How to Avoid Pregnancy After Sex: 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid

A condom breaks. Birth control was forgotten. Someone realizes afterward that contraception was not used at all.

In that moment, the biggest mistake is often waiting and hoping everything will be fine.

If pregnancy is not wanted after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, there are time-sensitive options. Emergency contraception can be used after sex, and some options remain available for up to five days. The sooner appropriate emergency contraception is used, however, the better—so knowing what not to do matters.

This guide focuses on five common mistakes that can make an already stressful situation more confusing.

Dry Humping: Is It Safe? Pregnancy, STI Risks & 7 Must-Know Facts

Can couples enjoy sexual closeness without having penetrative sex? Yes. And one activity people often ask about is dry humping.

The term may sound casual, but the questions surrounding it are serious: Can dry humping cause pregnancy? Can it spread an STI? Is it safe without clothes? Does it count as sex?

The short answer is that dry humping is generally a lower-risk sexual activity than vaginal intercourse, particularly when both people remain clothed. But “lower risk” does not mean every situation carries zero risk. What happens with clothing, semen, genital skin contact, and other sexual activities can change the picture.

Here's what modern couples should actually know.