posted
I am male and every time I masturbate I really worry that I haven't cleaned enough and there could still be sperm on me then I could touch something (eg toilet roll/seat) then a female could touch and go toilet and get pregnant? Also I worry that there could be sperm in urine which could splash on the seat or toilet roll and get someone pregnant. Finally if sperm got in my mouth how long would it survive? Would soap kill it if I washed my mouth? If there was still some in my mouth and I touched my mouth or used a fork etc and then someone touched it, could they get pregnant? Sorry for sounding strange, in just so worried. Thank you do much.
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
HI harmon and welcome to Scarleteen,
None of the scenarios you've described can get someone pregnant. For more on how pregnancy *does* happen take a look at this:
posted
Ok, thanks I read them. So even if I didn't clean properly and there was traces of sperm on my hands/mouth/toilet seat or tissue/ any other surface, there's no risk of pregnancy even if someone did touch it and then went toilet or whatever? The only reason I ask is because I found out that sperm can live up to 3 hrs outside the body and even longer in the mouth, so your certain?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
Yes, I'm certain.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok thanks, so just out of curiosity how long could sperm live in the mouth?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
Hi Harmon,
You know, I don't think we have data on sperm's ability to survive in the mouth. However, as you read in the articles I linked you to above, sperm need their semen in order to do anything.
Hence, direct contact between bare genitals, or between freshly ejaculated semen (not any other fluid that semen might happen to have gotten into, such as saliva) and a bare vulva are the ways that people can get pregnant.
[ 04-30-2013, 06:04 AM: Message edited by: Robin Lee ]
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok, it's just I got some in my mouth 5 days ago, would there still be any live sperm in my mouth now?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- Im breaking my attachment to physical power and possessions, because only through destroying myself can I discover the greater power of my spirit. ― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club Posts: 82 | From: Hawaii | Registered: Feb 2013
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok, thank you so much. I'm really sorry for keeping asking questions it was just really worrying me. So just to finally verify, if there is no direct genital to genital or semen to genital contact there is no risk of pregnancy, even if there was sperm on me if I didn't clean it properly after masturbation and then someone else touches it? I'm sorry again.
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
That's correct.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok thank you so much, I still feel a bit unsure and worried about this but I feel a lot better now. I just keep on telling myself if it was that easy to get pregnant then people would miraculously be getting pregnant all the time! But without a doubt its not possible, so I can stop thinking I haven't clean enough and just think even if there is some, so what? Nothing bad will happen. Thanks again, if I have another similar worry is it ok for me to come back and ask in the future?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
If you have a similar worry, the first thing to do would be to look through what you've already learned. But of course you can come back if you need more information or have something you want to talk about.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok, one more quick question - sorry to be a nuisance. If I precum a lot, could it travel through my underwear and jeans and still be alive, and also is I urinated with precum could it splash onto the seat or tissue?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
I'm not sure what you're asking here. Urination and pre-ejaculation are two different things and don't happen at the same time.
There's also nothing "alive" about pre-ejaculate. Sometimes pre-ejaculate contains sperm that it picks up from the urethra (which is what it comes out of) but pre-ejaculate itself doesn't contain sperm the way ejaculate does.
Can you reread the articles I linked you to above? I think reading the article on how reproduction works might help you here.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yeah I mean the sperm when I say alive, and I mean when I ultimate could there be some precum in it that then splashes on a seat, sorry for bein unclear.
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
As I said above, pre-ejaculate and urine are really unlikely to come out at the same time. pre-ejaculate is only produced when someone is aroused and doesn't come out of the bladder as urine does.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
I realise this, I meant if there was precum in the urethra?sorry for not explaining again
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
again, though, the ways you're concerned people could get pregnant just aren't viable points of concern. People don't get pregnant those ways. Period.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok, I'm sorry. I guess it's just because I've been worrying about it for sooooo long that's it like a second nature to worry. I guess I just keep thinking what if? And coming up with new scenarios and situations, but I guess they all boil down to the same thing - without any kind of sexual contact pregnancy isn't a concern, so have you never heard of someone getting pregnant without having any sexual contact?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
It's certainly hard to just turn off the worrying like flipping off a light switch.
People who get pregnant without contact between bare genitals (penis and vulva) or by contact between a bare vulva and fresh ejaculate are people who go through assisted reproduction, such as in vitro fertilization--that's it.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
And the things I'm worried about dont involve fresh ejaculate, is this correct? What exactly does fresh ejaculate mean?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
Have you had a chance to reread the articles I linked you to above?
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yeah I did, but I didn't see anything regarding what is considered fresh ejaculate, did I miss it?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
When people say fresh ejaculate, they mean ejaculate that has just come from a penis; that would mean that in order for pregnancy to occur someone with a penis would have to be in the same room as someone with a vulva and ejaculate directly onto the vulva (or engage in genital contact).
posted
It means that there is no reason to worry about the things you are worrying about.
-------------------- -joey Scarleteen Volunteer
"The question is not who will let me, but who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand Posts: 8422 | From: Cologne, Germany | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok, thank you very much! I'll try my best to stop worrying, I feel a lot better now! Thank you so so much again! Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi, I've got a new question- I wasn't sure whether or not to start a new thread so let me know if I should have. Basically I've read on some articles that sperm tends to survive 20 mins outside the body and once the semen is dry, there is no live sperm in it. About 4 hours ago I had a wet dream and changed my underwear, I just went to put the underwear in the wash but they were still wet. So my question is is there any live sperm there? As it was 4 hours ago, so most likely not- but it's still wet?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
It's really not possible for us to say whether there was live sperm there, as the only way to determine that would be to run a lab test.
However, all we know about sperm tells us that it was most likely not alive, and, even if it were, it has no way to get anywhere. Sperm don't jump, crawl, or do any other sort of movement on their own.
I'm concerned that you're still having some confusion about how pregnancy can and cannot occur. Are you?
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok, no I was more concerned that I touched it or got on my feet when I changed clothes or whatever. But I felt fine because I thought by the time I wake up it will be dead anyway, but when I saw it was still wet I got really worried that I may have spread it somewhere, and then someone else could have touched it and so on, and possibly cause pregnancy. But I told myself - even if it still alive, and even if by some chance I did spread a but of it somewhere and a woman did touch it and then go toilet or whatever, pregnancy isn't a risk. I think I need to stop thinking 'what if' and think 'so what- what will happen', do you agree?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
posted
You're not thinking rationally, and I think that's really the problem here.
To be clear, I don't think it's just about thinking "what if," when you're not thinking about things that could actually happen, just like if, say, I was thinking "what if?" about zombies breaking into my house in the next five minutes and eating my brains with chocolate sauce.
The way you're thinking about pregnancy risks isn't connected to the reality of how pregnancy happens. Sperm cells aren't viruses, they can't just spread themselves around (and even viruses usually only have specific ways they can do that). People cannot become pregnant by touching sperm cells like this: that just isn't any more real than zombies or Santa Claus.
(And sorry if you didn't know about Santa. )
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63355 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
It's ok ha ha. I realise people can't get pregnant from just touching sperm, but if this the case if they then say went toilet as an example and touched their vagina with the same hand?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
posted
Still no, as those links we've given you earlier explain.
Seriously, try and hear me here: we're reading all of what you're posting, and are telling you these scenarios aren't a reality per conception because they just are not.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63355 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ok, I'm really sorry. It's just when I get in a panic, all logic seems to go out of my head. You know what your talking about, again I'm really sorry. Thank you very much.
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
But perhaps we can figure out what IS productive to talk about here that will help you out?
For instance, it sounds like you might not have had any, or any good, sexual or reproduction education. Does that sound right? If so, how about hitting the library or talking to your doctor?
Or, maybe you think something else is at the root of all of this: if so, what do you think that is?
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63355 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
No, I don't think it's that. Well I've always been a worrier, and then one day I just thought, could that happen? (What we've been talking about) so I looked on the Internet (yahoo answers so on) and found out loads of info, some people said no way, some people said yeah- it only takes one sperm and others called me strange ha ha! I guess this just made my worrying worse and worse.
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
posted
Okay, so then it *does* sound to me like you haven't had any good education about reproduction.
In other words, if your thought wasn't "No, that can't happen," and then yahoo answers seemed like the best place to go first, it seems pretty clear to me you haven't had good education in that regard and also don't know where to even look to get it.
So, if this worry won't let go, how about hitting the library and looking up some more *credible* information (Yahoo answers is so far from that it's not even funny)? Mind, we've given you links that make clear that even this idea of it "only taking one sperm cell" is just plain wrong, so it might also be that you need to learn to accept the real information, but reading more from credible sources besides us so you can see that we all say the same things, rather than what you're going to get crowdsourcing people, at places like yahoo answers, who don't actually do this work, might help.
I find, too, it can help to think about where I'd go and ask for help if say, my dog were dying. Would I go to yahoo answers? Hell no: I'd never risk such random, questionably credible answers with a high-stakes situation like that. I'd call my vet, because I know they're credible. I'd say the same is going to be sound with anything that's really important to us: we don't just ask random people on the street to fill us in on things we're deeply concerned about. That just doesn't make sense, you know?
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63355 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63355 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yeah I see what your saying, but it just doesn't quite right. I feel that I have been educated. Like I said, I worry about things even when I know there isn't really anything to worry about. I think at first it was just curiosity, but then from looking it became more of a worry. It's like even though I know something's not possible, it still bugs me. I guess then I looked it up and people were saying yeah there is a small possibility so I guess then my worrying went the roof!
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
posted
If what you're saying is that you find you have irrational fears about things, that you cannot manage or let go of, even when you know they are not rational, then you're describing a situation where what you likely need is help from a mental healthcare provider.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63355 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think now that I have professional facts (from you) that's there is no way that it is possible, I should be able to stop worrying
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
So, if you find you can't, and that's an ongoing problem for you with more than just this particular issue, then I'd say your next step is to talk to a healthcare provider about anxiety and irrational fears.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63355 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi! I've been feeling so much better after talking to you guys, I've been able to stop worrying and I can't thank you enough however I've got something that I'm worried about and it's kinda different to the other questions, so I just wanna double check that it's nothing to worry about. Basically I had a wet dream and then went and got changed. I then went to lay back down and saw a mark on my shirt (I just blew my nose so it was probably that - sorry its gross). Anyway I keep on thinking what if it was sperm on shirt? Because I touched it and smelt it (not sure why). Then I remember yawning and my finger touched my mouth. So basically if it was sperm, is there a pregnancy risk if I touched it and then touched a bed/toilet or whatever and then a female touched it and went toilet or whatever? I think the reason I feel it's different to my other questions is that if it was sperm, it was fresh and it was a relative sized amount (about the size of coin)?
Posts: 24 | Registered: Apr 2013
| IP: Logged |
Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
Harmon,
We have already given you the information you need to be able to determine whether this is a risk or not. Can you take a look through our previous replies, as well as the links we have given you? Thank you.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4350 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
| IP: Logged |
Copyright 1998, 2013 Heather Corinna/Scarleteen
Scarleteen.com: Providing comprehensive sex education online to teens and young adults worldwide since 1998
Information on this site is provided for educational purposes. It is not meant to and cannot substitute for advice or care provided by an in-person medical professional. The information contained herein is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or for prescribing any medication. You should always consult your own healthcare provider if you have a health problem or medical condition.
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
)
Printer-friendly view of this topic