Pre-ejaculate
Pre-ejaculate (also known as
pre-ejaculatory fluid or
Cowper's fluid, and colloquially as
precum) is the clear fluid that is issued from a man's
penis when he is
sexually aroused. The fluid is usually secreted by
Cowper's glands during
masturbation,
foreplay or at an early stage during
sex, some time before the man reaches
orgasm and
semen is ejaculated.
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 in the
vagina and the
foreskin over the
glans. The amount of fluid that the human male can issue varies widely between individuals, from imperceptible amounts to a copious flow.
Though frequently cited as a carrier for small numbers of sperm, and thus a potential cause of pregnancy, it is very unlikely that conception will occur from exposure to pre-ejaculate fluid. It has also been theorized that pre-ejaculate may push sperm from a prior ejaculation out,
presumably if he has not urinated since his most recent ejaculation. These are among the reasons why
withdrawal is not considered to be a reliable method of
birth control. 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.
A more serious problem is those same studies have shown the presence of
HIV, the virus responsible for the disease
AIDS, in pre-ejaculate.
Pre-ejaculate can also transmit other
STDs.
Slang terms for pre-ejaculate include
pre-come, pre-cum,
dog water,
speed drop,
widower's tears, and
clear stuff.
