hose

Question

Can you get pregnant from pre-cum?

Answer

It only takes one sperm to fertilise an egg, and there are many reliable reports of sperm being in pre-ejaculate fluid[1]. These observations, together with the fact that the withdrawal method of contraception does not work 100% of the time1,[2] (even if it is done ‘perfectly’) suggest that yes, ‘pre-cum’ can cause a pregnancy.

 

What is pre-ejaculate fluid, where does it come from and what does it do?

Pre-ejaculate fluid is a clear, slippery fluid that often passes from the urethra (the hole in your penis that you wee out of) during sexual arousal, before you have an orgasm and ejaculate.

Pre-ejaculate fluid is made up of secretions from two sets of glands: the bulbourethral glands (also known as the Cowper’s glands), which are two pea-sized glands located underneath your prostate gland, on either side of the urethra at the base of your penis; and the urethral glands (also known as the Glands of Littré), of which there are many, along the length of the urethra in the penis.

The bulbourethral glands produce most of the pre-ejaculate fluid, which seems to have a few functions:

  • To lubricate the penis during sex
  • To lubricate the urethra, helping expulsion of semen
  • To protect sperm by neutralising the pH in the male and female reproductive systems
  • Helping to coagulate semen once it leaves the penis.

The urethral glands produce mucus, which protects the cells lining the inside of the urethra from urine.

In addition to containing sperm, pre-ejaculate fluid may also contain human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in HIV-positive people.

So, if you want to avoid HIV infection or pregnancy, proper use of a condom provides the best protection (that includes putting it on before any contact between your penis and your partner).

A/Prof Tim Moss
A/Prof Tim Moss

Associate Professor Tim Moss has PhD in physiology and more than 20 years’ experience as a biomedical research scientist. Tim stepped away from his successful academic career at the end of 2019, to apply his skills in turning complicated scientific and medical knowledge into information that all people can use to improve their health and wellbeing. Tim has written for crikey.com and Scientific American’s Observations blog, which is far more interesting than his authorship of over 150 academic publications. He has studied science communication at the Alan Alda Centre for Communicating Science in New York, and at the Department of Biological Engineering Communication Lab at MIT in Boston.

References

[1] Kelly, M.C. 2021. Pre-ejaculate fluid in the context of sexual assault: A review of the literature from a clinical forensic medicine perspective. Forensic Science International

[2] Hassoun, D. 2018. Natural Family Planning methods and Barrier: CNGOF Contraception Guidelines. Gynécologie Obstétrique Fertilité & Sénologie

Related articles

Subscribe to the monthly newsletter

Each month we release two email newsletters – one written for men, family and friends, and another for health practitioners.

Gender
Which newsletter/s would you like to subscribe to?
CAPTCHA