RETROGRADE EJACULATION
Retrograde ejaculation occurs when the semen enters the bladder instead of coming out through the penis during orgasm. Although, you could reach sexual climax, you may ejaculate very little or no semen at all. This could be referred to as dry orgasm. Retrograde ejaculation is not harmful, but it could cause male infertility.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF RETROGRADE EJACULATION?
Retrograde ejaculation does not affect one’s ability to get an erection or maintain an orgasm. But during climaxing, the semen goes into the bladder instead of coming out of the penis. Signs and symptoms of retrograde ejaculation include:
- Orgasms in which you ejaculate very little or no semen at all out of your penis.
ii Cloudy urine after orgasm because it contains semen
iii Inability to get a woman pregnant (male infertility)
CAUSES OF RETROGRADE EJACULATION
i It can be caused by anything which affects the reflex of the muscle at the opening of the bladder.
ii It is a potential side effect of certain medications used to treat high blood pressure, enlarged prostate and depression.
iii It could be due to nerve damage due to certain conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease which affect the nervous system.
iv Bladder and prostate cancer surgery which could affect the nerves seminal vesicles, bladder and prostate
HOW TO DIAGNOSE RETROGRADE EJACULATION
It is very important you see your Doctor if dry orgasms occur frequently. Although retrograde ejaculation is not harmful to your health, there could be other reasons for dry orgasms. You could have and underlying condition that should be addressed.
The following conditions should be assessed to check out for retrograde ejaculation:
- Lack of ejaculate during orgasm
- Cloudy urine after orgasm
- Infertility
You should tell your Doctor:
- How long and how often you have been having dry orgasms
- Any other symptoms you might have noticed.
- If you are aware of any preexisting chronic illnesses or injuries
- About any medications you take
- If you have been treated for cancer and kind of treatments, you took
- A urine test is a good way to find out if the ejaculate is due to retrograde ejaculation. If your urine contains a high amount of sperm, the diagnosis will be retrograde ejaculation.
- If your post-orgasm urine does not contain semen, there may be an issue with semen production or some other problem. You may need to see an infertility specialist for further testing.
TREATMENT OF RETROGRAD EJACULATION
- In some men, retrograde ejaculation requires treatment because it interferes with fertility. This treatment varies depending on the cause. If your retrograde ejaculation is a side effect of medication, your Doctor will probably switch you to a drug that does not affect ejaculation. If your retrograde ejaculation appears to be related to a mild nerve or muscle problem involving the bladder, then your Doctor can treat you with a drug that improves muscle tone at the bladder entrance.
- If your retrograde ejaculation is the result of severe damage to the nerves or muscles of your bladder, then it may not be possible to restore normal ejaculation. If this is the case, and you are hoping to father a child, a fertility specialist may help you out. The fertility specialist may collect sperm from your urine and use washed sperm for an assisted-fertilization procedure. In cases of retrograde ejaculation, three of the most commonly used assisted fertilization procedures are:
- In-vitro fertilization (incubating eggs and sperm together in the laboratory to produce fertilization)
- Intrauterine Insemination (Using a small catheter to push washed sperm inside your partners uterus at the time of ovulation)
- Intracytoplasmic sperm Injection (Injecting a single sperm into your partner’s egg to cause fertilization)
- Fertility supplements like Evergreen formular for men can boost your chances of a successful IVF
