Hi Maria,

Thank you for your trust to the AlterHéros team with your question. It is normal to wonder and it’s important to have a clear understanding of how pregnancy happens.

To start, pregnancy happens when sperm reaches an egg, which typically occurs when semen is deposited inside or very close to the entrance of the vagina.

In the situation you described, where there was no ejaculation near the vaginal opening, the risk of pregnancy is extremely low to nonexistent. It’s important to know that sperm cannot survive long outside the body, especially on the skin or dry surfaces. Without semen (the fluid that contains sperm), there is no risk of pregnancy.

That said, before ejaculation, the penis may release a clear fluid called pre-ejaculate (or “pre-cum”). In some cases, this fluid can contain small amounts of sperm, but this is rare. If pre-ejaculate comes into direct contact with the vaginal opening, there is a very small chance of pregnancy. However, if your partner urinated before the sexual activity, the acidity of urine would likely destroy any remaining sperm in the urethra, further reducing the risk.

In conclusion, based on what you’ve described—no ejaculation and only external rubbing—the risk of pregnancy is nearly zero. To avoid any risk in the future, it’s a good idea to use protection like condoms, even during non-penetrative sexual activities.

If you have more questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider or a family planning clinic for more guidance. 😊

Best regards,

Mélo, undergraduate student in sexology and intern for AlterHéros.