What is Precum?

Good sex life is a mixture of a million things. One of them is being spontaneous with your partner. While being spontaneous spices things up and gives your spouse a boost, decisions made during such times are often not very smart. If having intercourse without protection makes spontaneous moves exciting, then there is a lot to explore before diving into it! Penetration without contraceptives is often considered a safe bet if the male partner does not orgasm. However, this standard belief bubble is burst once you learn what is precum.

In this article, we will discuss about precum meaning, its function and the chances of a woman getting pregnant from precum, among other things.

Precum Meaning

Precum is a natural liquid produced in the male body that works as a natural lubricant when they are aroused. Precum is also called pre ejaculation fluid since it is released before the actual ejaculation, an orgasm in layman's terms. Precum is a fluid that is a mixture of many components of the male reproductive system. These components include enzymes, proteins, mucus, and more.

Precum: What Does It Do?

Now that we’re familiar with precum meaning, let us understand its functions. The role of precum in the male reproductive system is to facilitate intercourse and penetration safely and smoothly. A vagina has a highly acidic environment which can lower the chances of any sperm surviving. Precum helps maintain a particular pH level that increases the chances of sperm survival once it penetrates the vagina without a barrier.

Moreover, precum is a fluid that reduces any risks of severe friction that can make sexual intercourse painful for both parties. Precum may look similar to semen, the white fluid released from the penis during an orgasm. Besides reducing friction during intercourse, it facilitates the sperm to leave the body.

What Level of Precum Is Normal?

The amount of precum produced by every person varies and cannot be controlled. As a result, there’s no normal level of precum. On an average, most people release up to 4 ml of fluid and may not even notice when the precum is released.

Can Precum Cause Pregnancy?

An important revelation about precum is that it does not contain any sperm when released. Precum is produced and released from the penile gland, which does not produce sperm. The sperm is made in the testicles. But even if sperm is not present in the precum initially, there is a possibility of sperm mixing from the urethra of the male reproductive system. The urethra does not produce sperm either, but ejaculations occur through it. Therefore, if there is any residual sperm left in the urethra from past ejaculations, then there is a chance of sperm being a part of the precum.

Precum is just called the start of an actual semen ejaculation which is an orgasm. Even if the chances of precum containing sperm are slim, they are still genuine. It is difficult to get pregnant with that low quantity of sperm, but it is still possible. There are about 15-20% chances of getting pregnant from precum. This bracket is mingled with people who use the pull-out method as well. Pull out method refers to having sexual intercourse without contraceptives like birth control or condoms and stopping right before the male is about to orgasm (ejaculate sperm).

Conclusion

It is not advisable to have any skin-to-skin penetration without the thought of a planned pregnancy. Pull-out methods and even contact with precum can be quite risky. While the odds of getting pregnant may seem pretty low, the female cycle can significantly impact this process. This means the chances of an unplanned pregnancy increase if the female goes through the ovulation phase of her cycle. Even the precum quantity and sperm count depend on hormones, arousal level, hydration levels, etc. It is best to use contraceptives until you and your spouse are ready to have a pregnancy!

References

1. Killick SR, Leary C, Trussell J, Guthrie KA. (2011). Sperm content of pre-ejaculatory fluid. NCBI
2. Lampiao F. (2014). Coitus Interruptus: Are there spermatozoa in the pre-ejaculate? AJOL