Cowper's glands

Cowper's glands (also called bulbourethral glands) are two small glands near the base of the penis, just below the prostate. Their job is to produce pre-ejaculate — the clear, slippery fluid that sometimes comes out of the penis during arousal, before ejaculation. You might hear it called "pre-cum."

• Cowper's glands produce pre-ejaculate (pre-cum).
• Pre-ejaculate is released during arousal, before ejaculation.
• It helps lubricate the urethra and neutralise any acidity left from urine.
• Pre-ejaculate can contain small amounts of sperm, so pregnancy is possible from it — though the risk is lower than from full ejaculation.

[DIAGRAM: Labelled diagram of male reproductive system with Cowper's glands highlighted, showing position below prostate]

What pre-ejaculate does

The urethra is the tube inside the penis that carries both urine and semen (at different times). Urine is acidic, and sperm don't survive well in acidic conditions. Pre-ejaculate is slightly alkaline, so it flushes out and neutralises the leftover acidity in the urethra before ejaculation, giving sperm a better chance of surviving.

Pre-ejaculate also acts as a natural lubricant. You might notice a small amount of clear, slippery fluid at the tip of the penis during arousal — that's it. The amount varies a lot from person to person. Some people produce quite a bit, others barely notice any.

The pregnancy question

This is the big one. Can you get pregnant from pre-ejaculate? The answer is: it's possible, though less likely than from full ejaculation. Research shows that pre-ejaculate can sometimes contain sperm — especially if there's been a recent ejaculation and sperm are still in the urethra. This is one of the main reasons why the "pulling out" method (withdrawal) isn't considered reliable contraception.

If avoiding pregnancy matters to you, relying on pulling out before ejaculation isn't enough — use a proper method of contraception.

Things people ask about Cowper's glands

Is it normal to produce pre-cum?

Yes, completely. It's a normal part of arousal. Some people produce a noticeable amount, others don't — both are fine.

Can you control it?

No. Pre-ejaculate is released automatically during arousal. You can't stop it or choose when it happens, and you might not always notice it.

Can pre-cum give you an STI?

Yes. Pre-ejaculate can carry STIs the same way semen can. This is why condoms should be put on before any genital contact, not just before ejaculation.

Cowper's glands are two very small parts inside the body, near the base of the penis. Their job is to make a clear, slippery fluid that comes out of the penis when someone is sexually excited, before they finish.

This fluid is sometimes called pre-cum. It comes out on its own — you can't control it. Some people make quite a lot of it, others barely notice any. Both are normal.

The fluid helps clean out the tube inside the penis. That tube is used for both weeing and for sperm, so the fluid gets rid of any leftover wee to make the tube safer for sperm.

One important thing to know is that this fluid can sometimes have a small amount of sperm in it. That means pregnancy is possible from pre-cum, even if the person pulls out before they finish. It's not as likely as from the full amount of fluid, but it can happen. That's one of the reasons pulling out isn't a reliable way to stop pregnancy.

Pre-cum can also carry infections that are passed on through sex. That's why a condom should go on before any contact, not just before someone finishes.