Symptoms

Retrograde ejaculation doesn't affect your ability to get an erection or have an orgasm — but when you climax, semen goes into your bladder instead of coming out of your penis. Retrograde ejaculation signs and symptoms include:

• Orgasms in which you ejaculate very little or no semen out of your penis (dry orgasms)
• Urine that is cloudy after orgasm because it contains semen
• Inability to get a woman pregnant (male infertility)

Causes

During a male orgasm, a tube called the vas deferens transports sperm to the prostate, where they mix with other fluids to produce liquid semen (ejaculate). The muscle at the opening of the bladder (bladder neck muscle) tightens to prevent ejaculate from entering the bladder as it passes from the prostate into the tube inside the penis (urethra). This is the same muscle that holds urine in your bladder until you urinate.

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Several conditions can cause problems with the muscle that closes the bladder during ejaculation. These include:

• Surgery, such as bladder neck surgery, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection surgery for testicular cancer or prostate surgery
• Side effect of certain medications used to treat high blood pressure, prostate enlargement and depression
• Nerve damage caused by a medical condition, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or a spinal cord injury

A dry orgasm is the primary sign of retrograde ejaculation. But dry orgasm — the ejaculation of little or no semen — can also be caused by other conditions, including:

• Surgical removal of the prostate (prostatectomy)
• Surgical removal of the bladder (cystectomy)
• Radiation therapy to treat cancer in the pelvic area

Risk factors

You're at increased risk of retrograde ejaculation if:

• You have diabetes or multiple sclerosis
• You've had prostate or bladder surgery
• You take certain drugs for high blood pressure or a mood disorder
• You had a spinal cord injury

Complications

Retrograde ejaculation isn't harmful. However, potential complications include:

• Inability to get a woman pregnant (male infertility)
• Less pleasurable orgasm due to worries about absent ejaculate

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How Can Dave Wells Therapies Help?

This condition is difficult to treat, but most men with this condition do not need treatment. The most important message is that it is not a sign of a serious illness.

In my practice, I explore Retrograde Ejaculation and Anejaculation from both a physiological (Medical) and psychological (Thoughts, feelings, and behaviours) perspective to achieve the best outcome for the person.

Dave Wells can support individuals with the social and personal psychological implications of this condition, as well as providing and overseeing referral to health professionals for exploratory and treatment options if deemed necessary.

This two-tier approach in addressing various sexual difficulties, aims to achieve ‘best practice’.  The support that Dave Wells provides may result in it being a standalone service to address the sexual concern.  However, medical support may take precedence, or Dave Wells may be required to collaborate in unity with medical professionals to achieve the best outcomes for the person.

Whatever the result, a client-centered approach underpins the philosophy of Dave Wells Therapies and enables each individual to have control of any decisions.