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'Pre-ejaculate' (also known as 'pre-ejaculatory fluid' or 'Cowper's fluid', and colloquially as 'precum') is the clear, colorless, viscous fluid that is issued from 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.

Contents

Function

Presence or absence of sperm

Presence of HIV

References

Function

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.

Presence or absence of sperm

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. Researchers find no sperm in pre-ejaculate fluid, , , , Contraceptive Technology Update, October 1993 ^[1] This may account for the surprisingly low pregnancy rate (approximately 4% per year) among couples that practice perfect use of coitus interruptus.

Presence of HIV

The same studies have shown the presence of HIV, the virus responsible for the disease AIDS, in pre-ejaculate.

References

1. Short Communication: Does Preejaculatory Penile Secretion Originating from Cowper's Gland Contain Sperm?, Zukerman Z.; Weiss D.B.; Orvieto R., , , Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, April 2003