Pre-ejaculate

 

 

Pre-ejaculate (also known as pre-ejaculatory fluid or Cowper's fluid, and colloquially as pre-cum) is the clear, colorless, viscous fluid that is secreted by the urethra of a man's penis when he is sexually aroused. The fluid is usually secreted by Cowper's glands during arousal, masturbation, foreplay or at an early stage during sex, some time before the man fully reaches orgasm and semen is ejaculated.

Pre-ejaculatory fluid prepares the urethra for the passage of semen by neutralizing acidity due to any residual urine. It also lubricates the movement of the penis, and of the foreskin over the glans. The amount of fluid that the human male issues varies widely among individuals, from imperceptible amounts to a copious flow.

There have been no large-scale studies of sperm in pre-ejaculate, but some smaller-scale studies suggest that any sperm present may be ineffectual at causing pregnancy. This may account for the moderate effectiveness of coitus interruptus as a contraceptive method (failure rate of 27% for typical use and 4% for perfect use over one year). It is likely, however, that pre-ejaculate which follows a recent ejaculation will contain more sperm, as some ejaculate is always left in the duct after orgasm.

The same studies have shown the presence of HIV, which can lead to the disease AIDS, in pre-ejaculate.