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Short Communication: Does Preejaculatory Penile Secretion Originating from Cowper's Gland Contain Sperm?

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Abstract

Purpose: To determine if spermatozoa are present in the preejaculatory penile secretion, originating from Cowper's gland.

Methods: Design: Prospective clinical and laboratory study. Setting: Andrology and Sex Counseling Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Teaching Hospital. Patients: Five patients referred for premature ejaculation, three for excessive fluid secreted during foreplay and four normal healthy volunteers. Intervention: Glass slide smears of preejaculatory Cowper's gland secretion obtained during foreplay from at least two different occasions, and semen samples after masturbation. Main Outcome Measures: Microscopic examination of air-dried smears, and routine semen analyses.

Results: None of the preejaculatory samples contained sperm. All the patients had sperm in routine sperm analyses.

Conclusions: Preejaculatory fluid secreted at the tip of the urethra from Cowper's gland during sexual stimulation did not contain sperm and therefore cannot be responsible for pregnancies during coitus interruptus.

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Zukerman, Z., Weiss, D.B. & Orvieto, R. Short Communication: Does Preejaculatory Penile Secretion Originating from Cowper's Gland Contain Sperm?. J Assist Reprod Genet 20, 157–159 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022933320700

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022933320700

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