Can You Get Pregnant Without Having Sex?

Your initial response to the question “Can you get pregnant without having sex?” might be no- after all, we’re taught in sex-ed that that’s how pregnancy works. The wonderful thing about living in the modern age though is if you aren’t someone who’s interested in sex but want to be a parent, or if you’re having problems with TTC through sex, there are ways to get pregnant without intercourse.

Overview of Pregnancy and Fertilization

So, how do u become pregnant? Conception needs a sperm and an egg. Traditionally these two cells would be made in their respective people and sperm would be released into the female body during intercourse. The sperm will swim to their destination- the fallopian tube. This is where they will find the egg post-ovulation. The egg would be fertilized and then travel to the uterus through the tubes, where it would stick to the uterine lining and develop into an embryo and then a fetus. This all works IF the sperm are of good quality (more on that later), and if ovulation happens within five days of the sperm being released. If you’re unsure about the question “When can one become pregnant?” it’s usually during ovulation, which happens while on your fertility window.

Common Misconceptions About Pregnancy Without Sex

There will always be some kind of misconceptions about how someone can get pregnant without having sex or while still being a virgin. 

You might hear you can get pregnant swimming or using a hot tub. Sperm are not able to survive in the heat of a hot tub, and while sperm are often called “swimmers” they are not very good at swimming in actual water, even if they were, the chlorine will kill them first. It is possible to become pregnant if you have unprotected sex in a swimming pool or hot tub, but you cannot become pregnant just by swimming.

You might wonder “Can women get pregnant without sperm?” Virgin births (aka parthenogenesis) are an area that scientists are exploring, and there have been studies where participants have self-reported virgin births. Currently, it is not possible to develop a baby through parthenogenesis.

You might have been told that vaginal sex with a penis is the only way to get pregnant. This isn’t entirely the case. There are medical procedures to induce pregnancy without sex, or if sperm lands on or in the vagina (more myth busting later). Sperm don’t swim well in water, but they do in vaginal fluids. If you want to get pregnant without interventions, then sex is the only way to do it.

How Pregnancy Can Occur Without Intercourse

While the two most common ways to get pregnant without having sex are intrauterine insemination and IVF, but not the only ones.

Intrauterine Insemination and IVF

The terms “artificial insemination” and “IVF” might be one that makes you feel somewhat concerned considering we often hear these terms in regard to farm animals or unnatural procedures. Neither of those things have to be the case though.

What is artificial insemination?

Artificial insemination simply means that sperm are taken from your partner or a donor and injected into the uterus around the time of ovulation. Before the procedure the sperm sample is taken and the best ones are chosen. After that, during your fertility window, the sperm will be injected into the uterus. You might see some needleless forms of injection affectionately named “turkey basters”- but don’t worry, it’s not the same thing! Artificial insemination is sometimes used before IVF as it is less strenuous on the body and it lets your body become pregnant through natural mechanics. It can be used by those who can’t have vaginal sex, those who do not wish to have sex, or same-sex couples who want to have children. It is also possible, and sometimes more affordable, to do this at home. To reduce the potential amount of attempts, it’s important to track ovulation and the easiest and most accurate way to do this is by monitoring your hormones with a device such as the Mira Hormone Monitor. Using the lab-grade technology you can get daily numerical outputs to monitor levels of Estrogen-Estradiol Metabolite (E3G), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and Pregnanediol Glucuronide (PdG).

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) explained

IVF is similar but not the same. In IVF the person looking to get pregnant without having sex will take medication to stimulate their ovaries. Eggs will then be retrieved from the ovaries and placed with sperm to fertilize the eggs. Once the eggs are fertilized it will then be transferred back into the body, and from there should develop into a fetus. When undergoing these treatments it can be useful to monitor ovulation. Here you can use the Mira Hormone Monitor, as well, to see the exact numeric hormone scores every day.

Other Medical Procedures Leading to Conception

There are some extra procedures that you can consider when TTC.

Sperm donation and insemination

If the problem in conception is with the sperm and not the egg there are some ways to improve the sperm, such as changes to diet and environment, but if those aren’t possible or effective then sperm donation is another way forward. Once the sperm is collected it will be put into the body via intrauterine insemination.

Surrogacy as a method of conception

There are two forms of surrogacy, the traditional form and gestational surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy means that a surrogate will use her own egg, which would also make her the biological mother of the child. Gestational surrogacy is when an egg is donated to the surrogate and is implanted into her using IVF- meaning she is not the biological mother. Both forms have legal and safety issues that need to be addressed, both of which are usually outlined in a surrogacy contract. It is worth stating that if your baby is conceived via surrogacy this does not make you any less of a mother- the path to having children is different for everyone.

Sperm Transfer Through Non-Sexual Means

When exploring these other means of how to get pregnant without having sex we must include information not just about the egg, but the sperm, as both have an equal role to play in conception.

Understanding Sperm Lifespan and Viability

Sperm are surprisingly picky cells. They can only survive for around five days (unless frozen) inside of a reproductive tract and that’s because fluids like cervical mucus help keep them alive. This is why the fertile window is about six days long. If they dry out, they die. If they get too hot, they die. If they encounter soap or some chemicals, they die. It is a wonder that the human race exists at all! Now, not all sperm are created equal, and some may have two heads, two tails, or other deformities. These sperm are usually unable to swim properly or fertilize an egg, but their presence can indicate fertility issues.

Risk of Pregnancy from Manual Sperm Transfer

If sperm is wiped or swiped inside the vagina, it is possible to get pregnant from this although it is not as likely as ejaculation as some of the sperm may have died- but not all.

Other Scenarios: Clothing and External Contact

It is possible to get pregnant if sperm is ejaculated on or around the vagina it is also possible, although less likely, for pregnancy to occur. Under normal circumstances, wearing clothes or underwear will not allow sperm direct access to the vagina. This is unless ejaculate soaks through boxers and your own underwear, or sperm is ejaculated directly onto underwear and you wear it immediately after.

Myths About Pregnancy Without Penetration

If you’ve ever wondered “Can you get pregnant without penetration?,” or “Can you get pregnant without having sex naturally?,” the answer is it is unlikely but not impossible. Sperm are tenacious cells, despite being somewhat fragile, and when there’s a will (and direct contact with the vagina), there’s a way!

Can You Get Pregnant From Precum?

Surprisingly, yes! If you’ve ever searched “Can precum get a girl pregnant?” online you might have gotten some conflicting results. The precum itself is usually a lubricant, helping in the act of intercourse, however there are times when that lubricant has sperm in it (albeit not always the best swimmers), or there is the possibility of sperm already being in the urethra, but the probability of getting pregnant by precum is still quite low. Remember, sperm can live for up to five days, and those with deformities are unlikely to be able to fertilize an egg which is why the pre ejaculate pregnancy odds are so low. Still, if you’re not TTC and concerned about precum and pregnancy, the easiest way to reduce the chance of getting pregnant by pre ejaculation is to use contraception.

Common Urban Legends and Myths

You cannot get pregnant from solo masturbation, and male masturbation will not lower sperm count- meaning masturbation is not an effective form of contraception.

Kissing or having oral sex will not get you pregnant. Sperm do not have direct access to the uterus from your mouth for two reasons: one, there is no connection between those two areas of the body, and two, your stomach acid is strong enough to kill sperm. Sperm need direct contact with an egg to fertilize it.

The Role of Fertility Treatments in Conception

While not everyone will need fertility treatments when TTC, there are many ways to get pregnant that don’t include intercourse- all with varying degrees of effectiveness.

Who Might Consider Fertility Treatments Without Intercourse?

If you are having trouble TTC with intercourse, if you cannot have vaginal intercourse, are in a same-sex relationship, or if you want to use a sperm donor, then these are all perfectly reasonable reasons to consider sexless conception.

Success Rates and Options Available

According to the NHS, IVF is most effective when you are aged under 35, and effectiveness decreases down to 4% for women aged over 44. Artificial insemination also depends on your age and can range from 17.6% and 13.4%, which could climb to as high as 20% with fertility medication according to Cleveland Clinic. Sperm donation can range from 8 to 15% effectiveness. Surrogacy can have varying success rates ranging from 52% to 95% but this will depend on the surrogate, the health of the egg and sperm, and environmental factors.

When to Seek Professional Advice

If you are struggling with TTC via sexual intercourse and have been trying for more than a year (if you’re under 35) or for six months (if you’re over 35), have irregular menstrual cycles, or have a reason you can’t have intercourse whilst TTC, speak to a healthcare professional.

Talking to a Fertility Specialist

Having someone to talk to about your concerns can ease your worries about how to get pregnant without having sex. The Mira Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility is there to do just that, putting you in contact with experts to help you along your fertility journey.

Understanding Your Options for Conception

There are a variety of ways to conceive, speak to your healthcare professional to find the ones that are right for you.

Addressing Concerns and Questions

Talking to a healthcare professional or the people at your health and fertility clinics can be a great way to reassure yourself or have processes explained in no detail. Remember: There’s no such thing as a silly question.

Frequently Asked Questions