These Are Your Real Chances of Getting Pregnant From Pre-Cum

The chances of pre-cum causing pregnancy are pretty low, but they're not zero—so yes, you can get pregnant from pre-cum.

Pre-cum is a type of lubrication produced specifically for sex by people with testicles before ejaculation occurs. If you’re trying to avoid pregnancy with the withdrawal method, which is when the penis is pulled out from the vagina before ejaculating, then you should take measures to prevent conception with pre-cum. Here's what you need to know.

What Is Pre-Cum, Exactly?

Pre-cum (or pre-ejaculate) is fluid mostly made up of mucus, proteins, and enzymes. Its balances pH and makes the male urethra less acidic to give sperm a better chance of surviving in the super acidic vagina.

Pre-cum doesn't usually have sperm in it, but it is possible for some sperm to be lurking there from past ejaculations.

And according to Mitchell Creinin, MD, gynecologist, and director of family planning at UC Davis Health, pre-cum involuntarily comes out before the person physically feels an orgasm and ejaculates. "Pre-cum is really just the beginning of the ejaculate—there is no 'pre'," says Dr. Creinin.

Is There Sperm in Pre-Cum?

The pre-cum fluid itself does not contain sperm, but sperm can leak into it as it travels down the urethra, where residuals may be present from previous ejaculations and can be released with pre-cum prior to semen. (FYI: Semen contains sperm and is the ejaculate that is emitted during orgasm.)

"Normal semen fluid from ejaculation contains greater than 40 million motile sperms compared to pre-ejaculate fluid, which has anywhere from no sperm to less than 5 million swimmers," says Dr. Hsieh.

The research on pre-cum and if it contains sperm is limited. For instance, a small 2013 study done on sperm counts of pre-cum in 27 males found that 41% of the participants had sperm in their pre-cum, with 37% of that being motile (healthy) sperm, while a similar 2016 study on sperm count in pre-cum found healthy sperm in about 17% of participants.

But a 2021 study wasn't able to uncover anything conclusive about sperm in pre-cum, confirming that this question is one that still needs more research.

What Are the Chances You Can Get Pregnant from Pre-Cum?

The short answer is that it's possible to get pregnant from pre-cum, particularly if you're using the withdrawal method as birth control during sex.

"It's estimated that about 20% of people can get pregnant from withdrawal method during sex, so it's possible those people got pregnant from pre-ejaculate," says Dr. Hsieh.

Can the Withdrawal Method Prevent Pregnancy?

The withdrawal method is not iron-clad.

"The advice I try to give couples is that if you're seriously using withdrawal, you have to be comfortable as a couple with the idea of not fully finishing sex," says Dr. Creinin. "If you are going to enter the vagina without any protection, you should withdraw long before finishing and being really stimulated. Pulling out before the brink of orgasm does not protect you."

Is There Any Way to Prevent or Avoid Pre-Cum?

There is no way to stop pre-cum, and the amount is determined by many factors.

"The amount of pre-ejaculate fluid can vary depending on arousal level, hormonal status, hydration level, and medications," says Dr. Hsieh. "The only way to avoid [pre-cum] is through a barrier [e.g., condom]. People thought if a man urinates prior to sex, it can wash out the sperm from the urethra, but this is unproven."

However, if you choose to use the pull-out method, using another birth control method—like spermicidal lubricant—can help reduce the risk of pregnancy, but as with all birth control methods, it relies on proper and consistent use.

"Anything is more effective than withdrawal alone," says Dr. Creinin. "If you're putting contraceptive (spermicidal) gel in the vagina combined with withdrawal, you must follow the directions." According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, spermicide is only 28% effective when used alone.

When Should I Use Emergency Contraception?

If you had sexual intercourse and you are concerned that pre-cum may have put you at risk of getting pregnant when you don't want to be, you can use emergency contraception. You have two options for emergency contraception.

First, you can have a ParaGuard IUD placed within five days of unprotected sexual intercourse. This IUD can stay in place and continue to serve as birth control.

Another option is the “morning after pill,” a type of birth control pill you take after unprotected sexual intercourse. There are different kinds of morning-after-pills, one you need to take as soon as possible, and another that you can take up to five days after sex. Talk to a health care provider or visit a Planned Parenthood clinic nearest to you as soon as possible.

When Should I Check for Pregnancy?

You won’t know if you got pregnant for at least two to three weeks after you had sex. You might feel tempted to take a pregnancy test the day after, but this would be too soon. It takes at least 10 days for an embryo to implant itself into the uterine wall and produce enough of the pregnancy hormone hCG to be detected by even the most sensitive of pregnancy tests.

Sometimes, people experience pregnancy-like symptoms a few days after sex and worry this means they may be pregnant. The truth is that you can't know if you're pregnant just by "feeling" pregnant. Also, real pregnancy symptoms won't occur until at least 10 days after conception.