pre-ejaculate
{{short description|Clear fluid emitted from the urethra of the penis during arousal}}
{{distinguish|Premature ejaculation}}
File:Pre-ejaculate closeup.jpg
Pre-ejaculate (also known as pre-ejaculatory fluid, pre-seminal fluid or Cowper's fluid, and colloquially as pre-cum) is a clear, colorless, viscous fluid that is emitted from the urethra of the penis during sexual arousal and in general during sexual activity. It is similar in composition to semen but has distinct chemical differences. The presence of sperm in the fluid varies from low to absent. Pre-ejaculate functions as a lubricant and an acid neutralizer.
Origin and composition
The fluid is discharged from the urethra of the penis during arousal, masturbation, foreplay or at an early stage during sexual intercourse, some time before the individual fully reaches orgasm and semen is ejaculated. It is primarily produced by the bulbourethral glands (Cowper's glands), with the glands of Littré (the mucus-secreting urethral glands) also contributing.{{Cite journal| author = Chudnovsky, A. | author2 = Niederberger, C.S. | year = 2007 | title = Copious Pre-Ejaculation: Small Glands—Major Headaches | journal = Journal of Andrology | pmid = 17251594 | volume = 28 | issue = 3 | pages = 374–5 | doi = 10.2164/jandrol.107.002576}}{{Cite journal|vauthors=Chughtai B, Sawas A, O'Malley RL, Naik RR, Ali Khan S, Pentyala S |title=A neglected gland: a review of Cowper's gland |journal=Int. J. Androl. |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=74–7 |date=April 2005 |pmid=15811067 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00499.x |s2cid=32553227 |doi-access=free }} The amount of fluid that is issued varies widely among individuals. Some individuals do not produce any pre-ejaculate fluid,{{Cite journal|author=Vazquez E |title=Is it safe to suck? |journal=Posit Aware |volume=8 |issue=4 |page=15 |year=1997 |pmid=11364482 }} while others emit as much as {{convert|5|ml|lk=in|abbr=on}}.{{Cite journal|author1=Zukerman Z. |author2=Weiss D.B. |author3=Orvieto R. | title=Short Communication: Does Preejaculatory Penile Secretion Originating from Cowper's Gland Contain Sperm? | journal=Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics |date=April 2003 | volume=20 | issue=4 | pmid=12762415 | pages=157–159 | doi=10.1023/A:1022933320700 | pmc=3455634}}
Pre-ejaculate fluid contains chemicals associated with semen, such as acid phosphatase, but other semen markers, such as gamma-glutamyltransferase, are absent.{{Cite journal |author=Gohara WF |title=Rate of decrease of glutamyltransferase and acid phosphatase activities in the human vagina after coitus |journal=Clinical Chemistry |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=254–7 |date=1 February 1980 |doi=10.1093/clinchem/26.2.254 |pmid=6101549 |doi-access=free }}
Function and risks
Pre-ejaculate neutralizes acidity in the urethra caused by residual urine, creating a more favorable environment for the passage of sperm. The vagina is normally acidic, so the deposit of pre-ejaculate before the emission of semen may change the vaginal environment to promote sperm survival. Pre-ejaculate also acts as a lubricant during sexual activity, and plays a role in semen coagulation.
Low levels or no sperm exists in pre-ejaculate, although studies examined small samples of men. Two contrary studies found mixed evidence, including individual cases of a high sperm concentration.{{Cite journal|vauthors=Killick SR, Leary C, Trussell J, Guthrie KA |doi=10.3109/14647273.2010.520798|year=2011|title=Sperm content of pre-ejaculatory fluid|journal=Human Fertility|volume=14|issue=1|pages=48–52|pmid=21155689|pmc=3564677}}{{cite journal|last1=Kovavisarach|first1=E.|last2=Lorthanawanich|first2=S.|last3=Muangsamran|first3=P.|title=Presence of Sperm in Pre-Ejaculatory Fluid of Healthy Males|journal=J Med Assoc Thai|date=2016|volume=99|issue=Suppl 2 |pages=S38–41|pmid=27266214|issn=0125-2208}} There is evidence – dating to a 1966 Masters and Johnson study{{cite book|last=Masters|first=W.H.|title=Johnson, V.E.|year=1966|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|location=Boston, MA|page=211}} – that pre-ejaculate may contain sperm that can cause pregnancy, which is a common basis of argument against the use of coitus interruptus (withdrawal) as a contraceptive method.{{Cite journal| title=Researchers find no sperm in pre-ejaculate fluid | journal=Contraceptive Technology Update |date=October 1993 | volume=14 | issue=10 | pmid=12286905 | pages=154–156}}
Studies have demonstrated the presence of HIV in most pre-ejaculate samples from infected men.{{Cite journal|doi=10.1016/0140-6736(92)92659-4|vauthors=Pudney J, Oneta M, Mayer K, Seage G, Anderson D|title=Pre-ejaculatory fluid as potential vector for sexual transmission of HIV-1|journal=Lancet|year=1992|volume=340|page=1470|pmid=1360584|issue=8833|s2cid=7106584}}{{Cite journal|doi=10.1016/0140-6736(92)92658-3|vauthors=Ilaria G, Jacobs JL, Polsky B|title=Detection of HIV-1 DNA sequences in pre-ejaculatory fluid|journal=Lancet|year=1992|volume=340|issue=8833|page=1469|pmid=1360583|s2cid=43112865|display-authors=etal}}
Overproduction
In rare cases, an individual may produce an excessive amount of pre-ejaculate fluid, which may be treatable by a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, such as finasteride.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Sex}}
{{Human sexuality}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pre-Ejaculate}}