Can dry hands = pregnancy?

Sperm are pretty hardy, but they’re not superheroes. It is unlikely that they would survive a move from the inside of your pants unless your hand was literally dripping with pre-ejaculate⁠ (pre-ejaculate: A fluid which the penis usually emits with or around erection and before ejaculation, sometimes more than once. Pre-ejaculate itself does not contain sperm, but in some cases, can pick up traces of sperm left in the urethra.) . If your hands were dry, then it is pretty safe to say that there is not a pregnancy⁠ (pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the uterus. Medically, someone is considered to be pregnant when an egg has been fertilized by sperm, cells divide, and the fertilized egg is implanted within the lining of the uterus.) risk from the contact your described.

It is clear from the tone of your question that you really do care about yourself and your partner⁠ (partner: In a sexual context, a person with whom someone is having some kind of sex. The term “partner” can be used for all kinds of relationships, not just serious ones. “Partner” can also mean the person someone is with in a romantic or familial partnership.) . It really would be best (as with all things sexual⁠ (sexual: About or relating in some way to sex or sexuality.) ) to act on that concern BEFORE anything happens rather than having so much stress afterward. Thankfully, preventing these types of worries are really easy! You can make sure that you wash your hands after you touch yourself and before you touch her. Hand washing is an even better idea because it will help protect her from picking up any kind of infection⁠ (infection: When harmful microbes, or germs, or harmful levels of microbes/germs, enter the body and multiply, causing illness. The common cold, flu viruses, sexually transmitted infections, chickenpox, impetigo, rabies and diphtheria are some kinds of infections.) during manual sex⁠ (manual sex: Sometimes also called digital sex. Kinds of sex involving the hands and fingers to sexually stimulate the genitals or other parts of the body. Fingering, handjobs or “fisting” (deep manual sex) are some kinds of manual sex.) (remember that even if you haven’t touched your genitals⁠ (genitals: Body parts that are generally, culturally, scientifically or personally considered to be external sexual or reproductive organs.) , hands typically have lots of bacteria and nasties on them period⁠ (period: The fluid – or flow – which contains blood, from the shedding of the uterine lining usually at the end of each menstrual cycle. Sometimes periods may be less fluid and more globby; this is the state that is often mistaken for blood clotting.) ). You can also use latex gloves and lube during manual sex. Not only will that make things smoother and more comfortable, but it will also allow you to change to a new glove anytime you have a concern. And of course, if you have really significant concerns, the very best bet is to step back and abstain from sexual activity until you reach a point where you both are comfortable that you can handle the associated risks!

Check out⁠ (out: Short for ‘out of the closet’. When someone’s LGBTQ+ identity is known to other people.) the following links for more information:

• Safe, Sound & Sexy: A Safer Sex How-To
• What’s the Risk? Easy Pregnancy Risk Assessments
• STI Risk Assessment: The Cliff’s Notes