RETROGRADE EJACULATION
In males, urine and ejaculate both pass through the urethra. There’s a muscle, or sphincter, near the neck of the bladder that helps to hold urine in until you’re ready to urinate.
During orgasm, that same muscle Contracts to keep ejaculate from entering the bladder. That allows it to flow through the urethra and out the tip of your penis.
In retrograde ejaculation, this muscle fails to contract. Because it stays relaxed, the ejaculate ends up in your bladder. The result is what’s called a dry orgasm. Despite the lack of ejaculate, it feels like a normal orgasm and doesn’t usually affect sexual pleasure.
During orgasm, that same muscle Contracts to keep ejaculate from entering the bladder. That allows it to flow through the urethra and out the tip of your penis.
In retrograde ejaculation, this muscle fails to contract. Because it stays relaxed, the ejaculate ends up in your bladder. The result is what’s called a dry orgasm. Despite the lack of ejaculate, it feels like a normal orgasm and doesn’t usually affect sexual pleasure.
HOW DOES IT AFFECT FERTILITY?
Retrograde ejaculation is not harmful, but it can cause male infertility. Treatment for retrograde ejaculation is generally only needed to restore fertility.
Retrograde ejaculation impairs your fertility, but it’s not a common cause of infertility. Retrograde ejaculation doesn’t mean that your sperm aren’t viable. Instead, infertility occurs because your sperm isn’t making it to your partner.
Retrograde ejaculation impairs your fertility, but it’s not a common cause of infertility. Retrograde ejaculation doesn’t mean that your sperm aren’t viable. Instead, infertility occurs because your sperm isn’t making it to your partner.
WHAT CAUSES IT?
While some other problems with ejaculation can have psychological causes, retrograde ejaculation is the result of a physical problem.
It can be caused by anything that affects the reflex of the muscle at the opening of the bladder.
Retrograde ejaculation is a potential side effect of some medications, including those prescribed to treat enlarged prostate, high blood pressure or Depression .
It could also be due to nerve damage caused by certain conditions, such as:
Diabetes
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s Disease
Spinal cord injury
Surgery for prostate cancer can damage nerves that affect the prostate, seminal vesicles, and bladder. A type of surgery called transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP) causes damage to the bladder valve.
The most common causes of retrograde ejaculation are prostate surgery and bladder surgery. Retrograde ejaculation does not interfere with a man’s ability to have an erection or to achieve orgasm, but it can cause infertility because the sperm cannot reach the woman’s uterus.
It can be caused by anything that affects the reflex of the muscle at the opening of the bladder.
Retrograde ejaculation is a potential side effect of some medications, including those prescribed to treat enlarged prostate, high blood pressure or Depression .
It could also be due to nerve damage caused by certain conditions, such as:
Diabetes
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s Disease
Spinal cord injury
Surgery for prostate cancer can damage nerves that affect the prostate, seminal vesicles, and bladder. A type of surgery called transurethral resection of the prostate(TURP) causes damage to the bladder valve.
The most common causes of retrograde ejaculation are prostate surgery and bladder surgery. Retrograde ejaculation does not interfere with a man’s ability to have an erection or to achieve orgasm, but it can cause infertility because the sperm cannot reach the woman’s uterus.
SEE THE WHOLE STUFF
Normally, a healthy adult male ejaculates one-half to one teaspoonful of semen during orgasm, but the amount varies widely. In men with retrograde ejaculation, the amount of semen is decreased dramatically or there is a dry climax (orgasm without semen).
Retrograde ejaculation doesn’t necessarily require treatment. It shouldn’t interfere with your sexual enjoyment, and it poses no risks to your health. But remedies are available.
Contact your doctor if you produce little or no semen when you ejaculate, especially if you are hoping to father a child.
