Everything You Should Know About Pre-Cum

You’ve Heard of Pre-Cum Before. But How Much Do You Really Know About It?

If it’s been a while since your last sexual health class, let’s catch you up on what everyone should know about pre-cum.

If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s the clear substance that leaks out of the tip of a penis during male sexual arousal.

So why is pre-cum important to know about, you might ask?

Well, for one, the more educated we all are on how pre-cum impacts sexual arousal, the experience of sex itself, potential pregnancy and even STI transmission, the better.

Knowledge is power, and knowing how your body works can help improve sex for you and your partner (not to mention keep you both healthy and STI-free).

For two, pre-cum has some things in common with semen — and some differences from it — that could prove important to your sex life.

So here’s everything you should know about pre-cum — what it is, what to look out for and what to keep in mind for safer sex — as told by doctors.

What Is Pre-Cum?

So, what exactly is the stuff that comes out before you ejaculate?

“Pre-cum, or pre-ejaculate, is a clear, mucus-like fluid that is released from the penis during sexual arousal,” explains Amy Pearlman, M.D., a board-certified urologist practicing in Florida.

Fun fact about pre-cum: despite the fact that it comes out of the same hole (the urethra), it’s not made the same way as semen.

“Pre-cum comes from accessory sex glands like the Cowper’s gland, which are different from the prostate and testes that produce semen,” Pearlman explains.

Cowper’s glands are small, pea-shaped glands connected to the urethra via two ducts. When pre-cum is released, it passes through the urethra and out of the penis.

Another fun fact: pre-cum has a purpose.

“Many young men I see in my practice don’t realize that precum is a natural part of arousal and serves important biological functions, like neutralizing the acidic environment in the urethra to protect sperm,” Pearlman says.

Pre-cum also serves as a natural lubricant during sex, and is similar to the fluid made by the vagina during the arousal process, aka when people with vaginas “get wet.”

The Difference Between Pre-Cum & Semen

While semen tends to be thick and white or very slightly off-white, typically with a distinct odor to it, pre-cum differs a bit in composition.

“Pre-cum is often odorless, tasteless, and has a clear, sometimes sticky consistency,” explains Paul Gittens, M.D., a board-certified urologist and founder of Rockwell Centers for Sexual Medicine and Wellness in Pennsylvania and New York City.

Interestingly, most men can’t detect when pre-cum is being released the way they can with semen.

While semen’s arrival is typically hard to miss, as it shoots out of the urethra at high-speed, pre-cum’s is a lot more subtle—it will come out slowly, in smaller quantities, sometimes forming a simple drop at the tip of the penis or wetting the head as more emerges.

And, since it’s usually much thinner than the somewhat more gooey consistency of semen, you might not even notice it’s there.

Those differences make sense, since the purpose of pre-cum differs from semen’s as well.

“Pre-cum is primarily a lubricating and protective fluid, while semen contains sperm that can fertilize an egg,” Pearlman says.

Pre-cum doesn’t naturally contain sperm, but sperm can sometimes be present in pre-cum (more on that later).

And while pre-cum is made in the accessory glands, however, semen is made in the testes and combined with seminal fluid (a nutritious fluid that helps the sperm move, aka sperm motility).

Is It Safe to Swallow Pre-Cum?

If you’re wondering whether or not pre-cum is safe to consume orally, whether during a blowjob or not, the answer is yes — as long as both partners are free of sexually transmitted infections.

“Precum can carry infections like HIV, even though the concentration is lower than in semen,” Pearlman explains. “When I talk to patients about oral sex, I emphasize the importance of STI testing and safe practices, as many don’t realize that precum can still pose a risk.”

Getting tested regularly for STIs is key for safe sex, and that includes oral sex. Since most men can’t control pre-cum or feel when it’s happening, it’s especially important in cases where one partner may be consuming pre-cum orally.

Can Pre-Cum Cause Pregnancy?

While pre-cum itself doesn’t contain sperm, pre-cum can still cause pregnancy.

“It could take milliseconds for an ejaculate (sperm-containing fluid) to occur after the first site of pre-cum, which is why pulling out is never a good way to prevent a pregnancy,” Gittens explains.

Pre-cum can also contain sperm from a previous ejaculation.

“Studies show that up to 40% of men may have sperm in their precum, even after urinating,” says Pearlman.

In her practice, Pearlman has found that many young men rely on the withdrawal (pull out) method as their only form of contraception — often without knowing their partner’s contraceptive status.

“I advise them that withdrawal alone is unreliable and recommend combining it with methods like condoms or ensuring their partner is on an effective contraceptive,” she says.

So, in summation, yes, pre-cum and ejaculate are different from one another, even down to the fact that they’re produced by different glands.

However, pre-cum still poses risk for transmitted infections, similar to semen, and it can still cause pregnancy, even though it doesn’t naturally contain sperm, so it’s important to use contraception if you and your partner want to prevent it.

Open, honest communication is the foundation of every good sexual experience, so make sure you and your partner are on the same page about pre-cum, the risks it poses and the best contraception methods to keep you both safe and healthy.

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Source: AskMen