Regardless of the methods of contraception, pregnancy is always a possibility for people to have sex. Before ejaculating, the penis releases fluid known as precum. This uncontrollable discharge can help with lubrication. If a man removes his penis from the vagina before ejaculating, you may wonder if it’s possible to conceive through precum.
Semen is not usually present in precum, but it sometimes does. This means that if precum penetrates the vagina, pregnancy is a possibility. About 4 out of every 100 women will conceive through precum.
The likelihood of pregnancy caused by precum in various situations is discussed below.
What Is Precum?
The Cowper’s glands produced precum (pre-ejaculate). The liquid that comes from the penis during arousal before the desired orgasm and ejaculation is known as precum. The two pea-sized Cowper’s glands are on either side of the penis’s most internal end, underneath the prostate gland.
Precum contains some sperm, and this is where individuals frequently face issues.
What is the Purpose of Pre-Ejaculation?
There are two primary purposes of pre-ejaculate:
- Pre-ejaculation reduces the urethral tract’s acidity. Urine acidity can kill sperm cells. During pre-ejaculation, alkaline mucus is released, neutralizing the pathway to give sperm a safe path.
- Lubrication for sexual activity is the second function of pre-ejaculation.
When Does Precum Occur?
There is nothing you can do to control pre-cum. It is an involuntary bodily process when a fluid release occurs just before ejaculation. This is why other birth control methods, including tablets or condoms, are more effective at preventing conception than the withdrawal technique.
Even if you pull out before your climax, pre-cum is still likely to enter your partner’s vagina and result in an unexpected pregnancy. Overall, the withdrawal method is about 73% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Do Precum Contain Sperm?
Pre-cum doesn’t have any sperm in it. However, sperm can enter the pre-cum. In one study, it was discovered that about 17% of the samples of 42 male sperm samples contained active sperm. Although these studies show that even if the amount of sperm present is low, there is still the possibility of pregnancy.
The possibility that sperm will appear in your pre-cum can be decreased by peeing before intercourse to help wash away any remaining semen.
Is Pregnancy Possible from Precum?
Many people think there is no chance of an unplanned pregnancy because pre-cum does not contain sperm. However, that is untrue. There is the possibility of becoming pregnant from pre-cum.
If you are having sex with someone who has a penis and takes it out before ejaculating, then precum will already have been released in the vagina with a possibility of sperm. Even if you do pull out, there is a 14–24% risk of pregnant precum.
What is the withdrawal method?
When a man takes out his penis during sex before ejaculating, it is referred to as the withdrawal method, pull-out method, or coitus interruption. The rationale behind using this kind of contraception is that by pulling out, the sperm won’t be able to reach his partner’s egg.
Is withdrawal effective?
It is not considered an effective method of birth control. Besides the possibility of precum getting contaminated with live sperm, the likelihood of becoming pregnant by withdrawal is higher than in other forms of contraception.
This technique of birth control is challenging to accomplish perfectly. It is ineffective mainly because it is a challenging method to use perfectly; some men may not pull out in time. Combining the withdrawal method with other methods, such as condoms, can improve its effectiveness.
How can you prevent precum from unwanted pregnancy?
Using a reliable method of birth control technique is the only way to stop precum from unintended pregnancy. Take a pill, an IUD, a patch, or another approach that suits your preferences. A condom should be used when there is contact between the vagina and penis. Even though this won’t eliminate your chances of becoming pregnant, it will significantly reduce them.
How Can Emergency Contraceptives Prevent Pregnancy?
After unprotected sex, emergency contraception (EC) is a type of birth control used to avoid getting pregnant. When taken shortly after unprotected sex, it works best. EC stops the pregnancy from occurring and does not cause an abortion. If pregnancy has occurred, then it is ineffective to use EC.
Emergency contraceptives come in different types, including:
- A copper IUD can be implanted up to five days after unprotected sex.
- Ulipristal tablets can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
- Progestin-only pills can be taken within three days after unprotected sex.
- Birth control tablets that work well together can be taken up to 5 days following unprotected sex.
Discuss with your doctor before taking EC.
What are the Side Effects of Emergency Contraceptive
You can take hormonal emergency contraceptives to protect against pregnancy. EC is safe to take but, like birth control, has some side effects. This includes:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Breast tenderness
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
When to see your Doctor?
Be patient and let your doctor confirm your results. A positive test result is almost always correct, but a negative test result is less reliable. You may have tested too soon, or your medicine impacted the results.
To find out if you are pregnant or not, your doctor may ask you to submit a urine, blood, or both test. If you are pregnant, discuss your options with your doctor.
