The appearance 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 capable of producing 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 an upcoming sexual relationship appear in the man's subconscious, which causes an erection.
Not only a real image, but also a fantasy can awaken 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 that pass along the spinal cord.
The main arousing mechanism is one's own thoughts and images born from 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 relations appear in a man's head. This type of erection requires a healthy nervous system, as only a few patients with lower spinal cord injuries can achieve it.
- Evening. It refers to an uncontrolled mechanical erection, it 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 it fills 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 flow. During this period, it is difficult to urinate.
After contractions along the epididymis, ejaculation occurs: seminal fluid is expelled from the urethra. The neck of the bladder also contracts, preventing the reflux 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 precum?
When men are aroused, they secrete clear mucus: this is pre-ejaculation. It appears with or after an erection. The release of this fluid helps prevent injuries to the penis during vaginal penetration.
The absence of pre-ejaculation in a man may indicate a pathology of the reproductive system.
The secreted substance is also often called precum. There is another name: pre-seed. This lubricant is released not only before sexual intercourse, but also during slight sexual arousal, during caressing and masturbation. The appearance of pre-ejaculation indicates a man's desire to enter into an intimate relationship with a woman.
Where is it produced?
The secretion of lubricant in a man cannot be considered 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 in honor of the 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 pre-ejaculation is part of. They are located in the urethra (from the neck of the bladder to the external opening of the urethra). Its main task is to secrete an alkaline mucous fluid, thereby increasing the volume of precum. Typically, it ranges from 2-3 drops to 5 ml.
The most common reason for visiting the doctor is the release of precum at the slightest sexual arousal. This sign may indicate a malfunction of the genitourinary system and cause problems. However, this situation can be treated. The andrologist prescribes the therapy after a proper examination.
Compound
Precum is a mucous secretion that contains alkali and various enzymes. Since the vaginal environment is acidic and rejects male semen, the lubricant helps to neutralize the "aggressiveness" of the female microflora.
There is a myth that discharge from a man's urethra can make a woman pregnant. The lubricant does not contain sperm, but may be present when sexual intercourse without contraceptives occurs a few hours after masturbation or previous sexual intercourse.
To avoid unwanted pregnancies, in this case it is recommended to use a condom or other means of protection.
Features
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 chances of conception,
- eliminate 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 intact and fertilize the egg. That is why male lubricant can protect the viability of sperm.
Discharge from the urethra also increases the chances of getting pregnant, because the seminal fluid will quickly enter the uterus by sliding. In addition, the 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 is normality like?
In medical terminology, urethral discharge is often called libidinal urethrorrhea. In appearance, it is ordinary transparent mucus. During sexual intercourse, it is released in a volume of 1 to 5 ml. This amount is enough for comfortable sexual contact.
Precum 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, 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 symptoms is a reason to consult a doctor. These 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 clue and a reason to examine the body for infections or inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system. The doctor will prescribe diagnostic examinations 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 swelling of the tissues,
- purulent and bloody impurities in the secretion,
- itching and burning in the urethra,
- hyperemia in the penile area,
- other suspicious symptoms (urinary retention, erectile dysfunction).
Similar pathological processes are observed in a man's body during excitement and during periods of rest when he becomes infected with sexually transmitted diseases. If you notice one or more accompanying symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Urgent antibiotic therapy may be needed.
No precum is released.
Some men, after reading the article, may suspect that there is a problem because they do not produce pre-ejaculation. This may be a sign of normality or a sign of 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 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-ejaculation is a symptom of the presence of inflammatory diseases. It is recommended that you consult your doctor about a possible problem. Disabled people and older people may not have discharge from the urethra.
Color and consistency changes.
Any splash of color should alert the man. Normally, the color of precum is transparent, slightly white. You should also pay attention to the density. Precum is diluted and flows freely from the urinary canal during sexual arousal.
Reasons to consult a doctor:
- change in odor, appearance of an unpleasant "fishy" smell mixed with mold,
- increased discharge volume,
- the presence of blood and pus,
- change in the structure of pre-ejaculate, thickening, appearance of a cheesy-tasting sediment,
- Color change.
Grey, 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.
Clear, sticky 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-cum mean?
- Greenish gray color. Indicates the presence of infection in the body. This is not always a sign of sexually transmitted diseases, influenza 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 from an infected sexual partner. If a pathogen is detected, both men and women should be treated.
- Red color. Indicates the presence of blood in the secretion. This symptom is typical for urological diseases (urethritis, cystitis), chronic prostatitis and other diseases not related to the urinary system: hypertension, atherosclerosis.
- Yellow. This is a sign of sexually transmitted disease infection. Men rarely have STD symptoms; Most of the time the disease occurs in latent form. When yellow discharge appears, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis and other sexually transmitted diseases may be suspected.
- Purulent discharge. They talk about the presence of certain types of infections, such as gonorrhea, syphilis and gonococcus infection. It is 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 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 run its course. Sexually transmitted diseases cause the appearance of many pathologies and can cause problems urinating, erectile dysfunction and a decrease in the body's immune defenses.