Editing Pre-ejaculate

{{short description|Clear fluid emitted from the urethra of the penis during arousal}}
{{distinguish|Premature ejaculation}}
[[File:Pre-ejaculate closeup.jpg|thumb|Pre-ejaculate on the glans of the penis]]

'''Pre-ejaculate''' (also known as '''pre-ejaculatory fluid''', '''pre-seminal fluid''' or '''Cowper's fluid''', and colloquially as '''pre-cum''') is a clear, colorless, [[viscosity|viscous]] fluid that is emitted from the [[urethra]] of the [[human penis|penis]] during [[sexual arousal]] and in general during [[ sexual activity]]. It is similar in composition to [[semen]] but has distinct chemical differences. The presence of [[sperm]] in the fluid varies from low to absent. Pre-ejaculate functions as a [[lubricant]] and an [[acid]] neutralizer.

==Origin and composition==
The fluid is discharged from the urethra of the penis during [[sexual arousal|arousal]], [[masturbation]], [[foreplay]] or at an early stage during [[sexual intercourse]], some time before the individual fully reaches [[orgasm]] and semen is [[Ejaculation|ejaculated]]. It is primarily produced by the [[bulbourethral gland]]s (Cowper's glands), with the [[glands of Littré]] (the mucus-secreting urethral glands) also contributing.<ref name=Chudnovskycite>{{Cite journal| author = Chudnovsky, A. | author2 = Niederberger, C.S. | year = 2007 | title = Copious Pre-Ejaculation: Small Glands—Major Headaches | journal = Journal of Andrology | pmid = 17251594 | volume = 28 | issue = 3 | pages = 374–5 | doi = 10.2164/jandrol.107.002576}}</ref><ref name="chughtai">{{Cite journal|vauthors=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 |date=April 2005 |pmid=15811067 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00499.x |s2cid=32553227 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The amount of fluid that is issued varies widely among individuals. Some individuals 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 |page=15 |year=1997 |pmid=11364482 }}</ref> while others emit as much as {{convert|5|ml|lk=in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Chudnovskycite /><ref name="zukerman">{{Cite journal|author1=Zukerman Z. |author2=Weiss D.B. |author3=Orvieto R. | title=Short Communication: Does Preejaculatory Penile Secretion Originating from Cowper's Gland Contain Sperm? | journal=[[American Society for Reproductive Medicine|Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics]] |date=April 2003 | volume=20 | issue=4 | pmid=12762415 | pages=157–159 | doi=10.1023/A:1022933320700 | pmc=3455634}}</ref> 

Pre-ejaculate fluid contains chemicals associated with semen, such as [[acid phosphatase]], but other semen markers, such as [[gamma-glutamyltransferase]], are absent.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Gohara WF |title=Rate of decrease of glutamyltransferase and acid phosphatase activities in the human vagina after coitus |journal=Clinical Chemistry |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=254–7 |date=1 February 1980 |doi=10.1093/clinchem/26.2.254 |pmid=6101549 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Function and risks==
Pre-ejaculate neutralizes acidity in the urethra caused by residual [[urine]], creating a more favorable environment for the passage of sperm.<ref name=chughtai/> The [[vagina]] is normally acidic, so the deposit of pre-ejaculate before the emission of semen may change the vaginal environment to promote sperm survival.<ref name=Chudnovskycite /> Pre-ejaculate also acts as a lubricant during [[sexual activity]],<ref name=Chudnovskycite /> and plays a role in semen coagulation.<ref name=Chudnovskycite />

Low levels or no sperm exists in pre-ejaculate, although studies examined small samples of men.<ref name="zukerman"/><ref name="HIV"/> Two contrary studies found mixed evidence, including individual cases of a high sperm concentration.<ref name="Killick">{{Cite journal|vauthors=Killick SR, Leary C, Trussell J, Guthrie KA |doi=10.3109/14647273.2010.520798|year=2011|title=Sperm content of pre-ejaculatory fluid|journal=Human Fertility|volume=14|issue=1|pages=48–52|pmid=21155689|pmc=3564677}}</ref><ref name="ncbi.nlm.nih.gov">{{cite journal|last1=Kovavisarach|first1=E.|last2=Lorthanawanich|first2=S.|last3=Muangsamran|first3=P.|title=Presence of Sperm in Pre-Ejaculatory Fluid of Healthy Males|journal=J Med Assoc Thai|date=2016|volume=99|issue=Suppl 2 |pages=S38–41|pmid=27266214|issn=0125-2208}}</ref> There is evidence&nbsp;– dating to a 1966 [[Masters and Johnson]] study<ref>{{cite book|last=Masters|first=W.H.|title=Johnson, V.E.|year=1966|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|location=Boston, MA|page=211}}</ref>&nbsp;– that pre-ejaculate may contain sperm that can cause pregnancy, which is a common basis of argument against the use of [[coitus interruptus]] (withdrawal) as a contraceptive method.<ref name=zukerman/><ref name="HIV">{{Cite journal| title=Researchers find no sperm in pre-ejaculate fluid | journal=Contraceptive Technology Update |date=October 1993 | volume=14 | issue=10 | pmid=12286905 | pages=154–156}}</ref>

Studies have demonstrated the presence of [[HIV]] in most pre-ejaculate samples from infected men.<ref name=HIV/><ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1016/0140-6736(92)92659-4|vauthors=Pudney J, Oneta M, Mayer K, Seage G, Anderson D|title=Pre-ejaculatory fluid as potential vector for sexual transmission of HIV-1|journal=Lancet|year=1992|volume=340|page=1470|pmid=1360584|issue=8833|s2cid=7106584}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1016/0140-6736(92)92658-3|vauthors=Ilaria G, Jacobs JL, Polsky B|title=Detection of HIV-1 DNA sequences in pre-ejaculatory fluid|journal=Lancet|year=1992|volume=340|issue=8833|page=1469|pmid=1360583|s2cid=43112865|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

==Overproduction==
In rare cases, an individual may produce an excessive amount of pre-ejaculate fluid, which may be treatable by a [[5-alpha-reductase inhibitor]], such as [[finasteride]].<ref name=Chudnovskycite />

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Sex}}
{{Human sexuality}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pre-Ejaculate}}
[[Category:Semen]]
[[Category:Ejaculation]]
[[Category:Men's health]]