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Pre-ejaculate (also known as pre-ejaculatory fluid or Cowper's fluid, and colloquially as pre-cum) is the clear, colorless, viscous fluid that emits from the urethra of a man's penis when he is sexually aroused.
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Origin and composition
The fluid is emitted during arousal, masturbation, foreplay or at an early stage during sex, some time before the man fully reaches orgasm and semen is ejaculated. It is primarily produced by the bulbourethral glands (Cowper's glands), with the glands of Littre (the mucus-secreting urethral glands) also contributing.[1]
The amount of fluid that the human male issues varies widely among individuals. Some men do not produce any pre-ejaculate fluid,[2] while others emit as much as 5 mL.[1]
Pre-ejaculate contains some chemicals associated with semen, such as acid phosphatase. Some semen markers, such as gamma-glutamyltransferase, are completely absent from pre-ejaculate fluid.[3]
Function
Acidic environments are hostile to sperm. Pre-ejaculate neutralizes residual acidity in the urethra caused by urine, creating a more favorable environment for the passage of sperm. The vagina is normally acidic; the deposit of pre-ejaculate prior to the emission of semen may change the vaginal environment to promote sperm survival.[1]
Pre-ejaculate also acts as lubricant during intercourse,[1] and plays a role in semen coagulation.[1]
Risks
Studies have demonstrated the presence of HIV in pre-ejaculate, which can lead to the disease AIDS.[4]
Many also express concern that pre-ejaculate may contain sperm which can cause pregnancy, using this to argue against the use of coitus interruptus (withdrawal) as a contraceptive method. There have been no large-scale studies of sperm in pre-ejaculate, but some smaller-scale studies suggest that no sperm is present and thus pre-ejaculate is ineffectual at causing pregnancy.[4][5] It is likely, however, that pre-ejaculate which follows a recent ejaculation will contain sperm, as some ejaculate is always left in the duct after orgasm.[6]
Overproduction
A few men are bothered by the amount of pre-ejaculate fluid they produce. One physician described a patient who was embarrassed that the fluid would "soak through his pants during kissing or other mild erotic stimulation". A few case reports have indicated satisfactory results when such men are treated with a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor.[7]
In such cases, one doctor recommended considering the differential diagnosis of prostatorrhea, the emission of prostatic secretions during straining associated with urination or defecation.[7]
Religious attitudes
In Sunni Islam, the emission of pre-ejaculate fluid may require ritual purification.[8] For many other religions, pre-ejaculate is not of significance.
References
- ^ a b c d e Chudnovsky, A.; Niederberger, C.S. (2007). "Copious Pre-Ejaculation: Small Glands--Major Headaches". Journal of Andrology 28 (3): 374. doi:., which cites:
Chughtai B, Sawas A, O'Malley RL, Naik RR, Ali Khan S, Pentyala S (April 2005). "A neglected gland: a review of Cowper's gland". Int. J. Androl. 28 (2): 74–7. doi:. PMID 15811067. - ^ Vazquez E (1997). "Is it safe to suck?". Posit Aware 8 (4): 15. PMID 11364482.
- ^ Gohara WF (February 1980). "Rate of decrease of glutamyltransferase and acid phosphatase activities in the human vagina after coitus". Clin. Chem. 26 (2): 254–7. PMID 6101549.
- ^ a b "Researchers find no sperm in pre-ejaculate fluid" (October 1993). Contraceptive Technology Update 14 (10): 154–156. PMID 12286905.
- ^ Zukerman Z.; Weiss D.B.; Orvieto R. (April 2003). "Short Communication: Does Preejaculatory Penile Secretion Originating from Cowper's Gland Contain Sperm?". Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 20 (4): 157–159. doi:. PMID 12762415.
- ^ "Withdrawal Method". Planned Parenthood (March 2004). Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
- ^ a b Chudnovsky, A. and C.S. Niederberger (2007)
- ^ Karamali, Hamza (2005-07-03). "The pre-ejaculate fluid, madhy, calls for washing and ablution before praying". SunniPath: The Online Islamic Academy. Retrieved on 2008-07-12.
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- This page was last modified on 1 October 2008, at 02:13.
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