Why You Should Be Aware Of Retrograde Ejaculation

A retrograde ejaculation may also be known as a dry orgasm. It is also called a dry orgasm. Some men with retrograde ejaculation still ejaculate but notice less fluid than they once did.

 

Retrograde ejaculation causes infertility. When very little or no ejaculate exits the body, the chances of sperm fertilizing an egg range from low to zero. However, retrograde ejaculation is responsible for just 0.3–2 percent of infertility cases.

Retrograde ejaculation is not dangerous and is painless. Men with the condition who ejaculate small quantities of semen might not even notice they have the condition.

Some men report cloudy urine immediately after ejaculating, which is likely because semen has mixed with urine. Men with retrograde ejaculation may also have trouble getting their partners pregnant.
Normal ejaculation forces semen through the man's urethra and pour out of the male organ. The bladder sphincter closes the opening to the bladder to prevent the semen from entering the bladder.

When the sphincter does not work properly, the bladder may not close completely, which can cause ejaculate to travel into the bladder instead of coming out of the male organ.

 

Fast facts on retrograde ejaculation:

• Most men ejaculate more than 1.5 milliliters (ml) of semen.
• Men with retrograde ejaculation may ejaculate nothing at all.
• Retrograde ejaculation is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
• There is no need to treat retrograde ejaculation if a man is not trying to get his partner pregnant.

How to tackle the Treatment

Retrograde ejaculation can affect the man's experience of sex, some men can opt to treat the condition even if it has no serious causes.

Men who want to get their partners pregnant still have options. Treatment usually begins with removing the sperm after ejaculation; this may involve isolating sperm from the bladder.

Some medications attempt to encourage forward (antegrade) ejaculation. If these attempts fail, a doctor may try to extract sperm without requiring the man to ejaculate. Surgical procedures for removing the sperm include:

• Testicular sperm aspiration (TESA): This procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and uses a needle to remove sperm from the testicles.
• Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA): This procedure, which uses local anesthesia, relies on a needle to remove sperm from the epididymis—the duct that connects to the testes.
• Testicular sperm extraction (TESE): Like TESA, TESE removes sperm directly from the testicles under sedation. Unlike TESA, TESE requires an incision in the testicle.

After a doctor has successfully removed semen, they can then help a man's partner to get pregnant in one of two ways:

• In vitro fertilization (IVF): This procedure involves removing an egg from the woman and then fertilizing it in a petri dish. When an embryo grows, a doctor implants it into the woman's uterus.
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI): With this procedure, a doctor injects semen directly into a woman's uterus while she is ovulating.

Treatment for retrograde ejaculation depends on the cause of the problem. When men experience retrograde ejaculation due to medication, changing medications usually resolves the problem. When retrograde ejaculation is due to severe nerve damage, it may not be reversible.

Causes

Retrograde ejaculation may be caused by:

• Diabetes: Blood sugar that remains uncontrolled for a long time can damage the organs and nerves, affecting the muscles of the bladder.
• Damage to the nervous system: Injuries and illnesses that damage the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries, can damage the nerves and muscles of the bladder. Surgery on the lower spine may have a similar effect.
• Surgery: Surgery on the prostate, testicles, colon, rectum, bladder, or the lower spine may cause retrograde ejaculation.
• Medication: Some medications can interfere with ejaculation. Those include drugs for an enlarged prostate, some antidepressants, and some anti-psychotic drugs.

 SOURCE: MEDICAL NEWS TODAY