Can You Get Pregnant From Precum? What Science Says

Nearly 60 percent of sexually active women between ages 15 and 44 have used the withdrawal method (coitus interruptus) to prevent pregnancy.¹ And while this method focuses on ejaculation, it presents a gray area when it comes to precum. If you’re trying to avoid pregnancy, it may be worth taking a closer look at the risks linked to precum.

“Precum,” also known as pre-ejaculatory, pre-seminal, or Cowper’s fluid, is the bodily fluid that the penis emits before ejaculation.² When a male is aroused, this clear fluid leaks out from the tip of the penis. Its purpose is to neutralize the acidic nature of the man’s urethra so that sperm can travel smoothly. It also neutralizes the acidity in the woman’s vagina so that sperm can survive. It even acts as a coagulant for semen and a lubricant to aid penetration.³

Precum May Have Some Residual Sperm

Early belief speculated that there may be sperm in precum. But recent research has revealed that pre-ejaculate fluid has no sperm, except for some that are dead or immobile. It’s not all straightforward, though. While precum by itself may be sperm-free, there’s a chance that some sperm can escape from the penis before ejaculation and mix in with the precum.⁴ In fact, in one study that collected pre-ejaculatory fluid within two minutes of production, the results were surprising. They found that some men in the study seemed to routinely leak their sperm into the pre-seminal fluid.⁵While it is still unclear why this leaking happens and whether it is common, this is a possibility you need to reckon with.

If the man has not urinated since the last time he ejaculated, it is also possible for residual sperm to be present in precum.⁶

You Can Get Pregnant From Precum, Though Rarely

It can be hard to tell when precum ends and ejaculation begins. It is possible for the two to mix, and a split second’s delay could make all the difference. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the answer is a complex one. Since current research indicates that pre-seminal fluid doesn’t usually contain sperm, with the exception of some clumped or immobile sperm, you’d think that pregnancy isn’t likely. Yet, there’s still a small chance that sperm can leak out into the precum, increasing the risk for pregnancy. After all, it only takes a single sperm to get you pregnant!⁷

If you are already on birth control such as an intrauterine device (IUD) or the pill, it will kick in and prevent pregnancy as usual. According to the CDC, your chance of getting pregnant (from precum or sperm) is less than 1 in 100 if you have an IUD or an implant. If you have been sterilized, the same risk applies. With other methods like the pill or diaphragm, the chances of pregnancy are higher, but still considered to be low. Subsequently, these methods are widely used in preventing unplanned pregnancy.⁸

Use Contraception To Avoid Pregnancy And STD

While the debate on the level of sperm in precum rages on, it’s still a good idea to play it safe. Remember, precum may contain a sexually transmitted infection even if it doesn’t have any sperm.⁹In one study, the pre-ejaculate from almost all the participants in the study showed no sperm in them, barring tiny clumps of immobile sperm for some. However, the pre-seminal fluid of 12 out of 23 HIV-infected individuals had the virus.¹⁰So even if you aren’t avoiding pregnancy, a bigger concern may be the contraction of viruses and infections.

Whether or not there is sperm in the actual pre-ejaculatory fluid, you should consider using a barrier method of contraception like a condom. This also has the benefit of protecting you from potentially contracting (or passing on) a sexually transmitted disease. Plus, with the added protection in place, you can focus your attention on more important things – like your partner and your satisfaction.