The emergence of sexual desire in women is accompanied by swelling of the mammary glands and the release of lubricant. But few people know what is released in men when they are excited. The stronger sex is capable of producing not only seminal fluid, but also a special lubricant that facilitates sliding during friction.
Mechanisms of male arousal
The process of sexual arousal is a complex psychological and physiological reaction. In most cases, sexual attraction begins with eye contact with the object of desire. Images of upcoming sexual intercourse appear in a man’s subconscious, which causes an erection.
Not only a real, but also a fantasy image can arouse sexual desire. This reaction may be slower. Erectile function depends on the reactions of the central nervous system. A man’s sexual ability is controlled by brain impulses passing along the spinal cord.
The main exciting mechanism is one’s own thoughts and images born of fantasy.
Types of erection and its mechanism:
- Reflex. This reaction occurs after stimulation of the genital organ. The reaction is physiological and often appears within a minute after masturbation. The mechanism originates in the spinal cord. Sexual desire can be observed even in a paralyzed person with spinal injuries.
- Psychogenic. This is an arousal mechanism caused by fantasy and thought processes. Sexual images associated with possible sexual intercourse appear in a man’s head. This type of erection requires a healthy nervous system, since only a few patients with lower spinal cord injuries can achieve it.
- Night. Refers to mechanical uncontrolled erection, occurs in all healthy men. The first nocturnal reaction of sexual arousal is observed even in boys during puberty. The absence of a mechanical erection is a reason to consult a doctor and a sign of androgen deficiency and other physiological disorders.
The penis becomes hard after the penis is filled with arterial blood. Men may experience discharge when they are excited. At the same time, the ischiocavernosus muscles contract, compressing the base of the penis and blocking the outflow of blood from it. During this period, urination is difficult.
After contractions along the epididymis, ejaculation occurs - seminal fluid is expelled from the urethra. The neck of the bladder also contracts, preventing the backflow of secretions, then the muscles of the penis contract sharply and rhythmically, releasing 2 to 5 ml of ejaculate.
After the ejaculation of semen, a man completely loses sexual desire and the hardness of the genital organ disappears. In this case, for some time, an erection becomes impossible, and the formation of seminal fluid resumes.
A healthy man may experience a sexual response again within 10 minutes. However, this period varies and depends on the sexual habits and desires of the man. Age, health and mental state play an important role.
What is precum
When aroused, men secrete clear mucus - this is pre-ejaculate. It appears with or after an erection. The release of such fluid helps prevent injury to the penis during vaginal penetration.
The absence of pre-ejaculate in a man may indicate a pathology of the reproductive system.
The secreted substance is also often called pre-seminal fluid. There is another name - pre-seed. This lubricant is released not only before sexual intercourse, but also during slight sexual arousal, during petting and masturbation. The appearance of pre-ejaculate indicates a man’s desire to enter into an intimate relationship with a woman.
Where is it produced?
The secretion of lubrication in a man cannot be called a simple process. The body has special glands located in the muscles of the perineum, at the base of the penis. They are called Cooper's or bulbourethral glands.
The male organs received their name in honor of the discoverer, Cooper. They were discovered back in the 17th century, but the real purpose of glandular tissue became known later.
There are also Littre glands, in which part of the pre-ejaculate is formed. They are located in the urethra (from the neck of the bladder to the external opening of the urethra). Their main task is to secrete an alkaline mucous fluid, thereby increasing the volume of pre-seminal fluid. Normally, it ranges from 2-3 drops to 5 ml.
The most common reason for visiting a doctor is the release of pre-semen at the slightest sexual arousal. Such a sign may indicate a malfunction of the genitourinary system and cause problems. However, this situation can be treated. The andrologist prescribes therapy after appropriate examination.
Compound
Pre-seminal fluid is a mucous secretion containing alkali and various enzymes. Since the vaginal environment is acidic and rejects the man’s semen, the lubricant helps to neutralize the "aggressiveness" of the female microflora.
There is a myth that discharge from a man's urethra can cause a woman to become pregnant. Lubricant does not contain sperm, but it may be present when sexual intercourse without contraception occurs within a few hours of masturbation or previous sexual intercourse.
To avoid unwanted pregnancy, in this case it is recommended to use a condom or other means of protection.
Functions
Pre-semen is not only a lubricating transparent liquid, but also a protective reaction of the mucous membrane. The release of pre-semen facilitates the penetration of the penis into the vagina and helps ease friction if a woman does not produce enough lubrication.
Penile secretions have several important functions:
- neutralize the increased acidity of the vaginal microflora,
- facilitate penetration of the penis, help the movement of sperm along the cervix,
- increase the chance of conception,
- remove the contents of the urinary canal (urine, semen).
Sperm die quickly in an acidic environment. And it is thanks to the alkaline pre-ejaculate that they can enter the woman’s genital tract undamaged and fertilize the egg. This is why male lubricant can protect sperm viability.
Discharge from the urethra also increases the chance of getting pregnant, because seminal fluid will quickly enter the uterus when sliding. In addition, natural lubricant will help avoid the use of artificial substitutes and facilitate penetration of the penis into the vagina if a woman does not have enough of her own secretions.
What does normal look like?
In medical terminology, urethral discharge is often called libidinal urethrorrhea. In appearance, it is ordinary transparent mucus. During sex, it is released in a volume of 1 to 5 ml. This amount is enough for comfortable sexual contact.
The pre-semen also contains smegma, a fatty substance that collects in the fold of the foreskin. If a man is faithful to one sexual partner or uses a condom during sexual intercourse, then there are no additional inclusions or color changes. A slight whitish tint is possible.
Reason to see a doctor
The appearance of any suspicious symptom is a reason to consult a doctor. Such changes in the body should alert you. If a man consults a doctor in time, the disease can be detected at an early stage, which contributes to a speedy recovery.
The symptom will be a hint and a reason to check the body for the presence of infection or inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system. The doctor will prescribe a diagnostic examination and laboratory tests to identify the cause of the development of the pathological process.
Additional symptoms that will help make a diagnosis:
- increased body temperature, fever, fever,
- feeling of pain or discomfort in the pelvic organs,
- redness on the skin, rashes and swelling of tissues,
- purulent and bloody impurities in the discharge,
- itching and burning in the urethra,
- hyperemia in the penis area,
- other suspicious symptoms (urinary retention, erectile dysfunction).
Similar pathological processes in a man’s body during excitement and during rest periods are observed when infected with sexually transmitted diseases. If you notice one or more accompanying symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Urgent antibiotic therapy may be needed.
No pre-cum is released
Some men, after reading the article, may suspect a problem because they do not produce pre-ejaculate. This can be either a sign of normality or a sign of a pathological process.
The indicated volume (1 to 5 ml) is approximate. The amount of discharge from the urethra during arousal can vary and depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Sometimes a man does not notice the release of lubricant, since it is released after penetration into the vagina.
In 5% of cases, the absence of pre-ejaculate is a symptom of the presence of inflammatory diseases. It is recommended that you consult your doctor about a possible problem. Disabled people and elderly people may not have discharge from the urethra.
Changes in color and consistency
Any colored splashes should alert a man. Normally, the color of the pre-semen is transparent, slightly white. You should also pay attention to the density. The pre-seminal fluid is thin and flows freely from the urinary canal during sexual arousal.
Reasons to see a doctor:
- change in odor, appearance of a "fishy" unpleasant odor mixed with mold,
- increased discharge volume,
- the presence of blood and pus,
- change in the structure of pre-ejaculate, thickening, appearance of a cheesy sediment,
- color change.
Gray, red, green, orange and other shades are a sign of an inflammatory or infectious process. The body reacts in this way to a viral invasion. Sometimes colored discharge is a sign of the normal rehabilitation process after prostate surgery, antibiotic therapy or other surgical interventions.
Sticky clear discharge sometimes indicates infection with infectious diseases: staphylococcus, streptococcus, E. coli. The release of bacteria is observed not only in the pre-semen, but also in the resting state of the penis.
What can the appearance of different shades of pre-semen mean:
- Gray-green color. Indicates the presence of infection in the body. This is not always a sign of sexually transmitted diseases; influenza or ARVI can manifest itself this way. As a rule, it is accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
- Thick white discharge. They talk about the development of fungal diseases, most often it is candidiasis. It is transmitted from an infected sexual partner. If a pathogen is detected, both the man and the woman must be treated.
- Red color. Indicates the presence of blood in the discharge. This symptom is typical for urological diseases (urethritis, cystitis), chronic prostatitis and a number of other diseases not related to the urinary system: hypertension, atherosclerosis.
- Yellow. This is a sign of infection with sexually transmitted diseases. Men rarely show symptoms of STDs; most often the disease occurs in a latent form. When yellow discharge appears, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis and other sexually transmitted diseases can be suspected.
- Purulent discharge. They talk about the presence of certain types of infection, such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and gonococcus infection. Often accompanied by problems with urination and erectile dysfunction.
Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. A routine examination is not enough to identify the problem; you will need to undergo laboratory diagnostics, in some cases using ultrasound.
The key to recovery is timely consultation with a doctor.
Do not self-medicate and do not let the disease take its course. Sexually transmitted diseases provoke the appearance of many pathologies and can cause problems with urination, erectile dysfunction and a decrease in the body's immune defense.