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Can You Get Pregnant From Pre-Ejaculate?

Medically reviewed by: Robyn R. Miller, MD

Can you get pregnant if the guy pulls out before he "comes"?
Ali*

Yes. You can definitely get pregnant even if the guy pulls out before he comes. Guys can leak a bit of sperm out of the penis before ejaculation. This is called pre-ejaculate ("pre-cum"). So even if a guy pulls out before he ejaculates, a girl can still become pregnant. Unlike during an orgasm, a guy can't tell exactly when the pre-ejaculate is released.

Pulling out isn't a reliable form of birth control. It also doesn't protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). So always use condoms every time you have sex, from start to finish.

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.

Medically reviewed by: Robyn R. Miller, MD
Date reviewed: October 2018