Pre-cum or pre-seminal fluid is not the same as semen. Outwardly, it resembles a sticky transparent mixture secreted from the urethral opening of the penis. It is released before ejaculation, mixed with sperm during ejaculation, and enters the vagina during unprotected sex.
Visually, this liquid resembles raw egg white. During arousal in men, fluid is secreted from the Cooper and paraurethral glands of Littre. It contains prostate juice.
Cooper's glands - or also called bulbourethral glands - are about the size of a pea and are located under the prostate gland on either side of the urethra.
The Littre glands look like clusters and are located throughout the urethra, about more than 30 pieces. They constantly secrete a secretion that lubricates the urethra. Its formation intensifies during sexual arousal.
Each man has his own amount of lubrication. To make it clearer, we can draw an analogy with women: some require additional lubricant for sex, while others need their natural lubricant. The amount of secretion from the bulbourethral glands is determined by the level of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. With prostate adenoma, the level of dihydrotestosterone is increased, and accordingly, discharge in guys increases when excited, although the composition is not normal.
The composition of pre-seminal fluid is somewhat similar to sperm. It contains a lot of sialoproteins, enzymes, aminosaccharides, in addition, an alkaline reaction also occurs in it.
The purpose of excretion during arousal in men (pre-ejaculate) is to lubricate the head, facilitate the insertion of the penis into the vagina, prepare the urethral canal for the passage of semen, and nourish sperm with useful substances. It also neutralizes bacteria, urine residues, and alkalizes the environment of the penis and vagina, creating good conditions for germ cells.
At the time of production of pre-seminal fluid there are no sperm in it. This is explained by the fact that they are in no way connected with the testicles; the glands do not synthesize them. However, sperm may be present in the pre-ejaculate leaving the urethra, depending on what phase of sexual intercourse we are talking about. The pre-ejaculation phase begins when approaching orgasm, as soon as the testicles are strongly pulled towards the groin. The ducts through which sperm passes become pumps that pump sperm out of the epididymis, pushing them into the prostatic part of the urethra. There they wait for the onset of orgasm - the release of sperm. Sometimes they pass further along the urethra and mix with the secretion of the Cooper glands.
It happens that sperm are retained in the pre-ejaculate from the moment of the previous ejaculation. Some men even develop spermatorrhea due to this – sperm incontinence. The reason for this is too high a testosterone level or taking strong drugs. It is possible to detect sperm in pre-ejaculate only through analysis, since during arousal they are secreted unnoticed.
You can even get pregnant from pre-seminal fluid - a 20% chance out of 100. This probability increases with repeated intercourse. A new portion of discharge in men during arousal can push stuck germ cells out of the urethral canal and carry them into the vagina.
15-20% of men have some sperm in their pre-ejaculate, so there is a high risk of becoming pregnant even with interrupted intercourse.
Normal amount of mucus
The amount of pre-cum is determined by how aroused the man is. Accordingly, maximum concentration is possible only with a strong sexual desire. The norm is 5 ml.
Some men do not produce lubrication at all, which reduces their ability to conceive a child. When aroused, healthy male discharge has no odor, inclusions, lumps, is viscous, and is not accompanied by pain or discomfort.
The main function of pre-seed formation is cleansing, so its composition can often change. With repeated sex, before ejaculation, or due to poor hygiene, it may become cloudy. Pre-ejaculate returns to a healthy state after a couple of days. If he has not recovered, then you need to go to the clinic, since this is a sure sign of the development of the disease.
Pre-semen function
Lubrication during sexual intercourse is important because its special composition disinfects and removes acid after urination. This is a natural preparation of the body for the removal of semen, which will pass through the prepared channel without problems. The microflora in the female vagina is acidic to prevent various diseases. But an acidic environment is also detrimental to sperm, making it weak and ineffective. And pre-ejaculate reduces acidity, and when sperm is released, the female body is ready to accept it, ensuring conception.
Signs of an abnormal condition
When excited, a guy secretes a liquid that is far from normal, has its own color, smell, composition, and is complemented by aching pain. A health problem is indicated by the appearance of urethral discharge, a terrible odor, pain when excreting urinary fluid, too much discharge, arbitrary formation of fluid without intimate desire, the presence of additional inclusions, a change in the structure of the discharge - too thin or thick. Each of these signs indicates the course of a pathology in the body that provokes diseases.
If lubricant is released in men without arousal, it is worth talking about the following diseases:
- Hematorrhea - pre-ejaculate is released along with blood if the mucous membrane of the urethra is injured.
- Spermatorea – sperm flows out randomly in the absence of orgasm due to too low muscle tone of the ducts through which the seed is released. Pathology is caused by chronic inflammation.
- Leukocyte urethrorrhea is the very stage of the inflammatory process when fluid is released into the tissues and body cavities. The exudative phase occurs due to the fact that the mucous urethral protective film has undergone thermal, mechanical damage, or has been exposed to viruses and chemicals for a long time.
- Mucopurulent - contain fluid secreted by the serous membranes, leukocytes, and gland secretions. This mucus usually forms at night. The man notices discharge with pus and yellowish spots on his underwear after waking up. They appear if the urethra is affected by bacteria - chlamydia, ureamicoplasma or trichomonas.
- Purulent - contain a lot of urethral epithelium, leukocytes, fluid from serous membranes, mucus. This type of discharge is very thick and smells terrible. Outwardly they resemble yellowish or greenish drops, and are a sure sign of gonococcal urethritis, which appears due to gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Mucus can be released in both large and small quantities. Lubrication in a small volume is practically invisible. To recognize it, you will have to press on the urethral opening, and then the liquid will appear. Usually it dries instantly, leaving a film on the membrane of the head of the penis. Due to the too viscous structure, the sponges of the urinary canal stick together.
Causes of painful discharge
The release of fluid during arousal in men is higher or lower than normal due to sexually transmitted diseases, but the reason may not be only them.
- Venereal diseases. They occur due to unfavorable microflora settling on the mucous membrane of the urethral canal, glands, cavities and external areas of the genital organs. All sexually transmitted diseases are divided into 4 groups according to the causative agent: bacteria (inguinal granuloma; chancroid; syphilis; lymphogranuloma; chlamydia; gonorrhea; mycoplasmosis; ureaplasmosis), viruses (HIV; herpes; condyloma; papillomavirus; molluscum contagiosum), fungus (candidiasis) and parasites (scabies; phthiriasis).
- Other reasons. The prostate gland performs a decisive function in the formation of sperm. Without its secretion, seminal fluid has no functionality. If the prostate is inflamed, its production becomes more intense.
Men with chronic prostatitis notice a large amount of discharge from the urethral opening when aroused. This fluid is called prostatic secretion, and is very similar to pre-ejaculate.
Intense discharge during excitement in men can occur due to allergies, hypothermia, inflammatory processes, chemical or physical injuries.
Clear mucus may indicate recent probing. It is the body’s protective reaction to microtrauma in the mucous membrane. If a large amount of such discharge is observed, then this is considered a sure sign of infertility.
To identify a particular pathology, it is not enough to visually assess the liquid. Here it is important to check its biological composition, and this can only be done during a medical examination.
Can lubricant fertilize?
It has been experimentally proven that male lubricant contains few sperm, so there is a small chance of getting pregnant if it is released during unprotected sex.
The chance of conception is especially high in the middle of the cycle, when ovulation has already passed and the cervix is still open. At other times, what is released in men during arousal is not enough for fertilization. Without the nutrient medium of sperm, germ cells will quickly die in the vagina.
The likelihood of conception is highest after repeated sexual intercourse, since the lubricant will contain quite a lot of sperm. If there is no desire to have a child, then it is better to go to the toilet a little before the next visit.
Can a virgin get pregnant?
This is quite possible, and we are not talking about the virgin birth. This situation is due to two conditions:
- individual features of the structure of the hymen;
- viability and speed of sperm;
- Is the girl ovulating at this time?
Even naked petting can unexpectedly lead to pregnancy. This happens if male lubricant ends up on the girl’s genitals. Sperm can enter the vagina and conception will occur. The risk is higher if the hymen is particularly elastic or damaged (trauma, equestrian sport).
Sometimes this is enough to connect the egg and sperm. Medical statistics prove that a woman in labor with an intact hymen is not uncommon.
Pre-cum color
Healthy lubrication in men is clear and colorless. The color and composition of the liquid changes due to inflammatory processes - cooperitis. If the discharge becomes cloudy with a yellowish or greenish tint, this indicates suspicious pathogen activity. If the shade is brown, then this indicates inflammatory damage to blood vessels and bleeding.
Inflammation of the Cooper glands can be detected using a multi-glass urine sample. First you need to urinate in the first container, after massaging the gland, urinate in another container - at this stage a secretion appears in the urine, which needs to be checked. After the second study, the prostate gland is massaged, and urine is collected in a third container. For example, if the second container showed an increased content of leukocytes, and in the first and third they are normal, then this indicates isolated inflammation.
Blockage of the glands can also occur due to stagnant secretions - after all, the urethral ducts reach 2-8 cm. Inflammation occurs due to the resulting plugs. In this case, massage and antibacterial therapy are prescribed as treatment.
Diagnostics
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and collecting anamnesis, examine the genitals. In this case, specialists simultaneously take prostate juice through rectal massage. Further laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostate secretion;
- Analysis of urine;
- Sperm.
It is important to evaluate the discharge itself. To do this, they are subjected to microscopic examination. It is this method that allows you to identify the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Next, doctors move on to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- Cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are found during the examination, diagnosticians take a puncture.
How to reduce discharge from excitement
Sexual desire is difficult to hide if the discharge shows through your clothes. If men release fluid in large quantities when excited, then you need to follow several recommendations:
- have sex regularly - at least 2-3 times a week, this normalizes the secretion of the glands;
- get a consultation with a urologist - sometimes abundant pre-ejaculate indicates hormonal imbalances, inflammation and prostate adenoma;
- give up tight-fitting underwear; in loose underwear, the discharge will not be so noticeable;
- Avoid getting excited in inappropriate situations – avoid visual and physical stimulation.
Prevention measures
In general, preventive measures come down to the correct attitude towards sexual intimacy and largely depend on the girl’s upbringing.
General recommendations for meeting the following conditions:
- Good sexual savvy, somewhat educated.
- Use only proven methods of contraception of sufficient effectiveness.
- The contraceptive should be selected by a qualified gynecologist, and not by the caveman method - the poking method.
- In the unfortunate circumstances of an unwanted pregnancy, it is necessary to ensure the safety and legality of abortion procedures, which is entirely related to the qualifications and professional skills of the doctor.
- Receiving high-quality and professional advice, recommendations, as well as medical care after an abortion.
How to increase your discharge before sex
It happens that men secrete a small amount of lubricant during arousal. Increasing the volume of pre-ejaculate is especially important for those men who prefer to have sex without a condom. Natural lubrication will improve glide, eliminate damage and enhance fertility
How to do it:
- Increase the duration of foreplay. Sex without sufficient stimulation leads to injuries to the mucous membranes of the genital organs. High-quality and long-lasting foreplay triggers intense fluid production in both women and men.
- Use dietary supplements or aphrodisiacs. Supplements with ginseng, hot mucuna and horny weed are especially suitable. They increase arousal and increase the amount of pre-ejaculate released.
- Minimize alcohol and cigarettes, as toxins prevent the glands from functioning normally.
- To drink a lot of water.
- Regularly perform exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles (squats, bridges and Kegel exercises).
Testosterone helps increase secretion in men when excited. During andropause in men, this is why the amount of pre-ejaculate decreases. Synthesis can be normalized with the help of synthetic and herbal testosterone boosters, but only under the strict supervision of a doctor.
In most cases, biologically active substances (dietary supplements) help to safely increase the amount of pre-seminal fluid and improve sperm quality. Types of contraception: choosing the best option
The comparison table will help you choose the most reliable method of protection:
| Method of protection | Reliability level, % |
| Condom | up to 96 |
| Male sterilization | 99. 9 |
| Intrauterine hormonal methods | up to 97 |
| Oral contraceptives | up to 98 |
| Hormone injections | up to 97 |
| Diaphragm | up to 95 |
| Intrauterine device | up to 95 |
| Basal temperature measurement | up to 70 |
| Calendar method | up to 70 |
| Interruption of sexual intercourse | up to 60 |
| Douching after sex | up to 15 |
The couple selects a suitable method individually. It is important to take into account the health status and habits of your partners.