Pregnancy Risks After Unprotected Intercourse: Key Insights - Obstetrics and Gynecology

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When assessing the risk of pregnancy after unprotected intercourse, especially during the fertile window, it is essential to understand the timing of ovulation and the nature of sperm viability. In your case, your wife’s last menstrual period started on January 8, and you had unprotected intercourse on January 11, with the app indicating that ovulation is expected around January 17.
The fertile window typically spans from about five days before ovulation to one day after ovulation. Sperm can live inside the female reproductive tract for up to five days, which means that if intercourse occurs close to the time of ovulation, there is a significant chance of sperm being present when the egg is released. Given that you had intercourse on January 11, this falls within the fertile window, as it is just six days before the predicted ovulation date.

Even though you attempted to withdraw before ejaculation, pre-ejaculate fluid (pre-cum) can contain sperm. This fluid is released before ejaculation and can lead to pregnancy if it comes into contact with the vaginal canal. Therefore, even if you pulled out before ejaculation, there is still a risk of pregnancy due to the potential presence of sperm in the pre-ejaculate.

To evaluate the likelihood of pregnancy, consider the following factors:
1. Timing of Intercourse: Since you had intercourse just six days before the expected ovulation, this timing increases the risk of pregnancy.

2. Withdrawal Method: The withdrawal method is not a reliable form of contraception. Studies have shown that it has a failure rate of about 20% with typical use, primarily due to the difficulty in timing and the presence of sperm in pre-ejaculate.

3. Menstrual Cycle Regularity: If your wife's menstrual cycles are regular, this can help predict ovulation more accurately. However, variations in cycle length can affect ovulation timing.

4. Signs of Pregnancy: If your wife experiences any signs of pregnancy, such as a missed period, nausea, breast tenderness, or fatigue, it would be advisable to take a home pregnancy test or consult a healthcare provider for further evaluation.

In conclusion, given the timing of your intercourse relative to ovulation and the method of contraception used, there is a notable risk of pregnancy. If you are concerned about the possibility of pregnancy, it is recommended to wait until her next expected period and take a pregnancy test if it is late. If you wish to avoid pregnancy in the future, consider discussing more reliable contraceptive methods with a healthcare provider.