If you're sexually active, then there's a chance that after one wild night, you've urgently asked your barkada's group chat: "Puwede ka bang mabuntis 'cause of precum?"
And even as you typed that question, another one popped in your head: Ano ba 'yun? Same lang ba 'yun sa actual cum? But before we answer that, let us start with the basics, like what exactly is precum?
What is precum?
Precum (also called pre-ejaculate) is a clear, sticky fluid that comes out of the penis when a man is turned on.
It's said to originate from the Cowper's glands (or bulbourethral glands) which can be found in the urethra inside the penis; the urethra is where pee and ejaculate pass through.
When a man is horny, this gland releases precum and it spurts out of the penis. So what is the stuff made of? Well, it's a mix of proteins, enzymes, and mucus.
So if it's not the ~main attraction~, what purpose does it hold? Actually, it plays a pretty important role if a couple is trying to get pregnant.
Pee is acidic, so when it mixes with semen in the urethra, it can change how viable the semen is. Precum sort of "clears the way" for the sperm to get to the egg.
And according to OB-GYN Kim Langdon, "The precum also helps neutralize the acidity of the vagina to help the survival of sperm that will be released during ejaculation."
Is there sperm in precum?
Actually, wala. There is no sperm in the precum itself, but because they all pass through the same path, it's possible for sperm to get mixed into the precum upon release.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWSemen plays a big role into whether or not you get pregnant. And if you're not trying to conceive, sometimes, precum carries live sperm—especially if your partner has had sex shortly before getting intimate with you and if between the two times, he didn't pee.
Can you get pregnant from it?
Urologist Dr. Amin Herati told SELF, "Typically, it's not enough for pregnancy. The likelihood of pregnancy [from pre-ejaculate] is very low, but it's never zero."
To put it into perspective, though, it can be hard for someone to get pregnant even with a "full ejaculate" so the chances of it you conceiving from precum is much lower.
Many have said that this is the reason why the pull-out method (or withdrawal method) is ineffective. ICYDK, this is when a person with the penis yanks it out of the person with the vagina right before ejaculation to lessen the risk of pregnancy.
Think about it: If may chance pa rin, then why would you opt for this method, right? But according to SELF, a large part of why the pull-out method does not work is due to human error.
Research says that 22 out of 100 people with vaginas who use this method "incorrectly" will get pregnant.
Unfortunately, because there aren't a lot of studies out there about how much time you're supposed to allow for pulling out to avoid pregnancy, it can be hard to determine just how big a role precum plays in relation to the withdrawal method.
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowPlus, in general, it's just not as effective as external condoms. It also does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) since many of these are passed through skin-to-skin contact.
So if you're worried about getting pregnant and want to protect yourself from diseases at the same time, a condom is your best bet. (Read: How To Properly Put On A Condom)
What about if the precum is *near* the vagina? What then?
In this case, the chances of you getting pregnant is even lower. Let's go back to biology class for a sec: For you to get pregnant, the sperm has to enter the cervical canal, which is usually located higher than the vaginal canal.
So if, for example, your partner's precum lands on your labia, it would have to travel pretty far for conception to occur. The sperm won't be able to swim that far and will most likely die before it enters the body.
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This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph. Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.
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