QUESTION: I need to know how likely it is that pre-cum will cause pregnancy. About a month ago, maybe less, my boyfriend and I were fooling around and things went a little too far. His penis was inside for a short amount of time, probably less than five minutes, and he didn't cum. My period is erratic. Sometimes it is on time, and sometimes it is not. I'm not sure if I am late or not. If I am, it's a couple of days or maybe even a week. I know it is possible to get pregnant from pre-cum, but my boyfriend hadn't ejaculated for a few days beforehand, so what is the probability that we're pregnant?
ANSWER: While it is possible to get pregnant from pre-ejaculate sperm, your specific situation makes it seem unlikely that you would have gotten pregnant from the encounter with your boyfriend. Here's why:\nPre-ejaculate (sometimes called "pre-cum") is fluid released by the Cowper's glands, which are two small glands along the male reproductive/urinary tract. This fluid helps to neutralize the otherwise acidic environment of the urethra and, as such, offers protection to sperm that might soon travel that route via ejaculation. The fluid is clear and, in some but not all men, is visible at the tip of the penis during sexual arousal. \nSexuality and health educators often warn individuals that pre-ejaculate might have sperm in it and thus could cause a pregnancy. Theoretically this is true, as there might be sperm that are still "left over" in the urethra from a previous ejaculation earlier that day or earlier in that same sexual session (either because of masturbation or sexual activity with a partner). Thus if sperm are "left over" in the urethra and then a man's Cowper's glands release pre-ejaculatory fluid, and it comes forth to the tip of the penis during arousal, then there is a chance that some sperm could be carried in this fluid and get into his partner's body, if they are having intercourse without a condom.\nThat said, research that has examined the content of pre-ejaculatory fluid has rarely found sperm present in it. This does not mean that sperm is never present in pre-ejaculatory fluid; it just means that it does not appear to typically be present. In your case, since your boyfriend did not ejaculate in the days before your encounter, it is unlikely there were any sperm "left over" in his urethra. We can assume that though he did not ejaculate in the days before your sexual encounter, he probably did urinate, thus likely clearing his urethra of any sperm. However, if you would like more certainty, consider getting a pregnancy test through your campus health center or a local family planning clinic.\nIt is important to note that infectious agents (including HIV) can be present in pre-ejaculate. Therefore it is still a good idea to use a condom in order to reduce the risk of infections that are transmitted through fluids, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV. \nEven when it turns out that the likelihood of an unintended pregnancy is low, pregnancy scares often make couples consider their choices with more seriousness. This might be a good time to talk about how to keep things from going "too far" from where you feel comfortable. What might make future romantic encounters comfortable? Should you both start carrying condoms? Do you want to engage in certain behaviors and avoid others? What feels right to you given your age, experience, values and feelings for each other? Thinking and talking through these points can help you figure out more about how you want to lead your relationship. Good luck.
