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{{Construction Site}}'''{{FULLPAGENAME}}''' (also known as '''pre-ejaculatory fluid''', '''pre-seminal fluid''' or '''Cowper's fluid''', and colloquially as '''''pre-cum''''')<refname="cowpers">{{REFweb
{{REF}}
Add link in SEEALSO section.
{{GraphicWarning}}
[[File:Pre-ejaculate closeup.jpg|thumb|Pre-ejaculate on the glans of the penis]]
|url=https://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Pre-ejaculate
|title=Pre-ejaculate
|date=2005
|accessdate=2023-01-09
}}</ref> is a clear, colorless, very slippery liquid that is produced by the Cowper's glands. <ref>{{REFweb
|url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Cowper%27s+glands
|title=Cowper's glands.
|date=2005
|accessdate=2023-01-09
}}</ref> and discharged from the [[urethra ]] of males. It collects under the [[foreskin]] in the [[preputial sac]] of normal, [[foreskinned]] males where it functions as a lubricant at times of sexual arousal, [[masturbation]] or [[sexual intercourse]]. They are also called the bulbo-urethral glands and are the male equivalent of the Bartholin's Glands.<ref name="cowpers" />
== Function and risks ==
{{WikipediaQuote|URL=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-ejaculate#Function_and_risks|title=Pre-ejaculate: Function and risks}}
Pre-ejaculate neutralizes residual acidity in the urethra caused by [[urine]], creating a more favorable environment for the passage of sperm.<ref name="chughtai">{{REFjournal
|last=Chughtai
|init=B
|last2=Sawas
|init2=A
|last3=O'Malley
|init3=RL
|last4=Naik
|init4=RR
|last5=Ali Khan
|init5=S
|last6=Pentyala
|init6=S
|title=A neglected gland: a review of Cowper's gland
|journal=Int J Androl
|volume=28
|issue=2
|pages=74–7
|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00499.x
|date=2005-04
|pubmedID=15811067
|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00499.x
|s2cid=32553227
|format=PDF
}}</ref> The [[vagina]] is normally acidic, so the deposit of pre-ejaculate before the emission of [[semen]] may change the vaginal environment to promote sperm survival.<ref name=Chudnovskycite>{{REFjournal
|last=Chudnovsky
|init=A
|last2=Niederberger
|init2=CS
|date=2007
|title=Copious Pre-Ejaculation: Small Glands—Major Headaches
|journal=J Androl
|pubmedID=17251594
|volume=28
|issue=3
|pages=374–5
|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2164/jandrol.107.002576
|doi=10.2164/jandrol.107.002576
}}</ref> Pre-ejaculate also acts as a lubricant during sexual activity,<ref name=Chudnovskycite /> and plays a role in semen coagulation.<ref name=Chudnovskycite />
Low levels or no sperm exists in pre-ejaculate, although studies examined small samples of men.<ref name="zukerman">{{REFjournal
|last=Zukerman
|init=Z
|last2=Weiss
|init2=DB
|last3=Orvieto
|init3=R
|title=Short Communication: Does Preejaculatory Penile Secretion Originating from Cowper's Gland Contain Sperm?
|journal=Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
|date=2003-04
|volume=20
|issue=4
|pages=157–9
|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3455634/pdf/10815_2004_Article_461193.pdf
|pubmedID=12762415
|pubmedCID=3455634
|doi=10.1023/A:1022933320700
|format=PDF
}}</ref><ref name="HIV"/> Two contrary studies found mixed evidence, including individual cases of a high sperm concentration.<ref name="Killick">{{REFjournal
|last=Killick
|init=SR
|last2=Leary
|init2=C
|last3=Trussell
|init3=J
|last4=Guthrie
|init4=KA
|doi=10.3109/14647273.2010.520798
|date=2011
|title=Sperm content of pre-ejaculatory fluid
|journal=Human Fertility
|volume=14
|issue=1
|pages=48–52
|pubmedID=21155689
|pubmedCID=3564677
}}</ref><ref name="ncbi.nlm.nih.gov">{{REFjournal
|last=Kovavisarach
|init=E
|last2=Lorthanawanich
|init2=S
|last3=Muangsamran
|init3=P
|title=Presence of Sperm in Pre-Ejaculatory Fluid of Healthy Males
|journal=J Med Assoc Thai
|date=2016
|volume=99 Suppl 2
|pages=S38–41
|url=https://www.thaiscience.info/Journals/Article/JMAT/10986029.pdf
|pubmedID=27266214
|issn=0125-2208
|format=PDF
}}</ref> Popular belief — dating to a 1966 Masters and Johnson study<ref>{{REFbook
|last=Masters
|init=WH
|title=Johnson, V.E.
|year=1966
|publisher=Little, Brown & Co
|location=Boston, MA
|page=211
}}</ref> — stated that pre-ejaculate may contain sperm that can cause pregnancy, which is a common basis of argument against the use of ''coitus interruptus'' (withdrawal) as a contraceptive method.<ref name=zukerman/><ref name="HIV">{{REFjournal
|title=Researchers find no sperm in pre-ejaculate fluid
|journal=Contraceptive Technology Update
|date=1993-10
|volume=14
|issue=10
|pubmedID=12286905
|pages=154–156
}}</ref>
Studies have demonstrated the presence of [[HIV]] in most pre-ejaculate samples from infected men.<ref name=HIV/><ref>{{REFjournal
|doi=10.1016/0140-6736(92)92659-4
|last=Pudney
|init=J
|last2=Oneta
|init2=M
|last3=Mayer
|init3=K
|last4=Seage
|init4=G
|last5=Anderson
|init5=D
|title=Pre-ejaculatory fluid as potential vector for sexual transmission of HIV-1
|journal=Lancet
|date=1992
|volume=340
|issue=8833
|page=1470
|pubmedID=1360584
|s2cid=7106584
}}</ref><ref>{{REFjournal
|doi=10.1016/0140-6736(92)92658-3
|last=Ilaria
|init=G
|last2=Jacobs
|init2=JL
|last3=Polsky
|init3=B
|etal=yes
|title=Detection of HIV-1 DNA sequences in pre-ejaculatory fluid
|journal=Lancet
|date=1992
|volume=340
|issue=8833
|page=1469
|pubmedID=1360583
|s2cid=43112865
}}</ref>
== Distribution ==
The quantity of pre-ejaculate produced various widely between individuals. Production of pre-ejaculate may be triggered by erotic thoughts alone.
Some observers believe that, on average, [[circumcised]] males tend to produce less pre-ejaculate than [[foreskinned]] males, due to loss of sexual sensation received by the autonomic nervous system from the [[ridged band]], [[frenulum]], and other nerves of the [[foreskin]].
{{SEEALSO}}
* [[Masturbation]]
* [[Penis]]
* [[Preputial sac]]
* [[Semen]]
* [[Vagina]]
{{LINKS}}
* {{URLwikipedia|Pre-ejaculate|Pre-ejaculate|2023-01-10}}
* {{REFweb
|url=https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-precum-5085078
|title=What Is Precum?
|last=Lane
|first=S. Nicole
|init=
|publisher=Verywell Health
|date=2022-10-02
|accessdate=2023-01-16
}}
{{REF}}
[[Category:Education]]
[[Category:Physiology]]
[[Category:Male sexuality]]
[[Category:Term]]