Pre-cum or pre-seminal fluid is not the same as semen. Externally, 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 whites. During arousal in men, fluid is secreted by Cooper's and Littre's paraurethral glands. Contains prostate juice.
Cooper's glands - or also called bulbourethral glands - are about the size of a pea and are located under the prostate on both sides of the urethra.
Littre's 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 excitement.
Each man has his own amount of lubrication. To make it clearer, we can make an analogy with women: some need 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 increases and, accordingly, secretion in men increases when excited, although the composition is not normal.
The composition of pre-seminal fluid is somewhat similar to that of sperm. It contains many sialoproteins, enzymes, aminosaccharides, in addition, an alkaline reaction also occurs.
The purpose of excretion during arousal in men (pre-ejaculation) 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 the 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 to the testicles, as the glands do not synthesize them. However, sperm may be present in the pre-ejaculation that comes out of the urethra, depending on the phase of sexual intercourse we are talking about. The pre-ejaculation phase begins when orgasm approaches, as soon as the testicles are strongly pulled towards the groin. The ducts that sperm pass through 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 through the urethra and mix with the secretion of Cooper's glands.
It turns out that sperm are retained in pre-ejaculation from the moment of the previous ejaculation. Some men even develop spermatorrhoea due to this – sperm incontinence. The reason for this is too high a testosterone level or the use of strong medications. It is possible to detect sperm in pre-ejaculation only through analysis, since during arousal they are secreted unnoticed.
You can even get pregnant with pre-seminal fluid - a 20% chance in 100. This probability increases with repeated sexual intercourse. A new portion of secretion in men during arousal can push trapped germ cells out of the urethral canal and transport them to the vagina.
15-20% of men have some sperm in pre-ejaculation, so there is a high risk of getting pregnant even if sexual intercourse is stopped.
Normal amount of mucus
The amount of pre-cum is determined by the man's arousal. Consequently, maximum concentration is possible only with a strong sexual desire. The norm is 5 ml.
Some men do not produce any lubrication, 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 seed preformation is cleaning, which is why its composition can change frequently. With repeated sexual intercourse, before ejaculation, or due to poor hygiene, it may become cloudy. Pre-ejaculation returns to a healthy state after a few days. If he has not recovered, you need to go to the health center, as it is a clear sign of the development of the disease.
Pre-cum 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 any problems. The microflora of the female vagina is acidic to prevent various diseases. But an acidic environment is also harmful to sperm, making them weak and ineffective. And pre-ejaculation reduces acidity, and when the sperm is released, the female body is ready to accept it, ensuring conception.
Signs of an abnormal condition
When excited, the guy secretes a liquid that is far from normal, has its own color, smell, composition and is complemented by intense pain. A health problem is indicated by the appearance of urethral discharge, a terrible odor, pain when excreting urinary fluid, excessive discharge, arbitrary formation of liquid without intimate desire, the presence of additional inclusions, a change in the structure of the discharge - also 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-ejaculation is released along with blood if the mucous membrane of the urethra is injured.
- Spermatorea – sperm flows randomly in the absence of orgasm due to very low muscle tone of the ducts through which the seed is released. The pathology is caused by chronic inflammation.
- Leukocyte urethrorrhea is the 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 protective urethral mucosal film has suffered thermal, mechanical damage or has been exposed for a long time to viruses and chemicals.
- Mucopurulent - contains liquid secreted by serous membranes, leukocytes and glandular secretions. This mucus usually forms at night. The man notices discharge with pus and yellowish stains on his underwear when he wakes up. They appear if the urethra is affected by bacteria - chlamydia, ureamycoplasma or trichomonas.
- Purulent - contains a lot of urethral epithelium, leukocytes, fluid from serous membranes, mucus. This type of secretion is very thick and has a horrible smell. Outwardly, they resemble yellowish or greenish drops and are a clear sign of gonococcal urethritis, which appears due to gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Mucus can be released in large and small quantities. Small volume lubrication is virtually invisible. To recognize it, it will be necessary to press the urethral opening and then the liquid will appear. It usually dries instantly, leaving a film on the membrane of the head of the penis. Due to the very viscous structure, the sponges in the urinary canal stick together.
Causes of painful discharge
The release of fluids during arousal in men is greater or less than normal due to sexually transmitted diseases, but the reason may not be just them.
- Venereal diseases. They occur due to unfavorable microflora that settles 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; phytiriasis).
- Other reasons. The prostate plays a decisive role 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-ejaculation.
Severe discharge during arousal 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 microtraumas in the mucous membrane. If a large amount of this secretion is observed, it is considered a clear sign of infertility.
To identify a particular pathology, it is not enough to visually evaluate the liquid. Here it is important to check its biological composition, and this can only be done during a medical examination.
Can lube 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 passed and the cervix is still open. Other times, what is released in the man during arousal is not enough for fertilization. Without the nutrient medium of sperm, germ cells will quickly die in the vagina.
The probability of conception is greater after repeated sexual intercourse, as the lubricant will contain a lot of sperm. If there is no desire to have a child, it is better to go to the bathroom 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;
- sperm viability and speed;
- Is the girl ovulating right now?
Even naked fondling 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 greater 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 suspected pathogen activity. If the shade is brown, this indicates inflammatory damage to blood vessels and bleeding.
Inflammation of Cooper's 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 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, this indicates isolated inflammation.
Blockage of the glands can also occur due to stagnant secretions - after all, the urethral ducts reach 2-8 cm and inflammation occurs due to the resulting plugs. In this case, massage and antibiotic therapy are prescribed as treatment.
Diagnosis
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and collecting anamnesis, examine the genitals. In this case, experts simultaneously take prostate juice through rectal massage. Other laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostate secretion;
- Urine analysis;
- Sperm.
It is important to evaluate the secretion 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.
Then doctors move on to instrumental diagnosis:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- TC;
- Cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are found during the examination, diagnosticians make a puncture.
How to reduce excitation discharge
Sexual desire is difficult to hide if the discharge shows through clothes. If men release liquid in large quantities when excited, you need to follow some recommendations:
- have sex regularly - at least 2-3 times a week, this normalizes the secretion of the glands;
- consult a urologist - sometimes abundant pre-ejaculation indicates hormonal imbalances, inflammation and prostate adenoma;
- give up tight underwear, in loose underwear the discharge will not be so noticeable;
- Avoid getting excited in inappropriate situations – avoid visual and physical stimuli.
Prevention measures
In general, preventive measures boil down to the correct attitude towards sexual intimacy and largely depend on the girl's upbringing.
General recommendations to meet the following conditions:
- Good sexual knowledge, somewhat polite.
- Use only proven contraceptive methods that are sufficiently effective.
- Contraceptives should be selected by a qualified gynecologist, and not by the caveman method - the poke method.
- In the unfortunate circumstances of an unwanted pregnancy, it is necessary to guarantee the safety and legality of abortion procedures, which is entirely related to the professional qualifications and competence of the doctor.
- Receive professional and high-quality advice, recommendations, as well as medical care after an abortion.
How to increase your secretion before sex
It turns out that men secrete a small amount of lubricant during arousal. Increasing pre-ejaculation volume is especially important for those men who prefer to have sex without a condom. Natural lubrication will improve glide, eliminate damage and increase fertility
How to do this:
- Increase the duration of foreplay. Sex without sufficient stimulation causes damage to the mucous membranes of the genitals. High-quality, long-lasting foreplay triggers intense fluid production in women and men.
- Use dietary supplements or aphrodisiacs. Supplements with ginseng, mucuna mucuna and horny herb are especially suitable. They increase arousal and increase the amount of pre-ejaculate released.
- Minimize alcohol and cigarettes, as toxins prevent normal gland function.
- Drink a lot of water.
- Regularly perform exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor muscles (squats, bridges and Kegel exercises).
Testosterone helps increase secretion in men when aroused. During andropause in men, this is why the amount of pre-ejaculation 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 protection method:
| Protection method | Reliability level, % |
| Condom | up to 96 |
| Male sterilization | 99. 9 |
| Intrauterine hormonal methods | up to 97 |
| Oral contraceptives | up to 98 |
| Hormonal injections | up to 97 |
| Diaphragm | up to 95 |
| Intra uterine device | up to 95 |
| Basal temperature measurement | up to 70 |
| Calendar method | up to 70 |
| Interruption of sexual intercourse | up to 60 |
| Shower after sex | up to 15 |
The couple individually selects a suitable method. It is important to take into account the health status and habits of your partners.