Pre ejaculation, fertility window and chances of pregnancy

There is a lot of misconception on if pre-ejaculation can lead to pregnancy, with most young people believing – falsely- that it is not. Pre-ejaculation doesn’t indeed contain sperm but it’s possible for sperm to leak into it and cause pregnancy.

Pre-ejaculation or pre-cum is a lubricant produced by a gland in the penis, and it’s released before ejaculation. Semen may linger in the urethra after ejaculation and mix with pre-cum while it’s on its way out. Studies indicate the majority of pre-ejaculate fluid has dead or no sperm at all, but it is possible for small amounts of sperm to exit the reproductive system and make its way into the precum or pre-ejaculate. 

So, although you can’t get pregnant without penetration, if ejaculate fluid/semen comes in contact with the vagina even without penetration, it is possible that sperm could enter and fertilize an egg. 

Life of sperm: Sperm lives 3-5 days in the vagina. That’s why, whether you want to get pregnant or avoid pregnancy, it’s important to know your ovulation cycle and your fertility window.

Fertility window refers to the day an egg is released from the ovary (ovulation) and the five days beforehand. That is when sexual intercourse must happen in order to maximize chances of getting pregnant. In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation typically occurs about 14 days before the start of the next menstrual period. However, each woman’s cycle length may be different, and the time between ovulation and the start of the next menstrual period may vary. If, like many women, you don’t have a 28-day menstrual cycle, you can determine the length of your cycle and when you’re most likely to ovulate by keeping a menstrual calendar. There are several online calculators (check here) where by stating your first day of your last period and your cycle’s length, you can learn your ovulation day and which days are the most fertile. Apart from the online calculators, you may recognize the below signs to your body. 

• Changes in the cervical mucus. Just before ovulation, you might notice an increase in clear, wet and stretchy vaginal secretions. Just after ovulation, cervical mucus decreases and becomes thicker, cloudy and less noticeable.
• Change in basal body temperature. Body’s temperature at rest (basal body temperature) increases slightly during ovulation. Using a thermometer specifically designed to measure basal body temperature, take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. Record the results and look for a pattern to emerge. You’ll be most fertile during the 2 to 3 days before your temperature rises.

So, even when you don’t ovulate there is still a chance of getting pregnant from pre-cum, and that’s because of the 5 days life of sperm. 

Emergency contraception. If you are not ready to become parents just yet, there are ways to avoid the fertilization of the eggs. 

Emergency contraception can help prevent pregnancy up to five days after having unprotected sex, because it delays or prevents ovulation from happening in the first place. This means your mature egg won’t be released in order to be fertilized. There are two types of EC available, keep in mind to consult with your doctor in order to avoid mistreatment. 

• Hormonal EC pills. There are most effective when taken the first 72 hours after the unprotected sexual intercourse. In general they are safe to take, but as birth control, they can have some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, headache, fatigue etc. 
• IUD contraception. The Copper-T is an intrauterine device (IUD) that can also work as emergency contraception. According to Princeton University, the Copper-T IUD can reduce your risk of becoming pregnant by more than 99 percent. This makes it more effective than hormonal EC pills. There are 2 types of IUD, hormonal and copper. The main difference between the two types of IUDs is that one type releases hormones and the other doesn’t. In addition to blocking sperm from reaching the egg, hormonal IUDs thicken cervical mucus, thin the uterine lining, and prevent ovulation. 

Sexual intercourse and period. Although it is not usual, you can stay pregnant during or shortly after your period. Having in mind that sperm can sometimes survive in the body for more that 5 days after you have sex, it may be possible to get pregnant soon after your period finishes if you ovulate early, especially if you have a naturally short menstrual cycle.

Bottom line is that although chances of getting pregnant through pre ejaculation or any other day outside of your fertility window are small, they aren’t zero. Sperm can still be present in the urethra and mix with pre-cum that’s released before ejaculation. If you use the withdrawal method, keep in mind that an estimated 14 to 24% of couples will get pregnant over the course of a year when using the withdrawal method, according to one 2009 article.

In order to be more sure, use safer methods, like condoms, birth control and emergency contraception.

When to take a pregnancy test? If you believe that you might be pregnant, you should usually wait until the first day of your missed period in order to take a home pregnancy test. For better results, according to doctors, you should wait at least 2 weeks after your missed period. No matter what, always consult your doctor in order to decide together the best plan of action. 

In the unfortunate circumstance of wanting to get pregnant but struggle with fertility issues, the fertility specialist is again your best choice of action. MEDIPASS cooperates with some highly-experienced fertility specialists who can help you along your fertility journey. If you at the same time struggle maintaining a good mental health, feel free to read our free e-book on how to cope with infertility stress. Just give us your email -below- and we will send it right away!

We are here and we can help!