Can you get pregnant if the condom breaks?

By Kendall @ Planned Parenthood | March 14, 2013, 12:44 p.m.

Category: Ask the Experts, Birth Control

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Is it possible that if the condom breaks just a little bit and the guy comes is it possible to become pregnant? Even if you didn’t intend it to?

Yes, if the guy ejaculates and the condom breaks — even just a little bit — then there’s a chance you can become pregnant. That’s because even the tiniest tear in a condom is still big enough for microscopic sperm to swim through.

If this happened to you and you weren’t using another method of birth control (like the pill, patch, or an IUD, just to name a few), you can use emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Emergency contraception is sometimes called the morning-after pill. It can be started up to 120 hours (five days) after unprotected sex, and can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. The earlier you take it, the better.

A broken condom is a scary thing. But there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of a condom breaking. Check out this video on how to correctly put on a condom.  It’s also important to check the date on the condom’s packaging (to make sure it hasn’t expired), and to use plenty of lubrication during sex to cut down on friction that can cause breakage. Learn more about condoms.

And while condoms are extremely effective at preventing pregnancy, it’s even better to use another method of birth control along with condoms — like the birth control pill. This way, you’re preventing pregnancy and the spread of STDs.

Tags: plan b, pregnant, broken condom