This one is for those who aren’t prepared! It’s not uncommon to see questions here on the site about internal ejaculation and those famous phrases (excuse the wording, but that’s exactly how they ask): “He came inside! Now what? Am I at risk of getting pregnant? I take birth control, but am I still at risk?” To clear up all these doubts once and for all, how about some tips and clarifications on internal ejaculation in women?
First of all, remember that any intercourse with internal ejaculation can result in pregnancy. However, for pregnancy to happen it is essential that the woman is in her fertile window. In other words, without ovulation it is practically impossible to get pregnant. Now, it can happen that a woman ovulates at unexpected times, such as with late or early ovulation1, and the couple can be surprised by a pregnancy.
What’s important is that the woman knows her own body. And as strange as it may seem, cervical mucus gives clues about fertility2. The stretchier it is, the more fertile the woman is! That’s why it’s recommended to avoid intercourse with or without internal ejaculation at this time. Even with external ejaculation, the well-known withdrawal method, a woman can get pregnant if she is in her fertile window. Withdrawal can lead to pregnancy because sperm can be present in the pre-ejaculatory lubrication fluid. These few sperm can meet the egg and, in that case, pregnancy happens.
Real Situations and the Risk of Getting Pregnant
I will simulate some of the most common situations from comments to help clarify doubts and make it easier to understand the risks a woman takes when having unprotected sex with her partner, or even with someone she’s dating or seeing casually.
“My period started on September 1st and ended on the 7th. On the 9th I had sex with internal ejaculation and after a few days I started feeling symptoms like headaches, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. Could I be pregnant?”
In this case, pregnancy is possible, but it depends on the woman’s cycle length. If her cycles are short, for example 24 or 21 days, it is possible to have ovulated right after the menstrual flow ended. However, symptoms are not 100% an indicator of pregnancy; they could simply be a sign that she ovulated or has some hormonal fluctuation. For example, when progesterone levels increase, it can cause symptoms similar to pregnancy. The key here is to wait for a missed period and if symptoms persist, take a test to determine if pregnancy has occurred or not.
“I’ve been on birth control for about 2 years (more or less) and I forgot some pills (or missed my shot this cycle). During that period I had unprotected sex with internal ejaculation. I had some brownish and slightly bloody spotting. Could this be pregnancy?”
Yes. If you don’t take your birth control properly and have sex during that time, you can get pregnant! That’s because a fertile period can open up at any moment due to missed medication in your body. On the other hand, missing medication can also lead to slight spotting or even bleeding during the cycle due to missed pills, which can be confused with implantation bleeding3. But remember, most bleeding episodes are not implantation bleeding; they are the exception, not the rule. However, if your period doesn’t come during the break as expected, it’s a good idea to take a test to check.
“I had sex close to my fertile window and my husband (boyfriend) ejaculated inside. Right after, I took the morning-after pill, but I’ve been feeling nauseous, dizzy, queasy and have stomach pain. It also feels like my stomach is harder. Am I possibly pregnant?”
The morning-after pill contains progesterone and can cause symptoms similar to pregnancy. However, if you were in your fertile window, the risk of pregnancy still exists. Although it was developed to prevent pregnancy as an emergency method, the morning-after pill is not 100% effective. That’s why it’s recommended that you use a more reliable method, such as condoms, during intercourse. If your period doesn’t come after a few days, it’s advised to take a test.
“I was messing around with my boyfriend and he brought his penis very close to my vagina, touched, but did not insert. There was no ejaculation inside or outside, but we had contact. Is it still possible to get pregnant?”
Yes. If there was contact, it is possible, although it is unlikely to happen. Ideally, use a condom even during sexual foreplay. As things heat up, the couple should take precautions to prevent future worries.
If you have intercourse with internal ejaculation and your period is late, it’s important to take a test to check for pregnancy. Even when your period comes but the cycle is minimal, if there is still some flow and pregnancy is less likely, it’s still important to take a test to rule it out. If you’re not pregnant but your period continues to be late, you should see your gynecologist to find out what’s causing the delay. In short: intercourse with internal or external ejaculation can result in pregnancy.
Important tip: For women worried about being pregnant, it’s very helpful to have reliable and highly sensitive pregnancy tests on hand. That’s why we recommend tests that can detect pregnancy up to 3 days before your missed period. Famivita’s tests work like this and you can find out more about them here. See also: Brown Discharge – What is it?
