Man releases a fluid known as pre-ejaculation or pre-cum which comes out right before semen which has live sperm that can lead to pregnancy. Many people believe that pre-cum doesn’t include sperm, so there’s no risk of unintended pregnancy which is not true.
There is a lot of misunderstanding but the answer is yes, it is possible to get pregnant from pre-cum.
In this article:
Does Precum have Sperms?
When does Precum Happen?
What if you’re not Ovulating?
Can you get Pregnant with Precum?
Can you get Pregnant with Grinding?
Emergency Contraception
When to See a Doctor?
Chances of Getting Pregnant with Precum
Does Precum have Sperms?
Pre-cum doesn’t actually contain any sperm, but there is a possibility for sperm to leak into pre-cum. This fluid pre-cum is a lubricant produced by a gland in the penis. It’s released before ejaculation. Also, semen may linger in the urethra after ejaculation and mix with pre-cum while it’s on its way out.
According to a 2016 study found mobile sperm present in the pre-cum of nearly 17 percent of its male participants while another 2011 study found mobile sperm in 37 percent of pre-cum samples given by 27 men.
Peeing before having sex may help flush out any leftover semen, reducing the chance sperm will appear in the pre-cum.
When does Precum Happen?
Pre-cum isn’t something that can be controlled. The fluid released in an involuntary bodily function that happens right before ejaculation. That’s why the withdrawal method doesn’t work as well at preventing pregnancy as other birth control options such as pills and condoms.
Even if pulled out right before ejaculation, pre-cum is still likely to enter the partner’s vagina. And research shows that it can lead to unintended pregnancy. According to the 2008 study, it estimates that 18 percent of couples who use the withdrawal method will become pregnant in a year. According to a study of 2013 about 60 percent of women in the united states report using this birth control option. Overall, the withdrawal method is about 73 percent effective at preventing pregnancy and safe.
What if you’re not Ovulating?
Yes, pregnancy can occur from pre-cum even if not ovulating. Although pregnancy is most likely to happen when ovulating, sperm can actually live inside the body for as long as five days. This means that if sperm is inside the reproductive tract before ovulation, it’s possible it’ll still be there and alive during ovulation.
Ovulation typically happens around the middle of the menstrual cycle. This is usually about 14 days before the start of the next period. Since sperm has a five-day life span inside the body, if having sex regularly for five days before as well as on the day of ovulation known as the fertile window, there is a higher chance of becoming pregnant. People with irregular periods will have a more difficult time knowing when they are ovulating and fertile.
Can you get Pregnant with Precum?
The common answer is no because women around the world have become pregnant from precum and thus we cannot rule out the possibility.
There are possible rare cases where living sperm can be present in the precum and conception subsequently possible. Therefore, precum is one reason that it is suggested all couples who are not trying to get pregnant use a condom the whole time there is penetration (when the penis enters the vagina).
Can you get Pregnant with Grinding?
Grinding is a form of intimacy that involves going through the motions of having sex but without penetration. Grinding can occur fully dressed, nude or more frequently in underwear, getting pregnant while grinding is highly unlikely.
There is very little chance of conception particularly in fully clothed partners and also the chances, although still slim, go up slightly when grinding while in underwear and even more so if grinding while nude.
For conception to be possible, sperm has to come in contact with the vaginal opening or canal.
If grinding in underwear, there is a remote chance that semen could seep through the underwear and gain access to the vaginal canal. This is highly doubtful but possible.
The chances of conception go up even further if grinding in the nude. When the man ejaculates and it lands on the stomach or thighs, it is possible that the fluid could slide close enough to the vaginal opening to gain access to the vaginal canal. However, without clothes or underwear, there is less impeding access to sperm.
The answer is probably not, but there is a remote possibility depending on the specific situation.
Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception can help to prevent pregnancy up to five days after having unprotected sex. That’s because it delays or prevents ovulation from happening in the first place. This means the mature egg won’t be released in order to be fertilized. Make use of more reliable protection to prevent pregnancy from happening in advance.
Hormonal emergency contraceptives pill up to five days after unprotected sex. They are most effective when taken them within the first 72 hours.
The copper-t is an intrauterine device (IUD) that can also work as emergency contraception. This can reduce the risk of becoming pregnant by more than 99 percent. This makes it more effective than hormonal emergency contraceptive pills.
When to See a Doctor?
Confirm the result with the doctor. Although a positive result is almost always accurate, a negative test result isn’t as reliable, so the chance of testing too early or on medications can affect the results.
The doctor will take a urine test, blood test or both to determine if pregnant or not. If not pregnant, make sure to speak with the doctor about the options.
Conclusion
The chance of becoming pregnant from pre-cum may be slim but it can still happen. Sperm can still be present in the urethra and mix with pre-cum that’s released before ejaculation. See the doctor if any concerns or have a positive pregnancy test.
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/can-you-get-pregnant-from-precum
americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/
