Pre-cum or pre-seminal fluid is a liquid produced by the bulbourethral gland in a male's body. This fluid is secreted by the male to clear a path for the sperm to travel through during ejaculation. Pre-cum is alkaline in composition, which neutralizes any acidic remnants of urine present in the urethra. Therefore, pre-cum is vital in making a safe and non-hostile path for the sperm to travel. It is typically produced when a male is aroused during sexual intercourse. So what is the possibility that a woman will get pregnant from this pre-cum? In this article we will explore this common question and determine if it is just a myth.
The chance of getting pregnant from pre-cum is quite low due to its low sperm count. This has been supported by studies conducted by WHO/USAID. In a normal ejaculation there are around 100 million sperm per ml of fluid. Out of this 100 million sperm, only 10 million will make it past a woman's cervical mucus, only 1 million reach the uterine tract, and finally only a slim 100, 000 actually make it to the fallopian tubes. In pre-cum there is only 3 million per ml, therefore it is highly unlikely that a woman will get pregnant from pre-cum alone.
However, there is still a slim chance for fertilization from pre-cum. This fertilization does not occur from the pre-cum itself, but from sperm from a previous ejaculation that gets swept up by the pre-cum as it enters the woman's vagina. Urinating between sexual activities will clear the area of sperm, decreasing this possibility.
Many individuals opt to use the withdrawal method during sex as a viable contraceptive tool, in place of birth control pills or condoms. During this method, the man withdraws his penis from the woman before ejaculating. Though the actual ejaculation does not enter the woman's vagina, the pre-cum may still have entered it.
While the withdrawal method may sound as if it lowers the risk of pregnancy, there is still a chance of getting pregnant from the pre-cum. Moreover, the man may not withdraw in time to prevent the actual ejaculate from entering the woman, making this method extremely risky.
Below we have listed the varying degrees of pregnancy risk associated with the withdrawal method:
High: If a man does not withdraw in time and ends up ejaculating in the vagina, there is a very high risk of pregnancy. Furthermore, even if they withdraw in time, but have sex before urinating there is still a risk of pregnancy. This is because sperm may still be in the penis cavity and can be ejaculated through the pre-cum into the vagina. As previously discussed, if the man urinates before having sex again, then this will reduce the likelihood of this happening.
Low: The man withdraws quite a while before the ejaculation and has urinated between each sexual interaction.
Pre-cum has a very low chance of resulting in pregnancy, due to the low sperm count in the fluid. However, with any sexual interaction there is still a slim chance of fertilization occurring. If you are worried about this risk then you should practice safe sex.