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 aroused. The stronger sex is able to produce not only seminal fluid, but also a special lubricant that facilitates sliding during friction.
Male arousal mechanisms
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 the upcoming sexual intercourse appear in the man's subconscious, which causes an erection.
Not only a real image but also a fantasy image can arouse sexual desire. This reaction may be slower. Erectile function depends on reactions from the central nervous system. A man's sexual ability is controlled by brain impulses that pass along the spinal cord.
The main exciting mechanism is the thoughts and images themselves born of fantasy.
Types of erection and their mechanism:
- Reflection. This reaction occurs after stimulation of the genital organ. The reaction is physiological and usually appears one 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, as only some patients with lower spinal cord injuries can achieve it.
- Night. Refers to uncontrolled mechanical erection, occurs in all healthy men. The first nocturnal reaction of sexual excitement 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 it is filled with arterial blood. Men may experience discharge when they are aroused. At the same time, the ischiocavernosus muscles contract, compressing the base of the penis and blocking blood from escaping. 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, the man completely loses sexual desire and the hardness of the genital organ disappears. In this case, for some time, the erection becomes impossible and the formation of seminal fluid resumes.
A healthy man can experience a sexual response again within 10 minutes. However, this period varies and depends on the man's sexual habits and desires. Age, health and mental state play an important role.
What is pre-cum
When aroused, men secrete clear mucus - this is pre-ejaculation. Appears with or after an erection. The release of this fluid helps prevent injury to the penis during vaginal penetration.
The absence of pre-ejaculation in a man may indicate a pathology of the reproductive system.
The substance secreted 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 excitement, during caresses and masturbation. The appearance of pre-ejaculation indicates a man's desire to have 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 were named after their discoverer, Cooper. They were discovered in the 17th century, but the true purpose of glandular tissue became known later.
There are also Littre's glands, in which part of the pre-ejaculation is formed. They are located in the urethra (from the bladder neck to the external opening of the urethra). Its main task is to secrete an alkaline mucous fluid, thereby increasing the volume of pre-seminal fluid. Typically it ranges from 2-3 drops to 5 ml.
The most common reason to see a doctor is the release of pre-cum at the slightest sexual excitement. Such a sign may indicate a malfunction in 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. As 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 may be present when sexual intercourse without contraception occurs within a few hours of masturbation or previous sexual intercourse.
To avoid an unwanted pregnancy, in this case it is recommended to use a condom or other means of protection.
Functions
Pre-cum is not only a transparent lubricating liquid, but also a protective reaction of the mucous membrane. The release of pre-cum makes it easier for the penis to penetrate the vagina and helps relieve friction if the 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 alkaline pre-ejaculation that they can enter the woman's genital tract without damage and fertilize the egg. This is why male lubricant can protect sperm viability.
Secretion from the urethra also increases the chance of getting pregnant, because the seminal fluid quickly enters the uterus as it slides. In addition, natural lubricant will help avoid the use of artificial substitutes and will facilitate the penetration of the penis into the vagina if the woman does not have enough of her own secretions.
What's normal like?
In medical terminology, urethral discharge is often called libidinal urethrorrhea. In appearance, it is an ordinary transparent mucus. During sex, it is released in volumes of 1 to 5 ml. This amount is enough for comfortable sexual contact.
Pre-cum also contains smegma, a fatty substance that accumulates in the fold of the foreskin. If a man is faithful to a sexual partner or uses a condom during sexual intercourse, there are no additional inclusions or color changes. A slight whitish tint is possible.
Reason to see a doctor
The appearance of any suspicious symptoms 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 early, which contributes to a quick recovery.
The symptom will be a hint and a reason to check the body for infections 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 of the skin, rashes and tissue swelling,
- purulent and bloody impurities in the secretion,
- 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 periods of rest are observed when infected with sexually transmitted diseases. If you notice one or more accompanying symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Urgent antibiotic therapy may be required.
No precum is released
Some men, after reading the article, may suspect a problem because they do not produce pre-ejaculation. This may be a sign of normality or a pathological process.
The indicated volume (1 to 5 ml) is approximate. The amount of secretion from the urethra during arousal can vary and depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Sometimes the man does not notice the release of the lubricant, as it is released after penetration into the vagina.
In 5% of cases, the absence of pre-ejaculation is a symptom of the presence of inflammatory diseases. It is recommended that you consult your doctor about a possible problem. People with disabilities and the elderly may not have discharge from the urethra.
Changes in color and consistency
Any colorful splashes should alert the man. Normally, the color of pre-cum is transparent, slightly white. You should also pay attention to the density. 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 an unpleasant "suspicious" odor mixed with mold,
- increased discharge volume,
- the presence of blood and pus,
- change in the structure of pre-ejaculation, thickening, appearance of curdled sediment,
- Color change.
Shades of gray, red, green, orange and others are signs 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.
Clear, sticky discharge sometimes indicates infection with infectious diseases: staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli. The release of bacteria is observed not only in pre-cum, but also in the resting state of the penis.
What the appearance of different shades of pre-cum can mean:
- Grayish green color. Indicates the presence of infection in the body. This is not always a sign of sexually transmitted diseases, the flu or ARVI can manifest themselves in 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 by 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 secretion. 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 experience STD symptoms; 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 gonococcal infection. Often accompanied by problems urinating and erectile dysfunction.
Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. A routine examination is not enough to identify the problem; it will be necessary to carry out a laboratory diagnosis, 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 cause the appearance of various pathologies and can cause problems with urination, erectile dysfunction and a decrease in the body's immune defense.