Share

Um, is it possible to get pregnant from anal sex?

accreditation
If you had anal sex is there a possibility you could fall pregnant?
If you had anal sex is there a possibility you could fall pregnant?

Throwback to your sex-ed class: You probably (ahem, hopefully) learnt that penis-in-vagina sex equals babies.

Unfortunately, anal probably wasn’t included in the lesson plan… which leaves the question: Can you get pregnant from anal sex?

Well…can you?

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. 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 Dr Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics, gynaecology 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% effective. Sorry, dudes.

Read more: 10 things you need to know before trying anal for the first time

So, you’re saying I should use condoms even during anal sex?

Yes, one million percent. Dr Minkin explains that while of course you want to use a condom to prevent pregnancy, you’re at even greater risk of STDs when doing it rectally, compared to vaginally.

“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.”

The thing you never ever want to do is go from anal sex straight into vaginal. “Not that the vagina doesn’t have bacteria, but the rectum has even more, so you’re just adding more bacteria to the vagina,” Dr Minkin says, which can lead to infections. If you’re dead-set on doing anal sex before vaginal sex, clean things off a bit first and switch to a new condom.

And while you’re at it, don’t skip 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.

The bottom line: There’s an extremely small chance of pregnancy from unprotected anal sex, but the real risk from anal sex is getting an STI, so remember to use a condom.

This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com

Image credit: iStock 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE