Can Precum Cause Pregnancy? Expert Insights

Hi Aunty Vadge,

My bf briefly touched his penis to my clit and outer lips and precum may or may not have been there.

Does this increase the chance of me getting pregnant? What should I do?

From, S.
Age 20, USA

______

Hello S,

Understandably, you’re feeling a bit worried about this encounter. To address your concern, it’s important to note that the likelihood of getting pregnant from pre-ejaculate (precum) in contact with the outer parts of your vagina (the clitoris and labia) is generally considered to be low, but it’s not entirely without risk.

Sperm can sometimes be present in pre-ejaculate^1–3, and in rare circumstances, it could lead to pregnancy if it manages to find its way into the vagina at the right time in your menstrual cycle, during ovulation.

If you’re not looking to conceive and want to be on the safe side, there are a couple of options you can consider:

Emergency contraception
This is available over-the-counter at pharmacies and can be effective if taken within a certain time frame after unprotected sex (typically 72 hours for Levonorgestrel pills like Plan B, and up to 5 days for ulipristal acetate pills like ellaOne).^4,5
Keep track of your cycle
If you are aware of where you are in your menstrual cycle, it can help assess the risk better. If you were far from ovulating, the chance of pregnancy is much lower.^6,7

In future encounters, you might want to explore different forms of contraception, like condoms, to reduce the worry of unintended pregnancy. It’s always wise to use protection not only to prevent pregnancy but also to protect against sexually transmitted infections.

If you have any more concerns, speak to a trusted older adult or friend for advice, and if you need medical advice or support, please speak to a sexual health clinic or a doctor.

Take care,
Aunt Vadge

References

1.
Patel J, Nelson AL, Nguyen BT. Is There Sperm in Pre-ejaculate? How to Study Pre-ejaculate to Determine Contraceptive Efficacy for Withdrawal [23I]. Obstetrics & Gynecology. Published online May 2020:97S-98S. doi:10.1097/01.aog.0000664180.55208.d7
2.
Researchers find no sperm in pre-ejaculate fluid. Contracept Technol Update. 1993;14(10):154-156. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12286905
3.
Killick SR, Leary C, Trussell J, Guthrie KA. Sperm content of pre-ejaculatory fluid. Human Fertility. Published online December 15, 2010:48-52. doi:10.3109/14647273.2010.520798
4.
Ahmed FA, Moussa KM, Petterson KO, Asamoah BO. Assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice of emergency contraception: a cross- sectional study among Ethiopian undergraduate female students. BMC Public Health. Published online February 9, 2012. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-110
5.
Katzman D, Taddeo D. Emergency contraception. Paediatr Child Health. 2010;15(6):363-372. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21731419
6.
Duane M, Stanford JB, Porucznik CA, Vigil P. Fertility Awareness-Based Methods for Women’s Health and Family Planning. Front Med. Published online May 24, 2022. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.858977
7.
Mu Q, Fehring RJ, Bouchard T. Multisite Effectiveness Study of the Marquette Method of Natural Family Planning Program. Linacre Q. Published online September 27, 2020:64-72. doi:10.1177/0024363920957515