Briefly, yes. Any time you have unprotected vaginal-penile sex there’s a chance of pregnancy.

So what is sperm exactly?

Sperm is the male sex cell (or gamete). Sperm contain genetic information of people assigned male at birth (AMAB).

Sperm develop in the seminiferous tubules (small tubes of the testicles). As sperm cells develop, they move through the epididymis (coiled tube). Sperm is stored in the epididymis until ejaculation. During ejaculation they move to vas deferens (or sperm duct).

What’s semen?

Semen is fluid that contains both sperm and seminal fluid (a whitish fluid). Seminal fluid is made by the seminal vesicles and prostate gland.

The vas deferens and seminal vesicle come together at the ejaculatory duct. This is where sperm and seminal fluid meet to form semen.

The ejaculatory duct then empties into the urethra (urine tube). The urethra ends at the tip of the penis.

How long do sperm live after ejaculation?

Sperm can live in the female reproductive tract for several days. This means if you have vaginal-penile sex there’s a chance of pregnancy.

Sperm can live on surfaces for a short amount of time, except in very specific conditions.

What can I do to prevent pregnancy?

There are lots of options to help prevent pregnancy with vaginal-penile sex. These include condoms for people assigned male/female at birth. Also methods that people assigned female at birth can use:

• Intrauterine Device
• Subdermal Implant
• Injectable
• Hormonal Patch
• Vaginal Ring
• Pills