What are the Chances of Getting Pregnant from Precum

The prospect of getting pregnant can be a matter of great anticipation and joy for some women while for others it can be a cause of worry. Hence, most women of reproductive ages or those who are trying to conceive have many doubts or questions regarding their chances of getting pregnant. And one such question which constantly lingers in their minds is what are the chances of pregnancy from precum. But before we answer this, let us first know what exactly is precum.

Precum or Pre-ejaculate

Precum or pre-ejaculate is basically a fluid secreted by the male body during sexual intercourse or at the time when the man is sexually aroused. Also termed as pre-seminal fluid, this fluid is produced by the bulbourethral gland in order to clear the path for the sperm released during ejaculation. Precum travels down the urethra (a male genital duct) and ejected at the tip of the penis. This fluid is alkaline in nature which neutralizes the remaining acidic urine in the urethra, thereby making it safe for the sperm to pass through it. It also helps in smooth passing of sperm by lubricating the urethra. But can this fluid make a woman pregnant? Let us know in the following section.

Chances of Conceiving with Precum

There are very slim or mild chances of conceiving but still one cannot ignore the fact that there are one out of ten chances of getting pregnant with precum. Studies reveal that precum, the fluid released by the penis prior to ejaculation contains not many but few spermatozoa (sperm cell) which can enter the vagina (the female reproductive tract) in the presence of cervical mucus. Studies also say that precum in itself doesn't contain sperm but it can pick up sperm from previous ejaculation left behind in the urethra and carry it along to a woman's vagina, which can result in pregnancy. Especially during an unprotected sexual intercourse, precum can allow the sperm to enter the vagina and possibly fertilize the egg, even before the man tries to pull out before ejaculating.

Since the sperm can live and remain motile for 3 - 4 days on the penis's tip or urethra, the best way to avoid having sperm in precum from previous ejaculation is to have the male urinate after having an orgasm and before entering the vagina. Hence, doing this can reduce the possibilities of precum having sperm to a very large extent. Another way to avoid pregnancy is the withdrawal method wherein during the intercourse the men has to pull the penis out of the vagina before he ejaculates. It is not a fool proof method and primarily depends upon the male's ability or will power to withdraw as soon as he is about to ejaculate. Hence, the withdrawal method cannot be considered as an effective birth control method as usually most men in the height of passion are unable to withdraw and end up ejaculating in the female's vagina.

To conclude, the best way to reduce the odds of getting pregnant from precum is to use condoms or birth control pills. However, in case you may not be using these birth control options, then another useful way to avoid pregnancy is trying the combination of withdrawal and rhythm method. The rhythm method is nothing but avoiding sex when the woman is most fertile. This method is most beneficial for those women who have a regular menstrual cycle and those who keep a track of when they are most fertile. Well, i hope the information given in this article would help you in clearing your doubts or queries related to the odds of conceiving from precum.