EXTRA: Strong sperm can impregnate women in swimming pool, says Indonesian official

Sitti Hikmawatty, an Indonesian commissioner, has suggested that women can get pregnant without sex if they swim in a pool alongside men with “strong sperm.”

The official, who occupies the position of commissioner for health at Indonesia’s Child Protection Commission (KPAI), disclosed this while speaking with Tribun Jakarta.

While charging women to be wary of unwanted pregnancies, Sitti said there are scenarios where women, who are reproductively mature, conceive after coming in contact with sperms in the pool.

“There’s a strong type of sperm that may cause pregnancy in a swimming pool. Even without penetration, men may become sexually excited and ejaculate, causing a pregnancy,” she was quoted as saying.

“If women are in a phase where they are sexually active, [such a pregnancy] may occur. No one knows for sure how men react to the sight of women in a swimming pool.”

While her claims were subjected to ridicule on social media, an executive with the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) discredited them, describing her assertion as an impossibility.

“The water in swimming pools contains chlorine and other chemicals. Sperm cannot survive in these conditions,” the IDI executive contrarily said, according to the UK Sun.

A health influencer, who criticized Sitti, added that “if you do not understand health problems, it’s better to be quiet. Instead of your comments causing anxiety and panic.

“Swimming with the opposite sex will not cause pregnancy. Not all men who swim ejaculate and sperm cannot live in chlorinated pool water, let alone swim into the vagina.”

According to DailyMail, Sitti, whose name translates “wisdom,” has since apologized for her comment, adding that her claims were made in a “personal capacity” rather than professional.

It was also gathered that “Sitti’s job may be at stake” as KPAI said it will form a three-man committee to determine whether or not she committed any violations with her viral statement.