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Question:
I want to know if it is possible to become pregnant by having unprotected anal sex?
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Answer:
by Annette Owens: (06/05/2004)
You said in your additional information that you think this is a dumb question considering ones anatomy, however, you are worried that it may somehow be possible to become pregnant anyway. I am glad you asked this question, and it is not at all a dumb one.
Obviously, you cannot get pregnant from anal sex alone. The only way you could become pregnant were if sperm somehow entered your vagina at or around the time of ovulation. This could theoretically happen if sperm leaked out of your anus after anal sex, and if you continued sex play which involved putting his or your finger in your vagina. Sperm could then enter your vagina and make you pregnant.
Another thing to consider is precum: Let me start out explaining what precum is and where it comes from (also called pre-ejaculate or pre-seminal fluid). The fluid contained in the ejaculate comes from different sources. Sperm is produced in the testes and transported through the vas deferens to a storage chamber located behind the bladder. Neighboring glands (the seminal vesicles) produce and secrete a significant volume of fluid. Even more fluid is produced in the prostate, and finally, several glands along the urethra also secrete fluids. All these different fluids together make up the ejaculate.
When a man gets aroused, and before he ejaculates, drops of fluid secreted by some of the mentioned glands are released at the top of the penis. This is called precum, and the amount varies between individuals and according to conditions, depending on general health, the level of arousal, and the time since the last ejaculation. Precum serves as a lubricant for intercourse, and it possibly facilitates fertilization by changing the vaginal pH, creating a more sperm-friendly environment. In general, a man can produce precum at any time from the point he becomes sexually aroused until the time he ejaculates. There is no standard interval of time between the initiation of precum and ejaculation.
Only on occasion does precum contain some sperm. Although rare, pregnancies due to precum have been reported. Therefore, even though the chances are small, a woman can get pregnant if precum has entered her vagina.
Finally, I do want to point out that it is recommended to use condoms for anal sex as well as vaginal intercourse. Condoms can prevent pregnancy as well as transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, which also can be contracted through anal sex.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
Annette Owens, MD PhD
Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team
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