Can precum cause pregnancy?
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| Can precum cause pregnancy? |
Can you get pregnant from pre-seminal fluid?
Precum or Pre-ejaculatory fluid, is a lubricating fluid released by the penis during sexual arousal. Can it contain sperm? What are the risks of getting pregnant with precum?
You had unprotected sex, your partner did not ejaculate, but you still have doubts about the probability of getting pregnant with pre-seminal fluid. This post answers all our questions about precum and pregnancy risks.
What is pre-seminal fluid?
Pre-seminal fluid , also called precum or pre-ejaculatory fluid, is a liquid that lubricates the penis and arrives just before ejaculation. Coming from the Mery-Cowper glands , located around the urethra canal, it is released by the penis during arousal. Its quantity varies according to individuals. It can be very abundant in some and very little in others depending on the size of the Cowper glands. Some men are not aware of the release of this fluid.
This fluid is composed of secretions from the seminal and prostatic vesicles mixed with sperm from the testicles. Pre-ejaculatory fluid helps clean the urethra canal of bacteria and acidity caused by urine. It thus gives sperm a better chance of survival at the time of ejaculation and fertilization. Unlike pre-seminal fluid emitted outside of ejaculation, seminal fluid is contained in semen. It is secreted by the seminal vesicles, connected to the prostate.
Is there sperm in precum?
Pre-seminal fluid does not contain sperm in itself, but it is possible that some remain in the ducts and that they are present in this fluid. If there has been a previous ejaculation, there may be sperm remaining in the ducts of the penis, and therefore the pre-seminal fluid can bring them back, even if this is not present in its basic composition.
While urinating does clean the urethra to some extent, it doesn't ensure that sperm are completely flushed through the urethra, according to the midwife. A study published by the National Library of Medicine in 2010 showed that out of 27 men, 11 had sperm present in their pre-ejaculatory samples. In 37% of cases, a reasonable proportion of sperm was motile.
Can pre-seminal fluid cause pregnancy?
It is therefore possible to get pregnant thanks to pre-seminal fluid. Experts also warn against the withdrawal method or coitus interruptus, which consists of removing the penis from the vagina before ejaculation occurs: "It is not an effective method of contraception." In addition, it is easy to forget to withdraw at the moment of ejaculation.
According to data from the World Health Organization, the Pearl Index (theoretical index equal to the percentage of unwanted pregnancies over a year of optimal use of the method, editor's note) of withdrawal is 4. Its practical effectiveness (number of pregnancies per 100 women per year with usual use) climbs to 20.
Then, although the risk of pregnancy is greater during sexual intercourse with vaginal penetration, there is still a small risk when the fluids end up near the vagina (on the vulva for example) since the spermatozoa, if they come into contact with the mucous membranes, can still go up to the uterus. Thus, sexual intercourse without penetration and without ejaculation, but with the presence of pre-ejaculatory fluid, does not carry a great risk of pregnancy, but the possibility is still present.
Can pre-seminal fluid transmit HIV and STIs?
Precum can be responsible for the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), it is part of the contaminating fluids. The use of a condom must therefore be done from the beginning of sexual intercourse and not only at the moment of ejaculation.
