One common question that has a lot of wrongs or misleading information associated with it is if you can get pregnant from precum, or pre-ejaculate. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re in the right place. I’ll explain precum, the problems with the pullout method, and exactly what your chances are of getting pregnant from precum. Let’s do it.
What is Precum
Precum is a natural lubricant produced in penile glands to facilitate ejaculation. The base fluid aids sperm in surviving the acidic conditions in the vagina. Precum Does not contain sperm. Sperm is produced in the testicles. Hence, many women (and men) believe that they can’t get pregnant from precum. But that’s not 100% true. Although sperm is not produced by the same glands, and precum is separate from ejaculate, sperm can sometimes be present in precum. How can this be? The popular theory is that residual sperm in the urethra from prior ejaculations may still be alive when precum flushes it out into the vagina. Once it’s there, anything can happen.
The Pull-Out Method
The effects of precum on pregnancy are often studied in combination with the pull out method. That’s because precum is an involuntary reflex that occurs just prior to ejaculation. Some doctors even insist that precum is simply part of the ejaculation and not a separate event. At any rate, the idea of avoiding pregnancy from precum is exclusively a problem for partners who use the “pull-out” method. This is the tactic of pulling the penis out of the vagina just before cumming. When men do this, precum has already been expelled from the penis. So, it becomes very important, how likely it is that precum can lead to pregnancy. The pull-out method is inherently risky, but even if he does pull out in time, you have to wonder about the chances of getting pregnant from precum, because the simple fact is, it does happen.
The Chances of Getting Pregnant from Precum
It is very unlikely that precum will result in pregnancy in most cases, but there are some instances that could increase the odds. Of course, the more often you engage in unprotected sex using the pull-out method, the more likely it is that eventually, you will get pregnant. But it’s not much riskier than using condoms. Statistically speaking, based on a study from 2008, you have about 18% at getting pregnant from precum over the course of a year. That’s actually a speculative response to the study which actually showed numbers closer to 4% for couples who pulled out. When you break it down, that’s pretty slim.
There are a lot of factors in play that can lead to eventual pregnancy even if he does not ejaculate inside you. To begin with, sperm can survive up to five days. In order to determine the riskiness of the precum, you need to know the last time he ejaculated. Urination prior to intercourse may also help flush out residual sperm.
The other factor of course is ovulation. You need to make sure you are nowhere near your fertile window, the five days leading to ovulation, or the day your egg is released from its ovary. no sperm and no egg means no pregnancy. Even though sperm can exist in precum, you can take these additional measures to reduce your risk level. Other non-invasive methods of birth control with a higher success rate are birth control pills, condoms, and abstinence which is the least fun, but 100% effective.
