Pre-seminal or pre-seminal fluid is not the same as semen. Outwardly, it looks like a sticky transparent mixture, coming out of the urethral opening of the penis. It is released before ejaculation, mixes with semen during ejaculation and enters the vagina during unprotected sex.
Visually, this liquid resembles a raw egg white. During arousal in men, fluid is secreted from Cooper's and Littre's paraurethral glands. Contains prostatic juice.
Cooper's glands - also called bulbourethral glands - are about the size of a pea and are located under the prostate gland on either side of the urethra.
Littre's glands look like clusters and are located throughout the urethra, about more than 30 of them. They constantly secrete a secretion that lubricates the urethra. Its formation is enhanced during sexual arousal.
Everyone has their own amount of lube. To make it clearer, we can make an analogy with women: some need extra lubricant for sex, while others need their natural lubricant. The amount of secretion from the bulbourethral glands is determined by the level of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. In prostate adenoma, the level of dihydrotestosterone increases and, accordingly, the discharge in boys increases during excitement, although the composition is not normal.
The composition of pre-seminal fluid is somewhat similar to semen. It contains many sialoproteins, enzymes, aminosaccharides, in addition, an alkaline reaction occurs in it.
The purpose of excretion during arousal in men (before ejaculation) is to lubricate the glans, facilitate the introduction of the penis into the vagina, prepare the urethral canal for the passage of seminal fluid and nourish the sperm with useful substances. It also neutralizes bacteria, urine residues and alkalizes the environment of the penis and vagina, creating good conditions for germ cells.
During the production of pre-seminal fluid, there are no sperm in it. This is explained by the fact that they are in no way related to the testicles, the glands do not synthesize them. However, sperm may be present in the preejaculate exiting the urethra, depending on which phase of intercourse we are talking about. The pre-ejaculatory phase begins at the approach of orgasm, as soon as the testicles are strongly pulled towards the groin. The channels through which the sperm passes become pumps that pump the sperm out of the epididymis, pushing them into the prostatic part of the urethra. There they wait for the beginning of the orgasm - the release of sperm. Sometimes they pass further along the urethra and mix with the secretion of Cooper's glands.
It happens that sperm are retained in the pre-ejaculate from the moment of the previous ejaculation. Some men even develop spermatorrhoea because of this – sperm incontinence. The reason for this is the too high level of testosterone or the intake of strong drugs. It is possible to detect spermatozoa in the preejaculate only by analysis, since during arousal they are secreted unnoticed.
You can even get pregnant from pre-semen - a 20% chance out of 100. This probability increases with repeated intercourse. A new batch of ejaculation in men during arousal can dislodge stuck germ cells from the urethral canal and carry them into the vagina.
15-20% of men have few sperm in the pre-ejaculate, so there is a high risk of pregnancy even with interrupted intercourse.
Normal amount of mucus
The amount of pre-ejaculation is determined by how aroused the man is. Accordingly, maximum concentration is possible only with strong sexual desire. The norm is 5 ml.
Some men do not produce any lubricant at all, which reduces their ability to conceive a child. When aroused, healthy male secretion has no odor, inclusions, lumps, is viscous and is not accompanied by pain or discomfort.
The main function of pre-seed formation is cleaning, so its composition can often change. With repeated sex, before ejaculation or due to poor hygiene, it can become cloudy. The pre-ejaculate returns to a healthy state after a few days. If he has not recovered, then you should go to the clinic, as this is a sure sign of the development of the disease.
Pre-seminal function
Lubrication during intercourse is important because its special composition disinfects and removes acid after urination. This is a natural preparation of the body to remove the seminal fluid, which smoothly passes through the prepared channel. The microflora in the female vagina is acidic to prevent various diseases. But an acidic environment is also harmful to sperm, making it weak and ineffective. And the pre-ejaculate reduces the acidity, and when the sperm is released, the female body is ready to receive it, ensuring conception.
Signs of an unusual condition
When excited, a person secretes a liquid that is far from normal, has its own color, smell, composition and is accompanied by painful pain. A health problem indicates the appearance of urethral discharge, a terrible smell, pain when passing urine, too much discharge, random formation of fluid without intimate desire, the presence of additional inclusions, a change in the structure of the discharge - also thin or thick. Each of these signs indicates the course of pathology in the body, which provokes diseases.
If the lubricant is released in men without excitement, it is worth talking about the following diseases:
- Hematorrhea - when the urethral mucosa is injured, preejaculate is released along with blood.
- Spermatorrhea - semen flows randomly in the absence of orgasm due to too low muscle tone of the channels through which the semen is released. The pathology is caused by chronic inflammation.
- Leukocytic urethrorrhea is the very stage of the inflammatory process, when fluid is released into the tissues and body cavities. The exudative phase occurs due to the fact that the protective film of the urethral mucosa has suffered thermal, mechanical damage or has been exposed to viruses and chemicals for a long time.
- Mucopurulent - contain fluid secreted by serous membranes, leukocytes and glandular secretions. This mucus usually forms at night. The man notices a pus-filled discharge and yellowish stains on his underwear after waking up. They appear if the urethra is affected by bacteria - chlamydia, ureamycoplasma or trichomonas.
- Purulent - contain a lot of urethral epithelium, leukocytes, fluid from serous membranes, mucus. This type of discharge is very thick and smells terrible. Outwardly, they look like yellowish or greenish drops and are a sure sign of gonococcal urethritis, which occurs due to gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Mucus can be released in both large and small amounts. Lubrication in a small volume is practically invisible. To recognize it, you will have to press the opening of the urethra and then the liquid will appear. It usually dries instantly, leaving a film on the membrane of the head of the penis. Due to the too viscous structure, the fungi of the urinary canal stick together.
Causes of painful discharge
The discharge of fluid during arousal in men is higher or less than normal due to sexually transmitted diseases, but the cause may not be only in them.
- Venereal diseases. They arise due to the establishment of unfavorable microflora on the mucous membrane of the urethral canal, glands, cavities and external areas of the genital organs. All sexually transmitted diseases are divided into 4 groups according to the cause: bacteria (inguinal granuloma; chancroid; syphilis; lymphogranuloma; chlamydia; gonorrhea; mycoplasmosis; ureaplasmosis), viruses (HIV; herpes; condylomas; papilloma virus; molluscum contagiosum), fungi. (candidiasis) and parasites (scab; phthiriasis).
- Other reasons. The prostate gland plays a crucial role in the formation of sperm. Without its secretion, seminal fluid has no functionality. If the prostate is inflamed, its production becomes more intense.
Men with chronic prostatitis notice a large amount of discharge from the urethral opening when aroused. This fluid is called prostatic secretion and is very similar to pre-ejaculate.
Intense discharge during excitement in men can occur due to allergies, hypothermia, inflammatory processes, chemical or physical injuries.
Clear mucus may indicate recent probing. This is a protective reaction of the body to microtraumas in the mucous membrane. If a large amount of such discharge is observed, it is considered a sure sign of infertility.
To identify a certain pathology, it is not enough to visually assess the fluid. Here it is important to check its biological composition, and this can only be done during a medical examination.
Can the lubricant fertilize?
It has been experimentally proven that male lubricant contains little sperm, so there is little chance of pregnancy if it is released during unprotected sex.
The chance of conception is especially high in the middle of the cycle, when ovulation has already passed and the cervix is still open. In other cases, what is released in men during arousal is not enough for fertilization. Without the sperm's nutrient medium, the germ cells will quickly die in the vagina.
The probability of conception is highest after repeated intercourse, as the lubricant will contain a lot of sperm. If there is no desire to have a child, then it is better to go to the toilet shortly before the next visit.
Can a virgin get pregnant?
This is entirely possible and we are not talking about a virgin birth. This situation is due to two conditions:
- individual features of the structure of the hymen;
- sperm viability and velocity;
- Is the girl ovulating at this time?
Even naked caressing can unexpectedly lead to pregnancy. This happens if the male lubricant gets on the girl's genitals. Sperm can enter the vagina and conception will occur. The risk is higher if the hymen is particularly elastic or damaged (trauma, equestrian sports).
Sometimes this is enough for the egg and sperm to connect. Medical statistics prove that giving birth with an intact hymen is not rare.
Color before finishing
Healthy lubrication in men is clear and colorless. The color and composition of the liquid change due to inflammatory processes - cooperite. If the secretion becomes cloudy with a yellowish or greenish tint, this indicates suspicious activity of the pathogen. If the shade is brown, it indicates inflammatory damage to the blood vessels and bleeding.
Inflammation of Cooper's glands can be detected using a urine sample from several glasses. First you need to urinate in the first vessel, after massaging the gland, urinate in another vessel - at this stage, a secretion appears in the urine, which must be checked. After the second examination, the prostate gland is massaged and urine is collected in a third container. For example, if the second container showed an increased content of leukocytes, and in the first and third they are normal, then this indicates isolated inflammation.
Clogging of the glands can also occur due to stagnant secretions - after all, the urethral channels reach 2-8 cm. Inflammation occurs due to the resulting plugs. In this case, massage and antibacterial therapy are prescribed as treatment.
Diagnosis
Urologists, after listening to the patient's complaints and collecting anamnesis, examine the genitals. In this case, specialists simultaneously take prostate juice through rectal massage. Additional laboratory tests are required:
- Blood analysis;
- Prostatic secretion;
- Urinalysis;
- sperm.
It is important to evaluate the disclaimer itself. To do this, they are subjected to microscopic examination. It is this method that allows you to identify the main source of the problem - bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Doctors then proceed to instrumental diagnostics:
- Ultrasound of pelvic organs, penis, scrotum;
- Dopplerography;
- radiography;
- MRI;
- CT;
- cystoscopy;
- Urethroscopy;
- Scintigraphy.
If neoplasms are found during the examination, the diagnosticians make a puncture.
How to reduce detachment from excitement
Sexual desire is hard to hide if the discharge is seeping through your clothes. If men release fluid in large quantities when they are excited, then you should follow several recommendations:
- have sex regularly - at least 2-3 times a week, this normalizes the secretion of the glands;
- consult a urologist - sometimes abundant preejaculate indicates hormonal imbalance, inflammation and prostate adenoma;
- give up tight-fitting underwear, in loose underwear the discharge will not be so noticeable;
- Avoid getting excited in inappropriate situations - avoid visual and physical stimulation.
Prevention measures
In general, preventive measures come down to the right attitude to sexual intimacy and largely depend on the upbringing of the girl.
General recommendations for fulfilling the following conditions:
- Good sexual experience, somewhat educated.
- Use only proven methods of contraception with sufficient effectiveness.
- The contraceptive should be chosen by a qualified gynecologist, and not by the caveman method - the poke method.
- In the unfavorable circumstances of an unwanted pregnancy, it is necessary to ensure the safety and legality of abortion procedures, which is entirely related to the qualification and professional skills of the doctor.
- Receive high-quality and professional advice, referrals, and post-abortion medical care.
How to increase your ejaculation before sex
It happens that men secrete a small amount of lubricant during arousal. Increasing the volume of the preejaculate is especially important for those men who prefer to have sex without a condom. Natural lubrication will improve gliding, eliminate damage and improve fertility
How to do it:
- Increase the duration of foreplay. Sex without sufficient stimulation leads to injuries of the mucous membranes of the genital organs. High-quality and long-lasting foreplay causes intense fluid production in both women and men.
- Use dietary supplements or aphrodisiacs. Supplements with ginseng, hot mucuna and cornflower are especially suitable. They increase arousal and increase the amount of separated preejaculate.
- Keep alcohol and cigarettes to a minimum, as toxins prevent the glands from functioning normally.
- Drink a lot of water.
- Regularly perform exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles (squats, bridges and Kegel exercises).
Testosterone helps increase secretion in men when they are excited. During andropause in men, the amount of preejaculate decreases. The synthesis can be normalized with the help of synthetic and herbal testosterone boosters, but only under the strict supervision of a doctor.
In most cases, biologically active substances (nutritional supplements) help to safely increase the amount of pre-seminal fluid and improve the quality of sperm Types of contraception: choosing the best option
The comparison table will help you choose the most reliable protection method:
| Protection method | Reliability level, % |
| A condom | to 96 |
| Male sterilization | 99. 9 |
| Intrauterine hormonal methods | to 97 |
| Oral contraceptives | to 98 |
| Hormonal injections | to 97 |
| Diaphragm | to 95 |
| Intrauterine device | to 95 |
| Basal temperature measurement | up to 70 |
| Calendar method | up to 70 |
| Interruption of intercourse | up to 60 |
| Dousing after sex | until 15 |
The couple chooses an appropriate method individually. It is important to consider the health status and habits of your partners.