Men who reach sexual climax without releasing semen are experiencing dry orgasm. This condition can affect pleasure, and may even lead to infertility.
This can happen due to surgery, certain medications, and some health conditions. Symptoms include cloudy urine after an orgasm.
Doctors can help diagnose dry orgasm and offer treatments. They can also help determine the underlying cause of the problem.
Retrograde ejaculation
When a man has an orgasm, semen usually travels from the testicles down through the urethra and into the bladder. This happens because the muscles and nerves around the bladder neck close tightly during orgasm. However, damage to these muscles and nerves can cause the bladder neck to stay open during orgasm. This is called retrograde ejaculation and can be caused by surgery for an enlarged prostate, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and certain medications, including a class of drugs known as alpha blockers (propulsive erection medications), such as tamsulosin (Flomax(r)), and antidepressants such as sertraline (Zoloft(r)).
A doctor can diagnose dry orgasms by asking the patient to masturbate in a special toilet seat until they are climaxing, then provide a urine sample. The presence of a high amount of sperm in the urine can confirm that the person is experiencing retrograde ejaculation.
In most cases, treatment for retrograde ejaculation is not necessary as the symptoms do not pose any serious health risks or interfere with normal sex life. However, if the problem is a side effect of medication, a change in dosage or stopping the medicine can restore ejaculation. It may also be possible to use a procedure such as an injection of pseudoephedrine (a common decongestant) to treat the condition. However, treatment is not effective for patients who are experiencing severe nerve or muscle damage due to surgery.
Blockages in the urethra or ejaculatory ducts
Each testicle has a vas deferens, which joins with each of the seminal vesicles to form the ejaculatory ducts (EDs). These tubes carry sperm out of the body during sexual arousal. During ejaculation, the fluid from these ducts mixes with prostatic fluid and empties into the urethra. Blockages in these tubes can prevent sperm from leaving the body during orgasm. This condition is called ejaculatory duct obstruction, or EDO. It can cause infertility, pain after orgasm, and reduced semen production. EDO can be caused by infection, inflammation, injury, or congenital abnormalities. It can also occur as a side effect of certain medications.
The most common cause of dry orgasm is a surgery that affects the prostate gland, bladder, or lymph nodes. It can also happen after some surgeries for testicular cancer. If the ejaculatory ducts are blocked, the body reabsorbs sperm cells instead of expeling them. This symptom is not harmful, but it can affect fertility and can lead to low libido and mood swings.
Other causes of ejaculatory problems include nerve damage and hormonal changes. Nerve damage can happen when a spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis interferes with the signaling process between different parts of the body. Hormonal changes can be a result of ageing, sex hormone therapy, or some medications. If you have a hormone problem, your doctor can prescribe new medications or adjust the dosage of your current ones.
Nerve damage
When the nerves that control ejaculation are damaged, the sperm doesn’t pass out of the prostate gland or the urethra during orgasm. This can lead to dry orgasm, which is usually a symptom of a larger problem. A medical exam is usually the first step in diagnosing this condition. The doctor may ask the patient to masturbate and then to collect a urine sample in a cup. If the sample contains sperm, it is likely that the patient is suffering from retrograde orgasm. The patient should also mention any medications he is taking to his physician. Some medicines that are prescribed for a variety of conditions, such as hypertension and alpha-blockers for prostate enlargement, can affect the nerves that control orgasm.
If the problem isn’t caused by a medicine, it may be a sign of another medical condition. A nerve injury or a structural problem, such as blockage of the ejaculatory ducts, can cause this condition. It can also be a side effect of some surgeries, including radical prostatectomy, in which the ejaculatory ducts are removed along with the prostate gland.
In some cases, nerve damage can be temporary and heals on its own. However, in other cases, it can be permanent and will need treatment. A patient with chronic dry orgasm should always use protection during sexual activities to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
Semen production
If you’re experiencing a dry orgasm, it’s important to know what’s happening and how to address the problem. Although this condition can be a nuisance, it’s not dangerous or painful. It may even lead to a more enjoyable sexual experience.
In some cases, dry orgasm is caused by the ejaculatory system not working properly. This may be due to a blockage in the urethra or the ejaculatory ducts. It can also be caused by medication or surgery that affects the bladder or prostate gland. Some men also experience a lack of semen production after a radical prostatectomy or a prostate biopsy.
If a man is suffering from a lack of semen, he can use vibrator therapy to stimulate the sex organs. Depending on the cause of the lack of semen, treatment options can range from taking an over-the-counter antidepressant to having surgery to remove the prostate.
In addition to the above causes, some psychological factors can also contribute to a dry orgasm. These include stress, anxiety, and relationship issues. These can be treated through counselling or psychotherapy.
See Also:
