Pre-ejaculate

Template:Linkimage Pre-ejaculate (also known as pre-ejaculatory fluid or Cowper's fluid, and colloquially as precum) is the clear fluid that is issued from a man's penis when he is sexually aroused. The fluid is usually secreted by Cowper's glands during masturbation, foreplay or at an early stage during sex, some time before the man reaches orgasm and semen is ejaculated.

Purpose

Pre-ejaculatory fluid prepares the urethra for the passage of semen by neutralizing acidity due to any residual urine. It also lubricates the movement of the penis in the vagina and the foreskin over the glans. The amount of fluid that the human male can issue varies widely between individuals, from imperceptible amounts to a copious flow. It should also be noted that pre-ejaculatory fluid can be produced at any age of a male.

Components

Though frequently cited as a carrier for small numbers of sperm, and thus a potential cause of pregnancy, it is very unlikely that conception will occur from exposure to pre-ejaculate fluid. It has also been theorized that pre-ejaculate may push sperm from a prior ejaculation out, presumably if he has not urinated since his most recent ejaculation. These are among the reasons why withdrawal, or "pulling out", is not considered to be a reliable method of birth control. There have been no large-scale studies of sperm in pre-ejaculate, but some smaller-scale studies suggest that any sperm present may be ineffectual at causing pregnancy.

A more serious problem is those same studies have shown the presence of HIV, the virus responsible for the disease AIDS, in pre-ejaculate. Pre-ejaculate can also transmit other STDs.

Colloquialisms

Slang terms for pre-ejaculate include pre-come, pre-cum, "rewetting solution", "sex slime", dog water, goop, speed drop, widower's tears, "love drops", and clear stuff, "slickener".