retrograde ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation occurs when sperm rises into the bladder during orgasm instead of being expelled from the penis. An orgasm may still occur, but there will be little or no ejaculation This state is sometimes called a dry orgasm Retrograde ejaculation is not harmful, but causes infertility in men Treatment is mainly due to this reason
During a man's orgasm, the vas deferens carries sperm into the prostate gland, where the sperm mixes with other fluids to form ejaculate. The muscle at the opening of the bladder normally contracts to prevent ejaculate from retrograde into the bladder as it passes through the urethra. The same muscle is also responsible for holding urine During retrograde ejaculation, the bladder muscle cannot fully contract As a result, sperm and ejaculate go up into the bladder instead of coming out of the penis
Several conditions cause muscle damage that causes retrograde ejaculation. These are:
- Surgery, such as surgery on the bladder or prostate
- Side effects of certain medications – antihypertensive drugs, psychotropic drugs, or prostate enlargement drugs
- Nerve damage caused by another disease: diabetes, multiple sclerosis Despite this, other conditions also cause dry orgasm:
- Surgical excision of the prostate gland
- Surgical excision of the urinary bladder
- Radiation therapy for pelvic cancer
Retrograde ejaculation does not affect the ability to have an erection or the likelihood of orgasm, but instead of ejaculation, the sperm rises into the bladder. Signs and symptoms of retrograde ejaculation include:
- Dry orgasm, when there is no or little ejaculate
- Curly urine after orgasm (because it contains sperm)
- Infertility in men
When to consult If you have a dry orgasm, see your doctor to rule out more serious conditions
If you and your partner have been having regular unprotected sex for 1 year or more and you are not pregnant, see your doctor Retrograde ejaculation may be the cause of the problem if there is little or no ejaculate
