Pregnancy Risk with Dry Ejaculate: A Medical Perspective

Question
Dear Dr. Rappaport,

I am an 18 year old male. I have no children. My girlfriends last menstrual period ended about 4 or 5 days ago.

I was wondering if a woman can become pregnant from dry sperm. Two things happened that put this question in my mind.

First I ejaculated once, and there was some mostly dry ejaculate on my pubic hair. My girlfriend then rubbed her clitorus on my pelvis, and in turn my pubic hair. Can she be impreganted through this?

Secondly, I had gotten some ejaculate on my hand while cleaning up. I went into the bathroom, washed my hands WITHOUT soap and dried them off thoroughly. After that I inserted that hand into my girlfriends vagina. Cen she be impregnated through this?

Your prompt response would be greatly appreciated. I am worried and unsure of what could be.

Thank you so much.


Tom

Answer
It is unlikely that your girlfriend would become pregnant from semen that has dried or from your hand after you washed your hands and dried your hands. Sperm are very fragile and do not remain viable on a dry surface for more than a few seconds. If the sperm is on a moist surface, it can swim into the vagina and cause pregnancy if it was at the correct time of the month. You did not mention the date of the FIRST day of your girlfriend's last period. It never matters when the period ended. If you know the first day of the period, ovulation occurs on cycle day #14 and she can only become pregnant if she has sex (or sperm) on cycle day #13, 14, 15, or 16. She cannot become pregnant on any other day of the month.