Article
https://archive.md/QMSTe
If you're exploring booty play with your partner, you're definitely not alone. There are many reasons why people are going for some bum fun. A big one: for pleasure. It can feel totally different from vaginal sex (in a good way). But preparation is key, especially for beginners—you may be aware that you need to invest in some lube, proper protection is an important piece to consider as well. You may be wondering, though, Can you get pregnant from anal sex?
So... the act of anal sex itself does not directly cause pregnancy, but semen can still end up in your uterus. Also, going the anal route still carries risks, so it's important to go in knowing that you won't be 100 percent protected from everything.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't try it. Just keep in mind that it is not a form of birth control or a foolproof way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Here's what you need to know before experimenting with anal sex.
But at the same time...never say never. There are a few ways semen can still get inside your vagina.
“You’re not going to get a high concentration [of sperm], but you only need one sperm to get pregnant,” Dr. Minkin says. So while it’s very rare to get pregnant from anal, using it as a means of birth control is not 100 percent effective. Sorry.
In fact, about one in 200 women reported that they got pregnant without having vaginal sex, according to a survey published in the British Medical Journal, and though the report doesn't confirm exactly how these women ended up pregnant, the pregnancies were likely the result of sperm somehow getting into the vagina unexpectedly. This may have occurred through sperm leaking from the anus into the vagina. Again, this is super rare, but hey, you never know.
“The lining of the anus if not designated to fight off infections,” Dr. Minkin explains. “Vaginal tissue in premenopausal women can do a much better job at fighting this off, as the vaginal lining is much tougher.”
Since the lining of the anus is much thinner than the vagina, it's much more vulnerable to tearing during sex. This allows viruses, like HIV, and bacteria to enter the bloodstream. “It's much easier to transmit HIV through anal sex,” Dr. Minkin says. “So if an HIV particle shows up, it is much easier to penetrate into the tissue than it is during vaginal sex.”
Women who had unprotected anal sex were 2.6 times as likely as women who had only unprotected vaginal sex and 4.2 times as likely as women who had neither unprotected anal nor unprotected vaginal sex to report an STI diagnosis, found a study in The American Journal of Public Health. So, wearing condoms during anal is definitely important and can lower your risk of STIs.
Using a condom can also help prevent other types of infections, such as UTIs. “Although there are plenty of bacteria in the vagina, there's even more in the anus,” says Dr. Minkin. The condom keeps the penis clean, so if you're ready to switch from anal to vaginal play, swapping it out with a new one ensures you're keeping bacteria from your rectum out of your vagina.
And while you're at it, don't skip out on the lube for anal sex: “If you don’t use it, you’ll have more tissue pulling apart, and if you have a break in skin, you’re even more vulnerable to infection,” Dr. Minkin explains.
https://archive.md/QMSTe
If you're exploring booty play with your partner, you're definitely not alone. There are many reasons why people are going for some bum fun. A big one: for pleasure. It can feel totally different from vaginal sex (in a good way). But preparation is key, especially for beginners—you may be aware that you need to invest in some lube, proper protection is an important piece to consider as well. You may be wondering, though, Can you get pregnant from anal sex?
So... the act of anal sex itself does not directly cause pregnancy, but semen can still end up in your uterus. Also, going the anal route still carries risks, so it's important to go in knowing that you won't be 100 percent protected from everything.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't try it. Just keep in mind that it is not a form of birth control or a foolproof way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Here's what you need to know before experimenting with anal sex.
Well...is it possible to get pregnant from anal sex?
Okay, not technically. Your anus isn’t connected to your reproductive organs, so anal sex wouldn’t directly lead to a baby.But at the same time...never say never. There are a few ways semen can still get inside your vagina.
1. If Semen Slips Out From the Anus
The vaginal and rectal openings are pretty close to each other, so it's definitely a possibility that some semen could slip into the vagina, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.“You’re not going to get a high concentration [of sperm], but you only need one sperm to get pregnant,” Dr. Minkin says. So while it’s very rare to get pregnant from anal, using it as a means of birth control is not 100 percent effective. Sorry.
In fact, about one in 200 women reported that they got pregnant without having vaginal sex, according to a survey published in the British Medical Journal, and though the report doesn't confirm exactly how these women ended up pregnant, the pregnancies were likely the result of sperm somehow getting into the vagina unexpectedly. This may have occurred through sperm leaking from the anus into the vagina. Again, this is super rare, but hey, you never know.
2. If You're Alternating Anal and Vaginal Sex
It's also totally possible to get pregnant if your partner ejaculates in your anus but they began having sex in your vagina (you can't forget about pre-cum, the semen that comes out of the penis before ejaculation). It might not seem like enough, but it can result in pregnancy, even if you switch to anal for the big O.3. If There's After-play
Fingering or oral sex after your partner ejaculates in your butt can also potentially lead to pregnancy. While it is unlikely, smears of semen can be introduced to the vagina during post-anal sex play.So, you're saying I should use condoms even during anal sex?
Yes, one million percent. Dr. Minkin explains that while you want to use a condom to prevent pregnancy, it's also a smart move in general because you’re at an even greater risk of STDs when having anal sex.“The lining of the anus if not designated to fight off infections,” Dr. Minkin explains. “Vaginal tissue in premenopausal women can do a much better job at fighting this off, as the vaginal lining is much tougher.”
Since the lining of the anus is much thinner than the vagina, it's much more vulnerable to tearing during sex. This allows viruses, like HIV, and bacteria to enter the bloodstream. “It's much easier to transmit HIV through anal sex,” Dr. Minkin says. “So if an HIV particle shows up, it is much easier to penetrate into the tissue than it is during vaginal sex.”
Women who had unprotected anal sex were 2.6 times as likely as women who had only unprotected vaginal sex and 4.2 times as likely as women who had neither unprotected anal nor unprotected vaginal sex to report an STI diagnosis, found a study in The American Journal of Public Health. So, wearing condoms during anal is definitely important and can lower your risk of STIs.
Using a condom can also help prevent other types of infections, such as UTIs. “Although there are plenty of bacteria in the vagina, there's even more in the anus,” says Dr. Minkin. The condom keeps the penis clean, so if you're ready to switch from anal to vaginal play, swapping it out with a new one ensures you're keeping bacteria from your rectum out of your vagina.
And while you're at it, don't skip out on the lube for anal sex: “If you don’t use it, you’ll have more tissue pulling apart, and if you have a break in skin, you’re even more vulnerable to infection,” Dr. Minkin explains.
