Direct contact

[lucjana]

Hello,
I am a little bit confused, because English is not my native language. I would like to know what exactly "direct" means:

In order for pregnancy to be a possibility, the kind of contact that has to happen is:
- Direct contact with ejaculate (semen) and the vulva, vaginal opening⁠ or anus⁠.

It means only ejaculation-vulva way? Or maybe these ways are also called direct contact?
1. ejaculation-surface-finger-vagina, or
2. ejaculation-surface-sit on it directly with the entrance to the vagina-pushing sperm with a finger into vagina

In theory, these scenarios are also contact with semen, but I don't know if these are direct. I will be grateful for the explanation

[amber]

Hi lucjana !

I will do my best to try and reword it for you!

By direct, it means that nothing is in between (such as clothes). Semen making contact, without barriers, with the vulva, vaginal opening, or anus creates risk. If hands or other body parts are used to put semen in this sorta contact that still poses risk.

Does that make better sense?

Here is another article of ours that goes over different activities and their associated risk -- Can I Get Pregnant, or Get or Pass On an STI From That?

[lucjana]

Does this rule also apply to sperm that has been lying on a surface (e.g., on a toilet seat) for a while? Or does it apply to sperm straight from ejaculation? Other than that, I understand everything now, thank you!

[amber]

Sperm are not resilient enough to survive outside our bodies for super long periods of time, but semen and genital contact is something that poses risk.

The idea that folks get pregnant from surfaces like toilet seats are most likely stories meant to scare or put fear within people (especially young women). I say that as it is not something to worry or stress over. Does that make sense?