Can you get pregnant from pre-cum?
First off, what is precum—or, pre-ejaculatory fluid?
According to Chughtai B. et al, precum is “an alkaline mucus-like fluid.” This fluid is colorless and it comes out of the penis when an erection takes place, way before ejaculation. It is made off of a mixture of components among which glycoproteins and acid phosphatase can be found. Some types of glycoproteins “exhibit several functions in connection with their ability to form gels: they are involved in epithelial lubrication, act as efficient barriers against chemical aggressions, but they also play a role in cell signaling.” We will elaborate on this later on.
Precum is generated by a pair of tiny glands existing in penis owners’ bodies called Cowper’s glands. “Cowper's glands are pea-sized glands present inferior to the prostate gland in the male reproductive system” explain Chughtai B. et al. These glands are bridged to the urethra by ducts. The urethra is a duct that, among other things, connects the bladder to the tip of the penis. It is the duct from which urine is expelled from the body.
Precum serves a crucial purpose when it comes to sperm survival. Unlike vulva owners, penis owners do not have different ‘paths’ or ‘conduits’ in the body for peeing and for all-things sex. Sperm comes out of the penis the same way urine does. The chemical environment within the urethra is acidic due to the constant passing of urine.
When the body is getting prepared to release sperm—usually when the individual starts to experience sexual arousal—precum starts to be relased to cleanse the urethra, which would otherwise be too acidic for sperm cells to survive in to then be transported into the vagina.
“This fluid neutralizes the acidity of the urine residue in the urethra,
helps to neutralize the acidity of the vagina, and provides some
lubrication for the tip of the penis during intercourse.”
— Chughtai B. et al., A neglected gland: a review of Cowper's gland
This might also apply for the environment inside of the vagina. According to Lampiao F., “The vagina is normally an acidic environment, so the deposition of the pre-ejaculatory fluid before the emission of semen may create a more friendly environment where spermatozoa can strive.”
However, balancing pH levels isn’t the only purpose of precum. The glycoproteins it contains also, as stated by Lampiao F., “serve as lubricant for the glans penis during sexual intercourse, and they have also been reported to possess immunodefensive properties.” Long story short, precum lubricates, balances acidity and protects sperm cells from possible threats.
Precum is then a positive indicator of an individual’s health; thus, it’s an okay and natural fluid to excrete. It means the body is getting ready for ejaculation as it is intended to.
So, Can You Get Pregnant from Precum?
Yes. Primarily, sperm cells are found in semen, not in pre-ejaculate. However, pre-cum, in some men, can contain living sperm cells. Even though precum and semen are different fluids produced by different glands in the body, they still use the same duct to exit it; thus, a residue of either may be left within the urethra and a mixture of these components may occur.
In an article called Sperm content of pre-ejaculatory fluid, Killick S. et al. conclude that “a major proportion of men leak motile sperm in their pre-ejaculatory fluid.” Verywell Family states that “even if the man pulls out and ejaculates away from the vagina or vulva area, there is a 4% chance that pregnancy may result. These pregnancies are due to those few sperm cells in the precum.”
Mike Hsieh, M.D., urologist and director of Men's Health Center at UC San Diego Health, states that “It's estimated that about 20 percent of women can get pregnant from withdrawal method during sex, so it's possible those women got pregnant from pre-ejaculate.”
How Do Sperm Cells Make Their Way Into Precum Anyway?
Cross-contamination. After ejaculation, some sperm cells can stay within the urethra. Later on, when the individual engages in sexual activities again and precum is produced, the pre-ejaculate fluids might encounter sperm cells left behind from last time, making their way out of the body while taking with them these “old” sperm cells. These sperm cells can manage to travel to the fallopian tube and fertilize an egg in cases where no or failed contraceptive methods are used.
This is what causes the pull-out method not to be as reliable as other contraceptive methods. Some experts, however, suggest that one can increase the pull-out method’s chances of effectiveness by peeing in between sexual encounters. They recommend “to those who use coitus interruptus as a contraceptive method to urinate between ejaculations so that they may flush the urethra of the leftover spermatozoa to clear the way for the pre-ejaculatory fluid.”
As final remarks, precum can also carry bacteria and viruses that can cause STIs. Could one avoid an STI using the withdrawal or pull-out method? Not really: “Most people cannot tell when they have pre-ejaculated,” so there is very little control for pre-ejaculation. Using condoms is usually the safest way to go!
