Ocd about pregnancy

[Alice07Hatter]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this website and signed up because I need some advice to do with my ocd.
I have a massive fear of getting pregnant from situations such as touching something wet on a surface and then freaking out that if I go to the toilet for example without washing my hands I could get pregnant. There are many more ways I think of but that's just an example.

The issue I have now is I travel a lot and I sat down on one of the seats on the train and there was something I touched as I went to pick up my phone from the seat. It looked plasticy and was yellow/see through. So my first thought is this is a condom. I look at it closer (stupid thing to do but I needed to prove it wasn't) as I look closer it only makes me feel worse because it looks like the tip of the condom shuved down the side of the seat.
Now of course I'm worried because my phone, clothes where I was sitting and hand has touched this thing which I believe is a used condom. I'm on my way to do an exam so I can't go home and have a shower. So I'm so scared to now go toilet because I'm worried that I've got semen on me from the condom and I'm going to get pregnant if I go toilet or if I was my hands then touch my phone I'll have to wash my hands again.

I'm in an amazing relationship and my partner supports me with all my worries but it's getting to much. It's every time I go out, touch something or go near someone. I had a massive fear of blood when my ocd first started but I have a long time of cbt which helped me a lot but I've not been going for a year and it's starting to take over my life again.

So if anyone worries about anything similar or has any advice I would really appreciate it a lot.

Can you get pregnant from the things I worry about? By touching a condom then touching myself e.g. When getting changed or going toilet etc.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Myheadhurts]

I don't think you have anything to worry about but if it would help you to ask those questions to a doctor or nurse than go for it! I have all kinds of little worries that I deal with almost daily, all or almost all are unrealistic to worry about, but I still wash my hands to much and try to avoid touching to many things in public. Its a pain because I'm healthy and young so that sort of stuff shouldn't bother me but I'm always a little paranoid unless I'm manic.

 

[Alice07Hatter]

Thank you so much for your reply. It helps to hear theres probably nothing to worry about! I have spoke to a doctor and nurse before and they've said that its really difficult to get pregnant through intercouse and unless you have intercorse you won't get pregnant but that doesn't help the what ifs.

I'm sorry to hear that you struggle so everyday, I understand how difficult it can be sometimes and find that talking to someone usually helps a lot. I have the same problem with washing my hands too much and spending to much time doing compulsive behaviours which are usually for an impossible thought.

 

[Ark33]

Omg it's so good to see im not the only one worrying about this, it's an ocd that consumes me so much its debilitating! I constantly fear I could get pregnant from touching sperm them using the toilet etc, even from tiny things such as brushing past a male or if anyone comes to do maintenance work here and touches things in my bathroom/bedroom ect do you still have these fears and if not how did you get over them i really need help

 

[Annabelle]

I have OCD contamination, but what I am afraid of and disgusted is not germs but bodily fluids, semen and blood to be more precise. Whenever I see something white, yellowish, or red I immediately think and start obsessing that it's semen or blood and do rituals afterwards. as for your fear of getting pregnant after touching semen, don't worry. You can't get pregnant because semen dries very quickly on surfaces due to temperature and humidity. There are countless of research papers and studies on this.

 

[Ark33]

I have OCD contamination, but what I am afraid of and disgusted is not germs but bodily fluids, semen and blood to be more precise. Whenever I see something white, yellowish, or red I immediately think and start obsessing that it's semen or blood and do rituals afterwards. as for your fear of getting pregnant after touching semen, don't worry. You can't get pregnant because semen dries very quickly on surfaces due to temperature and humidity. There are countless of research papers and studies on this.

Yeah I've read pretty much every resource at this stage haha it's ridiculous, the information tends to vary and its hard to know what information to trust though. There's been a few times I swear I've touched something wet on handles in public or in my flat hall and I immediately freak that it was semen from someone's hand, even after washing my hands I panic that it's somehow still on me or I've touched other things that I'll touch again before I use the toilet etc, it's a never ending cycle of stress I wish there was just a DEFINITIVE NO answer to it not being possible

 

[Annabelle]

Yeah, I wish that too. And I can't stop wondering how other people never think about this. I mean- I know it's the damn OCD causing us to have such stupid thoughts and obsessions, but most people simply touch door handles in public places, toilets or sit on benches in parks freely without thinking whether there might be something nasty on it or who touched it. I hope one day I won't be bothered by such thoughts too.

 

[Ark33]

Yeah, I wish that too. And I can't stop wondering how other people never think about this. I mean- I know it's the damn OCD causing us to have such stupid thoughts and obsessions, but most people simply touch door handles in public places, toilets or sit on benches in parks freely without thinking whether there might be something nasty on it or who touched it. I hope one day I won't be bothered by such thoughts too.

Yeah totally, I've had this kind of ocd fear before some years back but totally got over it and didnt think of it for years which should be reason enough that it doesn't happen but I suppose it never truly goes away. I keep wondering how other women don't worry about it too, I suppose the answer is literally that it's so incredibly difficult and unlikely to happen that it just doesn't!

 

[Annabelle]

Yeah totally, I've had this kind of ocd fear before some years back but totally got over it and didnt think of it for years which should be reason enough that it doesn't happen but I suppose it never truly goes away. I keep wondering how other women don't worry about it too, I suppose the answer is literally that it's so incredibly difficult and unlikely to happen that it just doesn't!

I guess you are right btw, how have you managed to overcome this fear? Did you do it on your own or did you talk to a therapist?

 

[Ark33]

I guess you are right btw, how have you managed to overcome this fear? Did you do it on your own or did you talk to a therapist?

I was living at home still back then and was primarily worried about it around family members (gross I know) so when I moved out and went to uni in an all female dorm I could allow myself to not worry about it anymore in my own mind, if that makes sense. Then I moved into my own place after uni and just never thought about it again, only in very rare situations where I avoided a dodgy public toilet etc. I don't know why it's suddenly come back like this but it's definitely worse this time around so I'm seeking help from therapy to try to get over it once and for all

 

[Annabelle]

I was living at home still back then and was primarily worried about it around family members (gross I know) so when I moved out and went to uni in an all female dorm I could allow myself to not worry about it anymore in my own mind, if that makes sense. Then I moved into my own place after uni and just never thought about it again, only in very rare situations where I avoided a dodgy public toilet etc. I don't know why it's suddenly come back like this but it's definitely worse this time around so I'm seeking help from therapy to try to get over it once and for all

The fear is paralyzing although it's irrational. If you manage to get rid of it, please write what strategies the therapist told you to follow. And advice would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

[Hope35]

I have this fear too of semen being everywhere. I’m always thinking what if I touched a surface or something that had semen in it then somehow it got near my vagina when wiping, washing in the shower, etc. I’ve seen some sources in google that say it’s impossible and others that say you only need it to get near in order for there to be a possibility even if it’s a small possibly. This has consumed my life. I honestly hate being a girl because I think physically and mentally we bear the burden of so many more things than men. It may sound dumb but that’s how I feel and it’s gotten to the point I would rather be dead than deal with these thoughts every day.

 

[AlwaysinCrown]

Eh, have similar problem, I use to clean vagina as well wash toilet seat with toilet paper because I'm afraid it can make me pregnant and abortion laws are the strictest one here after Malta. Maybe it's also a reason why I've never had sex.

 

[Ark33]

I have this fear too of semen being everywhere. I’m always thinking what if I touched a surface or something that had semen in it then somehow it got near my vagina when wiping, washing in the shower, etc. I’ve seen some sources in google that say it’s impossible and others that say you only need it to get near in order for there to be a possibility even if it’s a small possibly. This has consumed my life. I honestly hate being a girl because I think physically and mentally we bear the burden of so many more things than men. It may sound dumb but that’s how I feel and it’s gotten to the point I would rather be dead than deal with these thoughts every day.

I completely empathise with this! And no matter what evidence we read or how many sources say how it's not possible there'll be the one source that says it IS a possibility and that's all it takes an anxious mind to think to convince itself it has/it definitely going to happen! I wish we could just turn our uteruses off when we didn't want children haha but honestly I'm going through exactly the same but with help we can get over it

 

[Ark33]

Eh, have similar problem, I use to clean vagina as well wash toilet seat with toilet paper because I'm afraid it can make me pregnant and abortion laws are the strictest one here after Malta. Maybe it's also a reason why I've never had sex.

Once the idea is in your head it's SO DIFFICULT to reason with it or get it out of your brain as a possibility! We know that sex or what is extremely close to sex has to happen for there to even be a chance, and even then it's like 20% likely in perfect unprotected conditions and much less if there's no actual sex. But do our brains care NO