Pregnancy Risk After Unprotected Intercourse and Emergency Contraception

Probability of Pregnancy

A few days ago, my girlfriend helped me achieve ejaculation with her hand, and I'm not sure if my hand came into contact with semen before I inserted my fingers deep into her vagina for digital penetration.
We took emergency contraception within 24 hours.
Now, my girlfriend's period is 6 days late, and she has only experienced an increase in discharge that is thicker and whiter.
I would like to ask the doctor how likely it is for her to be pregnant in this situation.

Ru, 10~19 year old female. Ask Date: 2022/07/20

Dr. Zhang Kunmin reply Obstetrics and Gynecology

Hello, the factors that can affect the menstrual cycle or cause intermenstrual bleeding are numerous, including age, environment, lifestyle, stress, emotional instability, weight changes, medications, emergency contraceptive pills, diet, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine or cervical lesions, infections, ovulation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, among others.
The impact of emergency contraceptive pills on menstruation is not necessarily to induce an earlier or later period, and their contraceptive effectiveness is not 100%.
It is recommended that if symptoms persist or worsen, you should consult a gynecologist for evaluation.
Thank you! Wishing you safety and health, Dr.
Zhang.

Reply Date: 2022/07/20

More Info

When it comes to understanding pregnancy risk after unprotected intercourse and the use of emergency contraception, it's essential to consider several factors that can influence the likelihood of conception. Based on your description, it seems that you and your girlfriend engaged in activities that could potentially lead to pregnancy, specifically through the possibility of sperm transfer during manual stimulation and subsequent digital penetration.

Firstly, it's important to clarify that the risk of pregnancy from the scenario you described is relatively low, especially since you took emergency contraception (EC) within 24 hours. Emergency contraception pills, such as Plan B (levonorgestrel) or Ella (ulipristal acetate), are designed to prevent ovulation and thus reduce the chance of fertilization if taken shortly after unprotected intercourse. The effectiveness of these pills is highest when taken as soon as possible after the incident, and they can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89% when taken within 72 hours, with some formulations being effective for up to 120 hours.

Regarding your girlfriend's menstrual cycle, the fact that she has experienced some changes, such as an increase in white discharge, could be attributed to hormonal fluctuations caused by the emergency contraception. It is not uncommon for women to experience changes in their menstrual cycle after taking EC, including delayed periods, irregular bleeding, or changes in discharge. However, the presence of white discharge alone does not indicate pregnancy.

Given that your girlfriend's period is now six days late, it is advisable for her to take a home pregnancy test (HPT) to confirm whether or not she is pregnant. Home pregnancy tests are highly sensitive and can detect pregnancy hormones (hCG) in urine as early as the first day of a missed period. If the test is negative and her period does not arrive soon, she may want to consult with a healthcare provider for further evaluation.

In summary, the likelihood of pregnancy in your situation is low due to the timely use of emergency contraception. However, the best course of action is to confirm with a pregnancy test. If there are any concerns or if her period does not return, seeking medical advice would be prudent. It's also essential to discuss and consider more reliable forms of contraception for the future to prevent unintended pregnancies and ensure both partners feel secure and informed about their reproductive health.

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I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.

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