Dr. Aruna Ashok MBBS, MS OG, DNB OG
- Clinical Director
Aruna Ashok | 31 July 2023
When it comes to trying to get pregnant, numerous questions might cross your mind. However, this is not the case with any of the assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments. With the ART treatment, you are sure that the sperm is inside your body and is trying to get fertilized with the egg. However, with the natural process, you might need certain methods to confirm whether the sperm has reached your reproductive tract or not.
The presence of sperm in your body, especially around the time of ovulation, causes changes in your vaginal discharge. The amount of discharge may be increased if the sperm and egg are fertilized. The appearance and consistency may also differ from regular discharge, often becoming stretchy and slippery like egg whites.
While having intercourse, some women may experience injector pressure when the sperm is ejaculated. The pressure may generally be noticed for a very short period of time. Some women may even experience a tingling or warmth sensation when the sperm is ejaculated. However, these physical sensations are not experienced or noticed by all women. This confirms the presence of sperm inside your body.
After having intercourse, the traces of sperm in the vagina are certain that the sperm has entered your body. Generally, the vagina cannot hold the entire ejaculated sperm inside it. It’s common to release some of them. Even though some sperm are expelled through the vagina, there are significant chances that the remaining sperm has entered your cervix and to the uterus. This has the possibility of increasing your chances of getting pregnant, which significantly confirms the presence of sperm inside your body.
Having a keen eye on early symptoms that are associated with pregnancy can help you confirm the presence of sperm inside your body. The symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, morning sickness, breast tenderness, and so on. Even though its presence is not detectable immediately after having intercourse, these symptoms can provide us with some clarifications. Furthermore, a home pregnancy test is the definite way to confirm its presence.
Through certain indicators, you can determine if your partner’s sperm went inside your body and resulted in fertilization or not. The indicators may include physical observations and medical tests. Having sufficient knowledge of these indicators can help you stay informed about the possibility of conception after intercourse.
Changes in vaginal discharge are a significant indicator to determine the presence of sperm in a woman’s body. When the sperm and egg are fertilized inside a woman’s reproductive tract, the vaginal discharge tends to change its consistency and appearance than usual. These become even more noticeable as the pregnancy progresses.
Spotting or implantation bleeding is an early indicator to determine the presence of sperm inside your body. Spotting can happen when the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterine lining or endometrium. However, spotting cannot be experienced by all women.
Sore or tender breasts are other indicators to determine the presence of sperm inside your body. When fertilization happens, your body tends to thicken the uterine lining to accommodate the growing fetus. This leads to increasing the level of hormones, potentially causing changes in your breasts.
The feeling of nausea as soon as you wake up in the morning, particularly 8 to 10 days after having unprotected intercourse is a clear indicator that the sperm has entered your body. Nausea is sometimes referred to as morning sickness. The symptom generally arises during the initial stages of the pregnancy.
A heightened sense of smell is a significant indicator to determine the presence of sperm inside a woman’s body and has served its purpose. When fertilization happens, a woman’s body increases the level of reproductive hormones such as estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormones. This leads to the enhanced sensitivity of olfactory receptors, causing a heightened sense of smell.
Even though you do not make any changes to your routine, yet experience a feeling of fatigue or tiredness throughout the day, it is possible that your partner’s sperm has reached your reproductive tract and served its purpose.
Every month, a woman’s reproductive organs prepare for pregnancy by thickening the uterine lining or endometrium to nourish the fertilized egg. When fertilization doesn’t take place, the lining sheds and results in a menstrual period. On the other hand, when fertilization takes place, the uterine lining starts to nourish the fertilized egg or embryo. In simple terms, if you fail to get your period, it means that your partner’s sperm has reached the matured egg, and caused pregnancy.
Many women generally rely on medical tests rather than physical observations to determine the presence of sperm inside their bodies. This is because of the confusing symptoms that are majorly associated with the approaching menstrual cycle. Following are some of the medical tests that can help you with confirming your pregnancy.
Home pregnancy tests can typically be done around the time of your expected menstrual cycle or sometimes a few days after your missed periods. The test can be done in both scenarios: concerned about unwanted pregnancy or trying to get pregnant. Either way, the test helps to confirm and rule out the pregnancy if required or continue to nurture the growing fetus with prenatal care.
Having a consultation with your healthcare professional can certainly ensure determining the presence of sperm inside your body. To confirm this, your healthcare professional may suggest to perform the beta blood test. The test can deliver the most accurate results for your pregnancy. The test is usually performed a few days after your missed periods. The beta blood test detects your pregnancy by determining the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormones in your blood.
The sperm detection tests are done to detect the presence of sperm in the vaginal fluids. To perform the test, you must consult a physician, who will prescribe the test with instructions. The test is majorly performed at medical laboratories. The sperm detection tests are rarely used since other accurate methods are available to confirm your pregnancy.
You can increase the chances of getting pregnant if you are trying to conceive by following certain methods. They are:
The timing of the intercourse plays a crucial role when it comes to achieving a successful pregnancy. Around the time of ovulation, in specific, four to five days before ovulation, on the day of ovulation, and the day after ovulation has the highest possibility of conception if you have unprotected intercourse during this period. This happens as the already ejaculated sperm tends to survive in the uterus for up to five days.
In simple terms, the ejaculated sperm will wait for the matured eggs in the woman’s reproductive tract. When your ovaries release the eggs (ovulation), the awaiting healthy sperm gets fertilized with the matured egg. While the sperm can typically survive for up to five days, the eggs can survive only 12 to 24 hours. Hence, having intercourse around this period is significant in achieving a successful pregnancy.
Ejaculating deeply inside the vagina can significantly increase your chances of getting pregnant. This is possible through certain sexual positions such as a doggy position and an elevated missionary position. This allows the sperm to be ejaculated deeply inside the vagina and through the cervix to the fallopian tubes.
Washing or rinsing your vagina immediately after intercourse can certainly decrease your chances of getting pregnant. This happens as the sperm might get washed away if you wash or rinse the vagina. Hence, it is suggested to lay down for a few minutes after intercourse slightly elevating your hips with a pillow. This allows the sperm to swim further up potentially causing a successful pregnancy.
The pregnancy journey can be smooth like silk for some women, while for others it can be a challenging time. The symptoms and emotional changes can happen because of hormonal fluctuations. This can widely differ from woman to woman. Understanding the process, determining the significant ways to confirm whether sperm went inside, and methods to increase the chances of pregnancy, can all help with making your fertility journey hassle-free. If you are struggling to get pregnant, never hesitate to reach out to the fertility specialist for professional guidance and support.
1. Is sperm leakage normal after sex?
The sperm leakage after having sex is quite normal. This does not interrupt the potential for conception.
2. Can I get pregnant if I pee immediately after intercourse?
The answer to the question is no. The possibility of conception is in no way interrupted if you pee after intercourse. This happens as the openings are separate for both purposes.
3. How do I avoid sperm from entering my body?
Certain methods to prevent sperm from entering your body and causing fertilisation may include condoms, implants, birth control pills, patches, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).
4. Can I get pregnant if I have intercourse during my periods?
The answer to the question is yes. It is possible to get pregnant if you have intercourse during your periods. Yet the chances are lower than your ovulation period.
5. Can I feel it when sperm enters my body?
The answer to the question may significantly depend on the frequency of the intercourse. Some women may feel an injector pressure when the sperm is ejaculated, while others feel none.
