What Is Precum? And Can It Get You Pregnant?

Updated 23 February 2023

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Reviewed by Dr. Nazaneen Homaifar, Obstetrician and gynecologist, Inova Health System, Washington, DC, US

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Many couples rely on withdrawal as a method of contraception — but just how safe is it? Find out what precum is and the real risks of getting pregnant from it.

The pullout method, or withdrawal method, has shown to be one of the least effective methods of contraception, but lots of us are still using it to avoid pregnancy. 

In fact, a 2013 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 60% of the female population in the US (or their partners) have used the withdrawal method at least once. This makes it one of the most common methods of contraception. And a 2015 study revealed that 7% of female and 6% of male respondents claim that withdrawal is their only method of contraception during sexual intercourse. 

Even though the pullout method might seem convenient, it carries a few risks that could result in some major inconveniences (to put it mildly). The withdrawal method doesn’t provide protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). And even if your partner pulls out before ejaculation, you may still be exposed to sperm cells in the form of precum. This is why, yes, you can get pregnant from precum.

So, what is precum? And why isn’t the pullout method a reliable method of birth control? We asked the experts.

What is precum?

Precum, also known as “pre-ejaculate fluid,” is the liquid that sometimes appears at the tip of the penis before ejaculation. This can happen at any time during sexual arousal. 

Contrary to what lots of people think, precum isn’t actually the same thing as semen — even if it looks a lot like it. So, where does it come from? Well, precum is produced in the pea-sized Cowper’s glands and is made up of enzymes and mucus. So, in its purest form, precum doesn’t actually contain any living sperm cells at all. However, the problem is that precum often becomes contaminated with sperm during sexual arousal — more on that below.

Why is precum produced?

Precum actually has quite an important job to do. It helps the urethra (the tube that transports sperm and urine) prepare to ejaculate semen. 

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As Dr. Peace Nwegbo-Banks, obstetrician and gynecologist, Texas, US, explains, “The urethra serves two purposes in men — it allows for the passage of sperm and urine. Because urine has an acidic pH, this can affect sperm motility [the sperm’s ability to move].” 

So pre-ejaculate fluid makes the urethra less acidic, and, in turn, it also makes the vagina less acidic. The point of precum is to help the urethra and the vagina become more hospitable for the sperm cells that are on their way to trying to fertilize an egg. In addition, precum also provides lubrication to help the semen on its journey while also making the tip of the penis slick and ready for intercourse. 

Can you get pregnant from precum?

Something people often search for online is “Can you get pregnant from precum?” — and the answer is yes.

Even though precum doesn’t naturally contain sperm, it can be contaminated with sperm. “If [someone with a penis] has recently ejaculated, residual sperm can [remain] within the urethra,” Dr. Nwegbo-Banks explains. A 2013 study found that 41% of people surveyed had traces of live sperm in their precum — although only 37% contained a “reasonable proportion” of motile sperm that could result in pregnancy. Remember, though: it only takes one sperm to fertilize an egg and start a pregnancy.

While it’s impossible to tell if your partner’s precum contains sperm, what we do know is that the withdrawal (or pullout) method is very risky in terms of preventing pregnancy. In fact, a 2017 study found that 20% of people relying on withdrawal for contraception ended up with an unintended pregnancy — the highest failure rate of any contraceptive method tested during the study. 

It’s also important to note that even if your partner pulls their penis out of your vagina before they ejaculate, some semen could still end up near your vagina, and those speedy sperm might be able to swim into your vaginal canal. Of course, this could also happen if your partner ejaculates during foreplay, meaning you could theoretically get pregnant without having sex.

If you’re not planning on getting pregnant, you’re much better off using a different method of contraception. The following birth control methods have all been shown to be more effective than the pullout method:

• Implant
• IUD
• Diaphragm
• Vaginal ring
• Patch
• Injection
• Birth control pills
• Condoms

Precum and STIs

Pregnancy isn’t the only risk that comes with the pullout method. Precum can also spread STIs. 

As the World Health Organization explains, STIs are usually spread through sexual contact, and HIV, chlamydia, hepatitis B, and gonorrhea can be spread through fluids, including — you guessed it — precum. 

So the pullout method can be risky, especially if you’re having casual sex or are unsure if your partner has been recently tested for STIs. It’s also important to remember that conditions such as herpes and HPV can also be passed on through skin-to-skin contact, so while using a barrier method of contraception (such as wearing an internal or external condom) doesn’t entirely eliminate the spread of those viruses, it does help a little.

“The urethra serves two purposes in men — it allows for the passage of sperm and urine. Because urine has an acidic pH, this can affect sperm motility.”

Some frequently asked questions about precum

When does precum occur?

Precum occurs during arousal prior to ejaculation. Different people produce different amounts of precum. In some cases, the amount will be so small that it’s hardly noticeable. 

How much precum is normal?

The amount of precum produced can be up to 4 ml, which is less than a teaspoon.

Does peeing after sex prevent pregnancy?

If you have used the withdrawal method and are worried about getting pregnant, unfortunately, peeing after sex won’t help to kill any sperm cells that may have already made it to your vaginal canal. 

Why not? Well, urine comes from your urethra, so it won’t interact with any active sperm cells in your vagina or uterus, explains OB-GYN Dr. Nwegbo-Banks.

Does pee kill sperm?

But what about peeing before sex? As it turns out, your partner could flush some of the precum out of their urethra by peeing before sex, which could reduce the amount of precum (and potential sperm) that enters your vagina. Of course, this isn’t fail-safe — one small study found that even when men peed before sex, their precum still had evidence of sperm. So you should use another birth control method if you want to prevent pregnancy and consider using a barrier method of birth control if you and your partner haven’t been recently tested for STIs.

What should you do if you've been exposed to precum through unprotected sex?

If you have used the withdrawal method, you may be at risk of becoming pregnant or contracting an STI. If you’re not certain of the other person’s STI status, it’s a good idea to get tested. And if you don’t want to get pregnant, emergency contraception is your best option.  

There are two different types of emergency contraception pills. One contains levonorgestrel and needs to be taken within 72 of unprotected sex. The other contains ulipristal acetate and needs to be taken within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected sex. Having a copper IUD inserted within 120 hours of unprotected sex also works for emergency contraception. You may wish to speak with your doctor about more effective long-term birth control methods. 

The takeaway: Precum and the risk of pregnancy

That was quite the biology lesson! Let’s do a quick recap of what we now know about precum and the possibility of getting pregnant.

Precum is a fluid that is released from the penis during sexual arousal. It has a few important roles to play, including lubrication and making the urethra and vagina less acidic, meaning they’re more hospitable to sperm. You and your partner might not even notice precum, as less than a teaspoon is usually produced.

While the withdrawal method is popular, it’s worth keeping in mind that it carries two main risks. One is the risk of pregnancy, as you can indeed get pregnant from precum. The second is the risk of STIs, as not only does the withdrawal method offer no protection against them, but they can also be spread by precum. With this in mind, you might want to use another form of birth control if you want to prevent getting pregnant from precum or contracting an STI. And as always, if you have any concerns or questions, don’t be embarrassed about reaching out to your health care provider — after all, they’ll have heard it all before!

History of updates

Current version (23 February 2023)

Reviewed by Dr. Nazaneen Homaifar, Obstetrician and gynecologist, Inova Health System, Washington, DC, US

Published (09 December 2021)