Ask the Sexpert

Can you get pregnant from pre-come?

Dear Reader,

Thanks for asking this important question. We at Libida actually get asked this question in a variety of ways every month, so I figured it might be helpful to answer it in a way that people with related questions would benefit as well. Here we go... In addition to the issue of ejaculate (or come) on your partner's hands, there is also the concern of Cowper's Gland Fluid (or pre-come). There is a controversy about whether there is or isn't sperm in pre-come. The research that has been reported indicates that if there has not been a recent ejaculation where there could be sperm left in the urethra (tube inside the penis) and you have urinated which would then eliminate sperm from the tube, that sperm is not present in semen.

It is important to be careful but sperm in pre-come and regular ejaculate is actually very fragile and the reason the body makes millions daily demonstrates the fragility. Sperm is delicate, it can be easily hurt and can quickly die. It needs the semen to keep it alive.

If you or your partner uses a finger that has come into contact with pre-come or ejaculate and the outside of the female genitals it is not very likely that a pregnancy will occur. If the fingering involves full insertion of the finger with semen on it there may still be a small risk of pregnancy. But the female would need to be ovulating at the time too. This is not certain though, as to be 100% safe, you will need to cleanse your fingers before introducing them into the vagina after touching ejaculate fluids.

~ Dr. Kathleen Van Kirk