Can you get pregnant if the guy pulls out before he "comes"?
- Ali*

Yes. You can definitely get pregnant if the guy pulls out before he comes. Guys leak a bit of sperm out of the penis before ejaculation. This is called pre-ejaculate. So even if a guy pulls out before he ejaculates, a girl can still become pregnant. Unlike during an orgasm, a guy can't tell exactly when the pre-ejaculate is released.

If a guy ejaculates close to the outside of the vagina, the sperm can swim up into the vagina. Pulling out isn't a reliable form of birth control and it also does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). So always use condoms every time you have sex.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: June 2010

* Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

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