Precum (pre-ejaculate) can cause pregnancy, although the risk is generally lower than from full ejaculation. Precum itself usually does not contain sperm, but it can pick up sperm left in the urethra from a previous ejaculation, making pregnancy possible. Key points about how often precum can cause pregnancy:
- Studies show that sperm is present in the precum of some men, with estimates ranging from about 13% to 41% of men having sperm in their precum, some of which can be motile (able to fertilize an egg).
- The likelihood of pregnancy from precum depends on timing in the menstrual cycle, being highest around ovulation when an egg is available.
- Sperm can survive inside the female reproductive tract for up to 5 days, so pregnancy is possible even if intercourse happens before ovulation.
- The withdrawal method, which relies on avoiding ejaculation inside the vagina, has about a 20% pregnancy rate over a year mainly because of sperm in precum.
- Even if a man pulls out before ejaculation, precum can leak and carry residual sperm, so pregnancy risk is not zero.
- Using reliable contraception methods significantly lowers the chance of pregnancy from precum.
In summary, precum can cause pregnancy, but the frequency depends on factors like whether sperm is present in the precum, timing relative to ovulation, and use of contraception. The risk is estimated at about 20% pregnancy rate per year with withdrawal as the sole method of birth control, reflecting how often precum can lead to pregnancy in typical use conditions. For avoiding pregnancy, using contraception methods other than relying solely on withdrawal (precum) is recommended.
