Can You Get Pregnant From Anal Intercourse?

Anal intercourse is only one kind of sexual activity many {couples} check out in the midst of their relationship. Whether or not it’s already a part of your sexual repertoire or one thing you’re contemplating experimenting with, you might need puzzled whether or not it’s doable to get pregnant from anal intercourse.

The brief reply is that it’s extremely unlikely to get pregnant from anal intercourse alone. Nonetheless, well being care suppliers warn that unprotected anal intercourse ought to by no means be relied upon as a type of contraception. Though it’s uncommon, it is doable to conceive by way of anal intercourse. It is because it solely takes a tiny quantity of semen to achieve the vagina for conception to happen.

We turned to the consultants to seek out out extra about being pregnant from anal intercourse—and why contraception continues to be necessary.

Can Anal Intercourse Result in Being pregnant?

When unprotected vaginal intercourse happens between heterosexual {couples}, semen is launched on the level of male ejaculation near the cervix. Vaginal penetrative intercourse offers wholesome, fertile {couples} the finest probability of conceiving.  

Throughout anal intercourse, the penis penetrates the anal passage. On the level of male ejaculation throughout unprotected anal intercourse, semen may be deposited within the anus.

“I actually can say that if 100% of the ejaculate from [one person] went into the anus, the [other person] wouldn’t conceive,” explains Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a scientific professor within the Division of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Yale College Faculty of Medication. It is because the anus is just not related to any of the reproductive organs.

Nonetheless, if any semen enters the vagina at any level throughout intercourse, it is doable to turn into pregnant. It is because semen that enters the vagina can doubtlessly journey to the cervix, into the uterus, after which on to fertilize the egg.

“With anal intercourse, it’s doable that among the ejaculate would not be deposited solely into the anus, and that some may make its method into the vagina,” explains Dr. Minkin. “So a being pregnant in that state of affairs is just not absolutely unattainable.” For that reason, unprotected anal intercourse shouldn’t be used as a contraception technique.

Moreover, intercourse that begins as vaginal penetrative intercourse after which strikes on to the anus can depart you prone to each being pregnant and the unfold of an infection. It is because, though unlikely, it’s doable to turn into pregnant from pre-ejaculate, which is the small quantity of liquid that’s produced initially of an erection. In the meantime, swapping between anal and vaginal penetrative intercourse can unfold micro organism, so you will need to use contemporary safety if switching between the 2.

Unprotected Anal Intercourse and STIs

Not solely is unprotected anal intercourse an insufficient contraceptive technique, it might probably additionally depart you weak to the unfold of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Statistically, you’re greater than twice as more likely to get hold of an STI by means of unprotected anal intercourse than by means of unprotected vaginal intercourse.

It is because the liner of the anus is skinny and never designed to battle an infection, in contrast to the liner of the vagina. With out lubricant, the liner of the anus may also tear simply, leaving you much more inclined to the unfold of an infection.

“One factor to recollect is that even when anal intercourse is way much less more likely to get you pregnant, it’s a very simple method to unfold sexually transmitted infections,” explains Dr. Minkin. “So in any non-monogamous sexual relationship, the couple ought to all the time use condoms for anal intercourse to assist decrease the danger of STI unfold.”