you and your partner have to choose the right method of contraception. And then there’s the timing of sex, which can play a big role in conceiving. To maximize your chances of pregnancy, it’s best to have sex during the window of time when you’re most fertile.
That means getting to know your menstrual cycle and tracking ovulation. You’re most fertile during the short window each month before and after ovulation, which typically occurs about days 12 to 14 of a 28-day cycle. Ovulation can occur even earlier if your menstrual cycle is shorter. It’s also important to track your cervical mucus and basal body temperature, as they’re both indicative of ovulation.
And while there are a lot of myths out there about what’s the best position for sex, you don’t need to do anything fancy. Sperm are pretty quick swimmers, and they can reach the cervix in any position. That said, certain positions like the missionary and woman-on-top poses may discourage them from swimming upstream, which could reduce your chances of conceiving. So if you want to maximize your chances of pregnancy, stick with the missionary and flat on the back position. And of course, make sure to use a good-quality lubricant, as some ingredients like petroleum, silicone and parabens can interfere with sperm function.
What are the best positions for sex?
When it comes to sex, the positions you use are crucial. Different positions give you the opportunity to stimulate erogenous zones in different ways and to increase intimacy, which can make for a more intense experience.
Here are some of the best sex positions for getting pregnant:
1. Cowgirl
The penetrating partner sits upright in bed or a chair, and the partner being penetrated climbs on top, facing them and straddling them with one knee on either side of their thighs, like an inverted missionary. This position offers direct clitoral stimulation and allows the partners to move together in a tight embrace, which can feel extra intimate.
2. Doggy style
Moore and Berkheimer recommend a classic, doggy-style position that can be used for vaginal or anal penetration. This position lets you stimulate your clitoris and many other erogenous areas at once, which makes it super versatile. Plus, it’s a great position for beginners who want to ease into oral sex without having to go all the way in with hard thrusting right away.
3. Queening
This sexy position is perfect for people who want to try out oral sex but don’t want to do full-on intercourse. It’s easy for beginners to master, and it gives you the opportunity to stimulate a few different erogenous zones at once. Plus, it’s a great pose for easing into deep kissing and eye contact, both of which can increase intimacy and oxytocin production, which promotes bonding.
Can you get pregnant if your partner’s sperm touches the outside of your vagina?
There’s a chance you can get pregnant the first time you have sex, especially if you are ovulating. This is why it’s important to use condoms or any other form of birth control. If you’re unsure whether you’re ovulating, it’s best to use a pregnancy test.
Sperm need to enter the vagina to fertilize an egg, but even just touching it is enough to cause a pregnancy. You can also get pregnant if you have oral sex and there’s semen on your tongue or on your mouth. But remember that oral sex spreads other kinds of STIs as well, so it’s not the best way to get pregnant.
However, the likelihood of getting pregnant from a kiss, even without any contact with the penis or vagina, is low. That’s because sperm only survive outside the body for a short amount of time. And if the semen is wet, it’s more likely to have the right chemical makeup to fertilize an egg than dry semen.
The best way to prevent pregnancy is to have sex that coincides with your ovulation window, which lasts for about 6 days each month. Ovulation is the point when a mature egg is released from an ovary. The egg then travels down the fallopian tubes to meet sperm and become a baby. During this time, you’re most fertile.
Can you get pregnant if your partner’s sperm touches the inside of your vagina?
The most common way to get pregnant is for sperm to enter the vagina and fertilize an egg. This happens most often during a short window of time each month when the egg is most fertile, which occurs about 12 to 14 days before the next period begins.
Pregnancy is less likely to happen if sperm only touches the outside of the body or is wiped away, but it’s still possible. For example, it’s not uncommon for a person to accidentally touch semen with their hands and then put those hands on the vulva. It’s also possible for sperm to enter the vagina by wiping the area with a cloth or other material. This is known as oral sex and it can cause pregnancy and STDs.
It’s even more unlikely to become pregnant if the semen is exposed to warm water for more than a few seconds. In a bath or hot tub, sperm are likely to die within minutes. If the sperm comes in contact with an orgasm, there’s a higher chance of pregnancy, but it’s still not very likely. You can lower the risk of this by using a condom and staying on your back after ejaculation. This gives the sperm more time in your vagina and makes it harder for them to escape. Doing the opposite, like douching or washing, won’t lower the chance of pregnancy and can actually lead to vaginal infections.