Pre-ejaculate 147494 225261338 2008-07-12T19:24:46Z Lyrl 408908 Some expansion '''Pre-ejaculate''' (also known as '''pre-ejaculatory fluid''' or '''Cowper's fluid''', and colloquially as '''pre-cum''') is the clear, colorless, [[viscosity|viscous]] fluid that emits from the [[urethra]] of a man's [[penis]] when he is [[sexually aroused]]. ==Origin and composition== [[Image:Precum.JPG|160px|thumb|right|Pre-ejaculate on a human penis]] The fluid is emitted during [[sexual arousal|arousal]], [[masturbation]], [[foreplay]] or at an early stage during [[Sexual intercourse|sex]], some time before the man fully reaches [[orgasm]] and [[semen]] is ejaculated. It is primarily produced by the [[bulbourethral gland]]s (Cowper's glands), with the glands of Littre (the [[Urethra#Histology|mucus-secreting urethral glands]]) also contributing.<ref name=Chudnovskycite>{{cite journal | author = Chudnovsky, A. | coauthors = Niederberger, C.S. | year = 2007 | title = Copious Pre-Ejaculation: Small Glands--Major Headaches | journal = Journal of Andrology | volume = 28 | issue = 3 | pages = 374 | doi = 10.2164/jandrol.107.002576}}, which cites:<br/> {{cite journal |author=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 |year=2005 |month=April |pmid=15811067 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00499.x |url=}}</ref> The amount of fluid that the human male issues varies widely among individuals. Some men do not produce any pre-ejaculate fluid,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Vazquez E |title=Is it safe to suck? |journal=Posit Aware |volume=8 |issue=4 |pages=15 |year=1997 |pmid=11364482 |doi= |url=}}</ref> while others emit as much as 5&nbsp;[[Liter|mL]].<ref name=Chudnovskycite /> Pre-ejaculate contains some chemicals associated with semen, such as [[acid phosphatase]]. Some semen markers, such as [[gamma-glutamyltransferase]], are completely absent from pre-ejaculate fluid.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Gohara WF |title=Rate of decrease of glutamyltransferase and acid phosphatase activities in the human vagina after coitus |journal=Clin. Chem. |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=254–7 |year=1980 |month=February |pmid=6101549 |doi= |url=http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=6101549}}</ref> ==Function== Acidic environments are hostile to sperm. Pre-ejaculate neutralizes residual acidity in the urethra caused by [[urine]], creating a more favorable environment for the passage of sperm. The vagina is normally acidic; the deposit of pre-ejaculate prior to the emission of semen may change the vaginal environment to promote sperm survival.<ref name=Chudnovskycite /> Pre-ejaculate also acts as lubricant during intercourse,<ref name=Chudnovskycite /> and plays a role in semen coagulation.<ref name=Chudnovskycite>Chudnovsky, A. and C.S. Niederberger (2007), which cites:<br/> {{cite journal | author = Beil, R.E. | coauthors = Hart, R.G. | year = 1973 | title = Cowper's gland secretion in rat semen coagulation. II. Identification of the potentiating factor secreted by the coagulating glands. | journal = Biol Reprod | volume = 8 | issue = 5 | pages = 613-7 | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4713168 | accessdate = 2008-07-12}}</ref> [[Image:Precum1.JPG|160px|thumb|left|Pre-ejaculate, a more viscous higher flow variation]] ==Risks== Studies have shown the presence of [[HIV]], which can lead to the disease [[AIDS]], in pre-ejaculate.<ref name=HIV/> Many also express concern that pre-ejaculate may contain sperm which can cause pregnancy, using this to argue against the use of [[coitus interruptus]] (withdrawal) as a contraceptive method. There have been no large-scale studies of sperm in pre-ejaculate, but some smaller-scale studies suggest that no sperm is present and thus pre-ejaculate is ineffectual at causing pregnancy.<ref name=HIV>{{cite journal | title=Researchers find no sperm in pre-ejaculate fluid | journal=Contraceptive Technology Update | year=October 1993 | volume=14 | issue=10 | pmid=12286905 | pages=154–156}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author=Zukerman Z.; Weiss D.B.; Orvieto R. | title=Short Communication: Does Preejaculatory Penile Secretion Originating from Cowper's Gland Contain Sperm? | journal=Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | year=April 2003 | volume=20 | issue=4 | pmid=12762415 | pages=157–159 | doi=10.1023/A:1022933320700}}</ref> It is likely, however, that pre-ejaculate which follows a recent ejaculation will contain sperm, as some ejaculate is always left in the duct after orgasm.<ref>{{cite web | title = Withdrawal Method | work = Planned Parenthood |date=March 2004 | url =http://www.plannedparenthood.com/health-topics/birth-control/withdrawal-pull-out-method-4218.htm | accessdate = 2006-09-01 }}</ref> ==Overproduction== A few men are bothered by the amount of pre-ejaculate fluid they produce. One physician described a patient who was embarrassed that the fluid would "soak through his pants during kissing or other mild erotic stimulation". A few case reports have indicated satisfactory results when such men are treated with a [[5-alpha-reductase inhibitor]].<ref name=Chudnovsky>Chudnovsky, A. and C.S. Niederberger (2007)</ref> In such cases, one doctor recommended considering the [[differential diagnosis]] of prostatorrhea, the emission of [[Prostate#Secretions|prostatic secretions]] during straining associated with urination or defecation.<ref name=Chudnovsky /> ==Religious attitudes== In [[Islam]], the emission of pre-ejaculate fluid may require ritual purification.<ref>{{cite web | last = Karamali | first = Hamza | title = The pre-ejaculate fluid, madhy, calls for washing and ablution before praying | publisher = SunniPath: The Online Islamic Academy | date = 2005-07-03 | url = http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?CATE=342&HD=3&ID=3311 | accessdate = 2008-07-12}}</ref> For many other religions, pre-ejaculate is not of significance. ==References== {{reflist}} {{sex}} [[Category:Semen]] [[ar:مذي]] [[da:Præejakulat]] [[de:Lusttropfen]] [[es:Líquido preseminal]] [[fr:Liquide pré-éjaculatoire]] [[id:Kelenjar Cowper]] [[it:Pre-eiaculazione]] [[la:Praeeiaculatum]] [[lt:Prejakuliatas]] [[hu:Előváladék]] [[nl:Voorvocht]] [[ja:尿道球腺液]] [[pl:Preejakulat]] [[pt:Fluido pré-ejaculatório]] [[sv:Försats]]