What are the chances of pregnancy if I wore a condom inside-out?

Dear reader,   

Seems like you got a little turned around! Putting a condom on inside out is a common mistake, and it’s understandable that you’re concerned about the potential risks. You’re right in that flipping a condom around and wearing it again can lead to a transfer of bodily fluids. If you produced precum (also called pre-ejaculate) while wearing the condom inside out, that fluid could end up on the outside of the condom when it's flipped. If this happens, and you are having vaginal sex, then it can put the precum in the vaginal canal. This can be risky, as precum can transport sperm that could cause pregnancy. Additionally, precum may also carry sexually transmitted infections (STIs). But there are ways to minimize your risks, continue for more. 

Can you get pregnant from precum?  

The short answer is yes. Precum is a lubricant that comes out of the penis during arousal and before orgasm and ejaculation. It isn’t produced in the testes and therefore shouldn’t have sperm. However, if there’s sperm in your urethra prior to precum passing through, it can pick up those lingering sperm as it travels out of the penis. The sperm left in the urethra are often in much smaller quantities than in ejaculate, which lowers the risk of precum causing pregnancy.  

That said, giving you a definitive answer as to what your girlfriend’s chances are at being pregnant is quite difficult. This is because that possibility largely depends on what phase of her menstrual cycle she was in and whether your precum contained sperm.   

What can you do to reduce the risk of pregnancy?  

In the short-term, if your girlfriend is concerned about pregnancy post-sex, the two of you might discuss the option of her using an emergency contraception method. This can be in the form of a pill or an intrauterine device (IUD) as a longer-term option. It’s important to note, however, that emergency contraception, regardless of the form, is most accurate when used as soon as possible after unprotected sex—typically within 72 hours for the pill and within 5 days for the IUD. 

In the long-term, you and your girlfriend might consider discussing getting a back-up birth control method like the contraceptive pill. Although condoms are the only contraceptive method that also protects against STIs, a back-up method can reduce the risk of pregnancy from precum or ejaculate if a condom breaks or slips off.  

It’s also always helpful to have a few back-up condoms on hand every time you have sex, just in case. A condom should unroll quite easily, so if you’re struggling, it might be inside out. You and your girlfriend could also consider looking at the condom before you put it on to further reduce the chance of putting it on wrong.  

Are there other concerns besides pregnancy when it comes to precum?   

Beyond the risk of pregnancy, bodily fluids like precum can carry bacteria, viruses, and infections that cause STIs. For example, HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Hepatitis B can all be spread through precum.  

If there’s any uncertainty about STIs, it may be a good idea for both of you to get tested. Not everyone who has an STI shows symptoms, so getting tested frequently can also help to ensure you’re aware of your sexual health. Although this could feel like an awkward conversation, being open about your sexual history and the risk of STIs can help you and your partner have a safer sexual relationship. 

Going forward, remember condoms are supposed to unroll easily—if it’s putting up a fight, it’s probably not on right! But accidents happen, so if you wear a condom inside out again, it would be better to throw it out and replace it with a new one.  

Best of luck rolling forward!