Can you get pregnant from anal sex? Strictly speaking, the answer is no, and anal sex is an effective way to avoid pregnancy.
However, there are some highly unlikely scenarios that could indirectly cause pregnancy. And perhaps more importantly, there are other risks you need to be aware of.
According to a
In addition, the researchers learned that many women find anal sex enjoyable, while others find it painful or unpleasant and only agree to it due to some other factor. Common factors include feeling pressured by a sexual partner and wanting to avoid pregnancy, among others.
Sexual activity should be a pleasant, enjoyable, and consensual experience for both partners. If you feel pressured into something you don’t want to do, tell your partner that you don’t want to engage in that activity.Check out our guide to consent.
If you’re choosing anal sex out of a desire to avoid pregnancy, it’s important to know the facts.
Let’s take a closer look at the risks involved.
Semen carries millions of sperm that are hardwired to swim as vigorously as possible to find an egg. A person assigned female at birth is fertile when their ovary has released a ripe egg into a fallopian tube. This happens once a month.
For an egg to be fertilized, sperm must be in the vagina so they can swim up to and through the opening of the uterus, called the cervix. From there, sperm continue through the uterus and up into the fallopian tube, where one or more sperm attempt to penetrate the egg.
没有内部肛门和之间的联系reproductive organs where an egg is released each month, waiting for a sperm to fertilize it. Sperm has to reach the egg for pregnancy to occur.
Whenever sperm are near the vagina, however, there is some possibility that you or your partner will accidentally spread it to the vaginal canal without vaginal penetration. If all other conditions are right,some medical authoritiesbelieve this could result in pregnancy.
Fertilization only requires one single sperm. The more recent the ejaculation, the more likely the sperm outside the body are still alive and moving.
Though it’s highly unlikely, it’s possible that stray sperm before or after anal penetration without a condom could reach the vagina.
Remember that for anal sex to result in pregnancy, not only would sperm need to reach the vagina somehow, but the person with a vagina would also have to be in theirfertile window. This is typically a span of 3 to 7 days each cycle.
While sperm is most prevalent in semen (also referred to as “ejaculate” or “cum”), some
So in theory, even without ejaculation in the vagina, pregnancy could occur with vaginal penetration during foreplay leading up to anal sex. If you want to avoid pregnancy and are not using other methods of birth control, it’s best to avoid vaginal penetration altogether.
On the other hand, keep in mind that disease and injury are
Anal sexis considered a high-risk activity. Remember, though, that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can spread through vaginal sex as well.
It’s possible to have an STI without knowing it, as many have no immediate symptoms. Currently, there’s no standard test to determine whether cisgender men or other people without a cervix have thehuman papillomavirus (HPV), some forms of which can lead to cancer.
The reason anal sex increases the chances of infection is that the rectal lining is thin, dry, and delicate. It tears and bleeds easily, which provides an entry for viruses, bacteria, or parasites into the bloodstream. Even if neither partner has a serious infection, the presence of feces can lead tourinary tract infections.
Although lubricants can help prevent tearing and bleeding,
In some cases, anal sex can lead to a
Getting pregnant from anal sex is highly unlikely, but if several different factors align, it is a slight possibility. Anal sex carries other health risks that are more likely.
If you and your partner choose to engage in anal sex, communication is key. It’s important that you use a condom for protection and that both of you have beentestedfor STIs. If you are sexually active and wish to prevent pregnancy, there are manybirth controloptions to discuss with a doctor.
With the right precautions, anal sex can be an enjoyable experience for both of you.