Can You Get Pregnant With Precum?

Pregnancy test with picture of ultrasound.

There are a number of situations or circumstances related to intercourse that leave people with many questions.


These are just some of the questions people ask as they engage in sex or other acts of intimacy.

So, Can You Get Pregnant with Precum?

Precum is more accurately known as pre-ejaculate fluid. This is a bodily fluid that is released from the penis during intercourse.

Most men don’t even notice discharging precum when it happens.Click To Tweet

More importantly, men do not have any control over it. Early understandings on precum once were that sperm is expected to be part of the fluid.

Further investigation revealed that the majority of pre-ejaculate fluid had dead or no sperm at all.

It is possible for small amounts of sperm to exit your reproductive system and make its way into the precum or pre-ejaculate.

Can you get pregnant with precum?  The common answer is no; however, women around the world have become pregnant from precum, and thus we cannot rule out the possibility.

There are rare cases where living sperm can be present in the precum and conception subsequently possible. Precum is one reason that we suggest that all couples who are not trying to get pregnant use a condom the whole time there is penetration (when the penis enters the vagina).

Illustration of Multicolored Sperm

Can You Get Pregnant Without Penetration?



For all practical purposes, you cannot get pregnant without penetration. However, if ejaculate fluid/semen comes in contact with the vagina even without penetration, it is possible that sperm could enter and fertilize an egg.

This is extremely unlikely, but it is technically possible. This is why we suggest that one or both involved persons keep a layer of clothing on (to trap any potential fluids from the male) or to wear a condom the whole time there is genital contact.

Can You Get Pregnant While Grinding?

Similar to sexual contact without penetration, grinding is a form of intimacy that involves going through the motions of having sex without penetration.

Grinding can occur fully dressed, nude, or more frequently in underwear. Getting pregnant while grinding is highly unlikely.

There is very little chance of conception, particularly in fully clothed partners.

The chances, although still slim, go up slightly when you grind while in underwear and even more so if you grind while nude.

As noted above, for conception to be a possibility sperm has to come in contact with the vaginal opening/canal.

If you are grinding in underwear, there is a remote chance that semen could seep through the underwear and gain access to your vaginal canal. This is highly doubtful but possible.

The chances of conception go up even further if you are grinding in the nude. When he ejaculates and it lands on your stomach or thighs, it is possible that the fluid could slide close enough to your vaginal opening to gain access to your vaginal canal.

Without the clothes or underwear, there is less impeding the access to the sperm.

Can You Get Pregnant While Grinding? The answer is probably not, but there is a remote possibility depending on the specific situation.

Most of these questions come from those anticipating a teen pregnancy.  Whether you are a teenager or not, please feel free to call us at 1-800-672-2296.

Are you trying to get pregnant?

For those who are trying to get pregnant, you can also contact our toll-free helpline noted above. You also might find the boo written by the President of the American Pregnancy Association, the Essential Guide to Getting Pregnant, specifically to help those who were trying to get pregnant. The book shares what each couple needs to know to maximize their chances to conceive.

Last updated: June 12, 2018 at 10:36 am