Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am worried about the risk of pregnancy. My partner and I were in the moment, and we had outercourse sex. I got pre-ejaculation on my hand and rubbed it on my vulva, and it is possible it got into my vaginal opening. We did not have intercourse, and he ejaculated but nowhere near my vagina.
I am due my period in a week and am unsure if I was ovulating at the time, or in my fertile window, or just after. My cycle is irregular at the moment, as I took Plan B one month back, and it has delayed things, so I am unsure when things are due.
I am worried about pregnancy. I have taken a pregnancy test, and it is negative, but I am unsure if it is too early to take it. Also, I am unsure if the six-day early test would work either due to confusion about due dates.
Please help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
Since there was no actual intercourse and ejaculation did not occur near the vaginal area, the chances of pregnancy are extremely low. While it is true that pre-ejaculatory fluid can sometimes contain sperm, in your case, since there was no direct penetration or ejaculation nearby, the risk of conception is highly unlikely.
However, if this incident occurred recently (within the last 72 hours), taking an emergency contraceptive pill is an option to further minimize any risk. Regarding the pregnancy test, yes, it was taken too early. It usually takes around 12 to 14 days after possible conception for a pregnancy test to give an accurate result. Since the incident was at the start of this month, the earliest you should take the test is around the second week of this month.
If the test is negative in the second week of this month, but your period still does not come, repeat the test after one week. It is difficult to predict ovulation in your case because your cycles have been irregular, and you took emergency contraception last month as well. So for now, the best approach is to wait until the second week of this month and test then.
Please try not to stress. The chances of pregnancy are very low, and worrying will not change the outcome. Just monitor things calmly. And in case the test does turn out positive and you are not ready to continue the pregnancy, there are safe medical options available. We can guide you through that if needed.
I hope this has helped you.
Please feel free to reach out to me again if you have further queries.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for your response.
I am not sure if I should take Plan B again, as I have already taken it once during this cycle. Do you think I should?
Also, regarding pregnancy tests, would an "early detection" test (six days before the expected period) be reliable in my case, since my period is due this week? Or would it be too soon, considering the incident happened earlier this month?
Please guide me.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
Yes, since the incidence was at the start of this month, this test is of no value because a particular level of beta hCG (beta-human chorionic gonadotropin) is required for the test to detect pregnancy. hCG is a hormone that usually increases in pregnancy and reaches a detectable level in urine after 12 to 14 days. A blood test for beta hCG would give results a bit earlier, but even that would take 11 days.
If 72 hours have not elapsed, then definitely Plan B (Levonorgestrel) can work.
See, the chances of conception are extremely low without intercourse, but only a pregnancy test can rule this out. If you are sure there was no actual contact between the vagina and penis, it is almost impossible.
I hope this has helped you.
Please feel free to reach out to me again if you have further queries.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Yes, there was no contact with the penis. Only pre-ejaculation on my hand that was rubbed against, and I am unsure, but leaning more towards yes, that it went into the vaginal opening.
I might look into Plan B, but as it is the same cycle, I think the chemist is not allowed to give it to me, and also, as I may have already ovulated, it may not work.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
Contraceptive pills do have other mechanisms as well, even if ovulation has occurred.
It can affect implantation by making the endometrial lining incompatible for attachment and making the secretion thicker. All this can affect implantation, but yes, the efficacy of contraceptive pills is really less after 48 hours.
Do not worry. The possibility of conception is very low, even if you do not take the pill. But if you are too anxious to wait till the second week of this month, then there is no harm in taking the pill.
I hope this has helped you.
Please feel free to reach out to me again if you have further queries.
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