In a recent viral interview, Late Night TV host Conan O’Brien and a NASA engineer waded through spicier topics, like whether or not astronauts can masturbate in space and if they’re allowed to have porn.
Surprisingly, the engineer claimed that while it’s possible to masturbate in zero gravity, it’s discouraged because the stray fluids could lead to accidental pregnancy. He even went as far as to say that three women could get pregnant from the same stray load. But how valid is this claim? Is this idea of accidental extraterrestrial procreation just clickbait fodder or something that could be possible?
As it turns out, the idea is much more complicated than you might think. And while it’s certainly possible for an astronaut to get pregnant in space, several factors make it incredibly unlikely to do unless you’re actually trying. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the possibility of getting pregnant from stray fluids in space.
Can Astronauts Even Get Pregnant in Space?
The answer is yes. Or, at least it can be if you want it to be. The truth is that there are many things we don’t know about how sex works in space and how the environment affects conception (and even whether or not birth can happen).
We’re not the only ones who have wondered about this, seeing how NASA has conducted some research on the subject. For example, scientists collaborated to see if sperm could survive in space if frozen for long periods—and whether it could lead to pregnancy. They found that sperm could indeed survive the trip and that it was possible for a woman to get pregnant by using frozen sperm.
Sperm samples can remain viable for as long as 200 years when frozen in space. During the preservation period, the sperm DNA and fertility were not affected. It was even possible for the sperm to fertilize an egg and create a viable embryo.
This means that humans can reproduce in space. However, this doesn’t apply to non-frozen sperm samples, as cosmic radiation during travel is so high that it can significantly decrease the male sperm count and even sterilize a human fetus.
Is Pregnancy From Stray Masturbitory Emissions in Space Possible?
That theory is debatable, but logically speaking, it’s pretty impossible. To get pregnant, you need to ovulate and have intercourse with an active sperm cell that can fertilize the egg. Sperms must be inside a woman’s body for at least 5 hours before it can fertilize an egg. So even if there were some way for stray fluids to get into the vagina and swim up into the uterus, the time limit would still prevent pregnancy.
A woman would have to be naked and spread eagle at the same time that airborne sperm happened to be floating by for this even to be remotely possible. So, logically speaking, you probably won’t get pregnant in space even if one of your shipmates decides to boldly go where no man has ever gone before.
As for whether or not scientists think unplanned space pregnancies are possible? It’s still too early to tell. One thing is clear: humans have much more to learn about our bodies and how they work in space before we can confidently say that astronauts could get pregnant from stray fluids.
Space is a “Keep Your Rocket in Your Pocket” Zone
NASA has a protocol against any sexual activity in space, including masturbation. It’s not just about getting pregnant but also about the challenge of stray fluids reaching electrical and mechanical systems. A small amount of fluid can cause significant problems, so keeping the spaceship as clean as possible is essential.
That means no sex and no masturbation. Ever.
Pregnancy in Space is Strongly Discouraged
There are lots of reasons why space travel makes getting pregnant difficult. First, you’re already in a confined environment with limited resources and access to medical care on earth; add space’s lack of gravity, radiation exposure, and extreme temperatures into the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster. In addition, space conditions can be challenging for the body, so it could be dangerous for a woman to get pregnant in orbit.
The risk is high enough that NASA has banned astronauts from becoming pregnant during their missions. It’s not only a question of safety. Getting pregnant in space is also ethically questionable —it could be seen as a form of human experimentation since it could harm both the mother and her fetus. In space, many unknowns exist about how a fetus will grow in zero gravity. There’s also no way to determine how radiation exposure might affect reproductive cells.
The Effect of Space Radiation
NASA scientists have studied the dangers posed by cosmic rays extensively over the years. The results of these studies show an alarming increase in risks associated with radiation exposure during pregnancy:
- Congenital disabilities, cancer, and other health problems
- Damage to DNA
- Changes in cell growth patterns
- Mutations
In fact, even if you were standing on the ground next to a nuclear power plant during the first trimester, your pregnancy would be safer than being exposed to space-related radiation outside the earth’s atmosphere.
Suffice it to say, space travel won’t be an option for pregnant women any time soon.
Conclusion
So, can stray sperm get astronauts pregnant during spaceflight? Frankly, the idea of accidental extraterrestrial procreation is a little more complicated than your co-worker’s water cooler musings would lead you to believe. But based on our research, we can tell you that the answer is…probably not.
We’ll likely never know what happens behind closed doors at NASA, but one thing’s for sure: If the agency does find a way for astronauts to get pregnant in space (or even conceive), we’ll be watching closely to see if this viral story holds water.
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