Pre-ejaculation or pre-seminal fluid is not the same as semen. Externally, it resembles a transparent, sticky mixture secreted from the urethral opening of the penis. It is released before ejaculation, mixed with sperm during ejaculation, and enters the vagina during unprotected sexual intercourse.
Visually, this liquid resembles raw egg white. During arousal in men, fluid is secreted by Cooper's and paraurethral glands of Littre. Contains prostate juice.
Cooper's glands, also called bulbourethral glands, are about the size of a pea and are located under the prostate gland on both sides of the urethra.
Littre glands look like clusters and are found throughout the urethra, approximately more than 30 pieces. They constantly secrete a secretion that lubricates the urethra. Its formation intensifies during sexual arousal.
Every man has his own amount of lubrication. To make it clearer, we can draw an analogy with women: some need additional lubricant for sex, while others need their natural lubricant. The amount of secretion of the bulbourethral glands is determined by the level of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. With prostate adenoma, the level of dihydrotestosterone increases and, accordingly, the secretion in boys increases when they are excited, although the composition is not normal.
The composition of pre-seminal fluid is somewhat similar to semen. It contains many sialoproteins, enzymes, aminosaccharides, in addition, an alkaline reaction also occurs in it.
The purpose of excretion during arousal in men (pre-ejaculate) is to lubricate the head, facilitate insertion of the penis into the vagina, prepare the urethral canal for the passage of sperm and nourish the sperm with useful substances. It also neutralizes bacteria, urine residues and alkalizes the environment of the penis and vagina, creating good conditions for germ cells.
At the time of production of pre-seminal fluid there are no spermatozoa present. This is explained by the fact that they are in no way connected to the testicles, the glands do not synthesize them. However, sperm may be present in the preejaculate that comes out of the urethra, depending on the stage of sexual intercourse we are talking about. The pre-ejaculatory phase begins as one approaches orgasm, as the testicles are pulled forcefully towards the groin. The ducts through which the sperm passes become pumps that pump the sperm out of the epididymis, pushing it into the prostatic part of the urethra. There they wait for the onset of orgasm - the release of sperm. Sometimes they pass further along the urethra and mix with the secretion of Cooper's glands.
It happens that sperm are retained in the pre-ejaculate from the time of the previous ejaculation. Some men also develop spermatorrhea because of this – sperm incontinence. The reason for this is too high a testosterone level or taking strong medications. It is possible to detect sperm in preejaculate only through analysis, since during arousal they are secreted unnoticed.
You can also get pregnant thanks to pre-seminal fluid: a 20% chance in 100. This chance increases with repeated intercourse. A new portion of secretion in men during arousal can push the stuck germ cells out of the urethral canal and transport them into the vagina.
15-20% of men have sperm in their preejaculate, so the risk of becoming pregnant is high even with interrupted sexual intercourse.
Normal amount of mucus
The amount of pre-cum is determined by how excited the man is. Accordingly, maximum concentration is possible only with a strong sexual desire. The norm is 5 ml.
Some men do not produce lubrication at all, which reduces their ability to conceive a baby. When aroused, healthy male secretions have no odor, inclusions, lumps, are viscous and are not accompanied by pain or discomfort.
The main function of pre-seed formation is cleansing, so its composition can often change. With repeated sexual intercourse, before ejaculation or due to poor hygiene, it can become cloudy. The preejaculate returns to a healthy state after a couple of days. If he has not recovered, you need to go to the clinic, as this is a sure sign of the development of the disease.
Pre-seed function
Lubrication during sexual intercourse is important because its special composition disinfects and eliminates acid after urination. This is a natural preparation of the body for the removal of sperm, which will pass smoothly through the prepared channel. The microflora in the female vagina is acidic to prevent various diseases. But an acidic environment is also harmful to sperm, making them weak and ineffective. And pre-ejaculate reduces acidity and when the sperm is released, the female body is ready to accept it, ensuring conception.
Signs of an abnormal condition
When excited, a guy secretes a liquid that is far from normal, it has its own color, smell, composition and is accompanied by aching pain. A health problem is indicated by the appearance of urethral secretions, a terrible odor, pain during excretion of urinary fluid, excessive secretions, arbitrary formation of fluid without intimate desire, the presence of additional inclusions, a change in the structure of secretions - even subtle or often. Each of these signs indicates the course of a pathology in the body that causes disease.
If the lubricant is released in men without arousal, it is worth talking about the following diseases:
- Hematorrhea: Pre-ejaculate is released along with blood if the lining of the urethra is damaged.
- Spermatorea – sperm comes out randomly in the absence of orgasm due to too low muscle tone of the ducts through which the semen is released. The pathology is caused by chronic inflammation.
- Leukocyte urethrorrhea is the very stage of the inflammatory process in which fluid is released into the tissues and cavities of the body. The exudative phase occurs due to the fact that the protective film of the urethral mucosa has undergone thermal, mechanical damage or has been exposed to viruses and chemicals for a long time.
- Mucopurulent: Contains fluid secreted by serous membranes, leukocytes, and gland secretions. This mucus usually forms during the night. The man notices discharge with pus and yellowish stains on his underwear after waking up. They appear if the urethra is affected by bacteria: chlamydia, ureamicoplasma or trichomonas.
- Purulent: contains a lot of urethral epithelium, leukocytes, serous membrane fluid, mucus. This type of discharge is very thick and smells terrible. Externally they resemble yellowish or greenish drops and are a sure sign of gonococcal urethritis, which appears due to gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Mucus can be released in both large and small quantities. Lubrication in a small volume is practically invisible. To recognize it, you will have to press on the urethral opening and then the liquid will appear. It usually dries instantly, leaving a film on the membrane of the head of the penis. Due to the too viscous structure, the sponges of the urinary canal stick together.
Causes of painful discharge
Fluid release during arousal in men is higher or lower than normal due to sexually transmitted diseases, but the reason may not be only them.
- Venereal illnesses. They occur due to unfavorable microflora settling on the mucosa of the urethral canal, glands, cavities and external areas of the genital organs. All sexually transmitted diseases are divided into 4 groups according to the etiological agent: bacteria (granuloma inguinale; chancroid; syphilis; lymphogranuloma; chlamydia; gonorrhea; mycoplasmosis; ureaplasmosis), viruses (HIV; herpes; warts; papillomavirus; molluscum contagiosum ), fungi (candidiasis) and parasites (scabies; phthyriasis).
- Other reasons. The prostate gland plays a decisive role in the formation of sperm. Without its secretion, seminal fluid has no functionality. If the prostate is inflamed, its production becomes more intense.
Men with chronic prostatitis notice a large amount of discharge from the urethral opening when they are aroused. This fluid is called prostatic secretion and is very similar to pre-ejaculate.
Intense discharge during arousal in men can occur due to allergies, hypothermia, inflammatory processes, chemical or physical injury.
Clear mucus may indicate a recent survey. It is the body's protective reaction to microtraumas in the mucosa. If a large amount of such secretions is observed, this is considered a sure sign of infertility.
To identify a particular pathology, it is not enough to visually evaluate the liquid. Here it is important to check its biological composition, and this can only be done during a medical examination.
Can lubricant fertilize?
It has been experimentally proven that male lubricant contains few sperm, so there is a small chance of getting pregnant if it is released during unprotected sexual intercourse.
The chance of conception is especially high in the middle of the cycle, when ovulation has already passed and the cervix is still open. Other times, what is released in men during arousal is not enough for fertilization. Without the nutrient medium of the sperm, the germ cells will quickly die in the vagina.
The probability of conception is higher after repeated sexual intercourse, since the lubricant will contain a large amount of sperm. If you do not want to have a child, it is better to go to the toilet a little before the next visit.
Can a virgin get pregnant?
This is quite possible and we are not talking about the virgin birth. This situation is due to two conditions:
- individual characteristics of the structure of the hymen;
- vitality and speed of spermatozoa;
- Is the girl ovulating at this time?
Even naked cuddling can unexpectedly lead to pregnancy. This happens if the male lubricant gets on the girl's genitals. Sperm can enter the vagina and conception will take place. The risk is greater if the hymen is particularly elastic or damaged (trauma, equestrian sport).
Sometimes this is enough to connect the egg and sperm. Medical statistics show that a woman in labor with an intact hymen is not uncommon.
Pre-cum color
Healthy lubrication in men is clear and colorless. The color and composition of the liquid changes due to inflammatory processes - cooperitis. If the secretions become cloudy with a yellowish or greenish tint, this indicates suspected pathogenic activity. If the shade is brown, this indicates inflammatory damage to the blood vessels and bleeding.
Inflammation of Cooper's glands can be detected using a multi-glass urine sample. First you need to urinate in the first container, after massaging the gland, urinate in another container: at this stage, a secretion appears in the urine, which must be controlled. After the second study, the prostate gland is massaged and the urine is collected in a third container. For example, if the second container shows an increased content of leukocytes, and in the first and third they are normal, this indicates isolated inflammation.
Blockage of the glands can also occur due to stagnant secretions - after all, the urethral ducts reach 2-8 cm, and inflammation occurs due to the resulting blockages. In this case, massage and antibacterial therapy are prescribed as treatment.
Diagnostics
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and taking the anamnesis, examine the genitals. In this case, specialists simultaneously take the prostate juice through rectal massage. Further laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostate secretion;
- Urine analysis;
- Semen.
It is important to evaluate the discharge itself. To do this, they are subjected to microscopic examination. It is this method that allows you to identify the main source of the problem: bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Next, doctors move on to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- Radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- Cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are detected during the examination, diagnosticians perform a puncture.
How to reduce excitement discharge
Sexual desire is difficult to hide if secretions can be seen through clothing. If men release fluid in large quantities when excited, several tips should be followed:
- have sex regularly - at least 2-3 times a week, this normalizes the secretion of the glands;
- consult a urologist: sometimes abundant pre-ejaculate indicates hormonal imbalances, inflammation and prostatic adenoma;
- give up tight underwear; in loose underwear, the discharge will not be so noticeable;
- Avoid getting aroused in inappropriate situations – avoid visual and physical stimulation.
Prevention measures
In general, preventive measures boil down to the correct attitude to sexual intimacy and largely depend on the girl's upbringing.
General recommendations to meet the following conditions:
- Good sexual expert, quite educated.
- Use only proven and sufficiently effective contraceptive methods.
- The contraceptive should be selected by a qualified gynecologist and not by the caveman method, the poking method.
- In the unfortunate circumstances of an unwanted pregnancy, it is necessary to ensure the safety and legality of abortion procedures, which are entirely related to the qualifications and professional skills of the doctor.
- Receive high-quality, professional medical advice, recommendations and care after an abortion.
How to increase secretions before sexual intercourse
It happens that men secrete a small amount of lubricant during arousal. Increasing the volume of pre-ejaculate is especially important for those men who prefer to have sex without a condom. Natural lubrication will improve smoothness, eliminate damage and improve fertility
How to do it:
- Increase the duration of foreplay. Sex without sufficient stimulation leads to injury to the mucous membranes of the genital organs. High-quality and long-lasting foreplay triggers intense fluid production in both women and men.
- Use food supplements or aphrodisiacs. Particularly suitable are supplements based on ginseng, spicy mucuna and horny herb. They increase arousal and increase the amount of pre-ejaculate released.
- Minimize alcohol and cigarettes, as the toxins prevent the glands from functioning normally.
- Drink a lot of water.
- Regularly perform exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor muscles (squats, bridges and Kegel exercises).
Testosterone helps increase secretion in men when they are aroused. During andropause in men, the amount of preejaculate decreases. Synthesis can be normalized with the help of synthetic and herbal testosterone stimulators, but only under the strict supervision of a doctor.
In most cases, biologically active substances (nutritional supplements) help to safely increase the amount of pre-seminal fluid and improve the quality of sperm. Types of contraception: choosing the best option
The comparison table will help you choose the most reliable protection method:
| Protection method | Confidence level, % |
| Condom | up to 96 |
| Male sterilization | 99, 9 |
| Intrauterine hormonal methods | up to 97 |
| Oral contraceptives | up to 98 |
| Hormone injections | up to 97 |
| Diaphragm | up to 95 |
| Intrauterine device | up to 95 |
| Basal temperature measurement | up to 70 |
| Calendar method | up to 70 |
| Interruption of sexual intercourse | up to 60 |
| Douching after sex | up to 15 |
The couple individually selects a suitable method. It is important to take into account the health status and habits of your partners.