This is a question that 9 out of 10 women have after having sex without a condom. It’s also a common doubt for those who didn’t even have penetration but had contact with semen. Or even for those who weren’t planning to get pregnant and ended up having sex without the well-known ejaculation. But what exactly is pre-ejaculate fluid? How can it contribute to pregnancy? Let’s find out…
The penis is the main male reproductive organ, as it’s responsible for expelling semen during sexual intercourse or manual stimulation (masturbation). Sperm production happens in the testicles, which are inside the scrotal sac1. Sperm are stored in ducts called epididymides, also located in the scrotal sac. Semen consists of sperm and other fluids. When there is stimulation for semen to exit, ejaculation occurs. However, to make sex easier, when a man is aroused, his body produces a lubricating fluid. This fluid is composed almost 100% of proteins like those found in semen, but without the sperm present in ejaculation.
This fluid is a constant concern for women and men who have sex without condoms or contraceptives and do not want to get pregnant. It’s common to hear about the practice of withdrawal during sex, and this is where much of the concern over pre-ejaculate fluid comes from.
This way of trying to avoid unwanted pregnancy can cause ongoing anxiety whenever unprotected sex occurs. Many rely solely on the fact that ejaculation did not happen inside the vagina. Theoretically, pre-ejaculate fluid alone would not cause pregnancy since, in general, it does not contain sperm in its composition, but this does not mean there is no risk, or that withdrawal is an effective contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy. In this sense, it is important to consider two points:
1 – Arousal control is not always possible: Not every time does a man feel ejaculation begin. Even if these episodes are isolated, they do happen, due to excitement and the heat of the moment. In such cases, small jets of ejaculation can be released without noticing. And once inside the vagina, we know this can result in pregnancy.
2 – Sperm can be present in the penile canal just before sex: The man produces pre-ejaculate fluid, and it exits the penis. Thus, it can occasionally carry leftover sperm (from a previous ejaculation) out of the penis. In other words, during penetration, the fluid can carry “left behind” sperm into the woman. If the previous ejaculation was very recent, the risk of this happening increases significantly.
Myths surrounding pre-ejaculate fluid
Many people have questions about pre-ejaculate fluid, so there are many questions and myths about the topic. What we need to keep in mind is that pregnancy risk only exists when the penis is in the vagina and ejaculation happens inside. So, touching or putting your hand on the partner’s genitals with pre-ejaculate fluid2 would not cause pregnancy. However, a very different situation, which can cause a pregnancy risk, is if a man ejaculates and then inserts a semen-covered finger into the vagina. Another point to reinforce is that if the partner ejaculates on the leg, hand, pants, or underwear, there is no chance of pregnancy.
We should also consider that, for pregnancy to occur, the woman needs to be in her fertile window. Without ovulation occurring, pregnancy is impossible even with internal ejaculation. Therefore, it is important for a woman to know her cycle and her body3. To be more certain of when her fertile period and ovulation occur, in order to better plan sexual relations, ovulation tests are an option. With them, it’s possible to detect if a woman is in her most fertile day, which could result in pregnancy if unprotected sex occurs. You can find Famivita ovulation tests here.
If you really don’t want to get pregnant, it is necessary to use safe methods, such as condoms and contraceptives. There’s also the risk of contracting diseases, such as well-known STIs (sexually transmitted infections). These are diseases that can be passed from person to person through sexual contact involving bodily fluids. Since penile lubrication is a bodily secretion, even without ejaculation, it can transmit or carry diseases just by contact.
Important Tip: It’s always good to remember that pregnancy may be the best consequence of unprotected sex — but only if that’s what you want at the moment. Always use condoms, because appearances can be deceiving, and you can’t see a person’s health status or diseases by looking, okay?!
See Also: How to Increase Sperm Production?
