How Likely Is It To Get Pregnant From Precum While Not Ovulating

The chances of getting pregnant from precum are small, but they're not non-existent.

When it comes to getting pregnant, precum—the fluid that comes out of a penis before full ejaculation—might contain active sperm cells that are capable of fertilizing an egg.

If you lot're relying on the withdrawal (or "pullout") method of nativity control, it's important to be aware of this possibility.

Let'southward find out more.

In this article: 📝

What is "precum"?
Are there whatsoever sperm cells in precum?
What are the chances of getting pregnant from precum?
What should you do if you think you might be meaning?

What is "precum"?

Precum (AKA pre-ejaculate) is, as the name suggests, the fluid that comes out of a penis before cum.

Information technology means that arousal has happened, only full ejaculation hasn't yet.

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When this fluid appears, it'southward sometimes called "precumming."

While precum looks pretty similar to cum, the ii kinds of fluid are quite different:

Precum is made in the Cowper'south glands—2 tiny glands below the prostate gland.

During sexual arousal, precum is sent from the Cowper'due south glands to the urethra through lots of tiny tubes.

It then passes along the urethra and out of the body.

Precum fluid has 2 main jobs:

It neutralizes any acidity in the urethra. Urine is acidic. And afterwards it'southward passed through the urethra, some of that acidity tin can exist left behind. Not good news for sperm cells, which also take to utilize the urethra to go out the body, as they don't thrive in an acidic environment. Enter precum. This alkali metal fluid neutralizes the pH in the urethra so that the sperm cells can pass through it more than safely.
It provides lubrication for sex. Fun fact: the vagina has its own version of the Cowper'south glands, which also brand fluid for lubrication. They're called the Bartholin'south glands, and they sit at either side of your vaginal opening.

Cum, or semen, is the fluid that is ejaculated out of a penis and is mainly made in glands called the seminal vesicles.

Its master job? To provide a medium for sperm cells to swim through and to protect them from the acidic surround of the vagina.

Are there any sperm cells in precum?

And then, we know that precum (unlike semen), isn't designed to carry sperm cells.

But do any sperm cells ever manage to find their style in there?

Scientific prove is mixed—and there isn't all that much of information technology. But the answer seems to exist:

Yes, precum does sometimes incorporate sperm cells. But not very many of them.

One 2016 written report found that 17% of the precum samples given by 42 men contained active sperm cells.

And a smaller 2011 study found active sperm cells in 37% of the participants' samples.

But in other studies, such as this one from 2003, no sperm cells were found in the precum samples at all.

It's possible that some people always have some sperm cells in their precum, while others never do.

Plus, we notwithstanding don't know exactly how the sperm cells go into the precum in the first identify.

It may be that they sometimes leak out from the seminal vesicles, where semen is held before ejaculation. More research is needed to find out.

What are the chances of getting pregnant from precum?

Okay, so we've plant out that precum sometimes contains sperm cells.

Adjacent, the big question: How often can precum crusade pregnancy?

Well, we can't know for sure.

But one way to gain some insight is to look at the stats for pregnancies that happened after the pullout method of nativity control was used.

According to Planned Parenthood, four out of 100 women who employ the pullout method perfectly will go meaning.

That means, that for these pregnancies to happen, the sperm would have had to come from somewhere other than semen.

A very probable explanation? The precum contained a few sperm cells.

And one of these made information technology through to fertilize the egg.

What are the chances of getting significant from precum during ovulation?

During ovulation, your chances of getting pregnant from precum will be at their highest, as you've got an egg ready and available to exist fertilized.

But sperm cells can really survive inside your trunk for up to five days later on y'all've had sex activity.

And then, having precum inside your vagina a few days earlier you ovulate could notwithstanding perchance result in pregnancy.

The chances are just very slim.

What should you practise if you recollect you might be meaning?

If you lot recollect yous might be pregnant afterwards using the pullout method, the best affair to do is to take a pregnancy examination.

Information technology'due south a expert idea to wait until later on your next expected flow, and then that you upwardly the chances of getting an accurate result.

A positive event tin can normally exist trusted, but if y'all get a negative you might desire to expect a few days and take some other test.

If you practise go a positive result, brand an appointment with your healthcare provider as presently as you tin, to talk through your options.

And if y'all need some support along the manner, check-in with your Peanut community. Wherever you're at, yous're non alone.

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