Sperm in pre-seminal fluid: is there a chance of pregnancy?

Pre-ejaculatory or pre-ejaculatory fluid is the viscous, colorless liquid secreted by Cowper's glands or bulbouretal glands of the male reproductive system. This is expelled to the outside by the urethra of the penis before ejaculation occurs.

Today, there is still a debate about whether there are sperm in the pre-seminal fluid or not. In addition, the probability of getting pregnant with this pre-eminent fluid, without there being ejaculation, is also a topic of discussion.

Below you have an index with all the points that we will discuss in this article.

Characteristics of the precum

Pre-seminal fluid is a secretion produced by man during sexual arousal. It has a composition similar to that of semen, although substances from the prostate and seminal vesicles are not present in it.

The reason for this is that the preseminal fluid comes from Cowper's glands and enters directly into the urethra, without going through the rest of the secretory glands.

For this same reason, the pre-seminal fluid itself does not transport sperm, since they only leave the epididymis during ejaculation and then mix with the rest of the components of the seminal fluid.

There is no predetermined quantity of pre-seminal fluid. There are men who do not produce fluid prior to ejaculation and others who can secrete up to 5 ml.

Functions

The main functions of the precum during intercourse are the following:

Lubricant

semen is much more viscous than pre-seminal fluid and, therefore, one of the main functions of this fluid expelled before ejaculation is to lubricate the walls of the urethra to make it easier to expel the ejaculate. It also acts as a lubricant in sexual relations.

Neutralize acidity

the pre-seminal fluid can modify the vaginal environment (acid) and thus facilitate the survival of the sperm after ejaculation. In addition, it can act as a neutralizer of the acidity that can remain in the urethra due to the remains of urine that could cause damage to the sperm.

Probability of pregnancy

The fact of becoming pregnant with pre-seminal fluid is a subject of constant controversy for both couples and experts in sexuality.

There are numerous investigations into this dilemma about the presence or absence of sperm in the pre-ejaculatory fluid.

In any case, both the studies that claim to have found motile sperm in the pre-seminal fluid with fertilizing capacity and those that defend the absence of these are made based on a very low sample size and, therefore, the results can not be considered significant or conclusive.

As we have said, it is not possible that there are sperm alive in the preseminal fluid physiologically speaking, since sperm only leave the epididymis immediately after orgasm.

However, it would be possible to find few sperm in the preseminal fluid if there has been a previous ejaculation recently, that is, in the case of a second sexual intercourse.

It is possible that some sperm are retained in the urethra after the first ejaculation and, subsequently, go outside in a second excitation carried by the precum. For this reason, it is recommended to urinate between one and another ejaculation, to eliminate all remnants of residual sperm that may have remained in the urethra.

Anyway, even confirming that there are sperm in the pre-ejaculatory fluid, the possibility of pregnancy by only the entry of this fluid into the vagina is very low. In case of having sperm, its quality and quantity will be very low and, therefore, so will the probability that they can overcome all the barriers of the female reproductive system to reach the egg.

Interrupted intercourse

Interrupted intercourse, commonly known as reversing , consists of stopping the sexual relationship and taking the penis out of the vagina just before male ejaculation.

It is considered a natural contraceptive method , since it does not require the use of hormonal medication or other devices. However, it is not 100% reliable to avoid pregnancy due to the great controversy about the presence or absence of sperm in the pre-seminal fluid.

In addition, the interrupted intercourse requires that the man has a high control over his ejaculation. Actually, the reliability of this method is based on whether or not to remove the penis in time, rather than on the hypothesis of whether or not there are sperm with fertilizing capacity in the pre-seminal fluid.

In conclusion, interrupted intercourse is not recommended as a contraceptive method to avoid pregnancy and, if you want to practice it, the ideal would be to do it during the non-fertile period of the woman .

Questions from users

Is the presence of HIV in the pre-seminal fluid possible?

Yes. HIV viral particles are found in seminal plasma and, therefore, pre-seminal fluid can carry them and there is a risk of contagion when having unprotected sexual intercourse.

For more information about this, we recommend you visit the following post: HIV infection through semen.

How many sperm does the precum contain?

As we have commented throughout the article, it has not been demonstrated that the precum contains sperm and, in case of having them dragged from the urethra after an ejaculation, its quantity would be minimal compared to what exists in the semen.

Is pregnancy possible by pre-seminal fluid on a woman's fertile days?

It is very difficult to have a pre-seminal fluid pregnancy without ejaculation, since the presence of sperm is minimal or nil. However, it is not recommended to have unprotected sex during the fertile days to avoid the possible risk.

Recommended reading

There are several types of contraceptive methods if the couple wants to have sex without risk of pregnancy. You can find them all in the following article: Contraceptive methods.

If you are looking for a pregnancy, in the following post you will find information of your interest: How can I get pregnant naturally?