Alice,
I have a question about birth control that I have never found fully answered in any of the books I've looked it up in: If we are engaging in mutual masturbation, and I get semen on my hands, how long should I wait before touching my partner's vulva? What constitutes being safe in this case (referring strictly to birth control here)? What if I dry my hands with tissues? Will the remaining sperm die in a couple of minutes exposed to the air? Or do I have to wait longer to be safe? -- Handy
Dear Handy,
Sperm survive only in a warm, wet environment, and will die within seconds without it. When all of the semen dries, you are not in any danger of impregnating your partner. However, should your ejaculation land in or close to the vagina when still moist, there is a possibility of fertilization, even if you've never had intercourse. If the woman is ovulating, which is the ideal time for fertilization, the sperm can potentially move into the vagina and have favorable conditions to fertilize the woman's egg. Your practices don't sound risky in terms of impregnation, but make sure that moist semen stays away from the vaginal area to be super safe!
- Alice
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Mutual Masturbation
