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Retrograde ejaculation
Ejaculation retrograde; Dry climax
Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen enters the bladder instead of going out through the urethra during ejaculation.
Causes
Retrograde ejaculation is uncommon. It most often occurs when the opening of the bladder (bladder neck) does not close. This causes semen to go backwards into the bladder rather than forwards out of the penis.
Retrograde ejaculation may be caused by:
-
Diabetes
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
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Some medicines including, drugs used to treat
high blood pressure
and some mood-altering drugs
High blood pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...
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Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Cloudy urine after orgasms
- Little or no semen is released during ejaculation
Exams and Tests
A urinalysis that is taken soon after ejaculation will show a large amount of sperm in the urine.
Urinalysis
Urinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...
Treatment
Your health care provider may recommend that you stop taking any medicines that may cause retrograde ejaculation. This can make the problem go away.
Retrograde ejaculation that is caused by diabetes or surgery may be treated with drugs such as pseudoephedrine or imipramine.
Outlook (Prognosis)
If the problem is caused by a medication, normal ejaculation will often come back after the drug is stopped. Retrograde ejaculation caused by surgery or diabetes often cannot be corrected.
Possible Complications
The condition may cause infertility. However, semen can often be removed from the bladder and used during assistive reproductive techniques.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you are worried about this problem or are having troubles conceiving a child.
Prevention
To avoid this condition:
- If you have diabetes, maintain good control of your blood sugar.
- Avoid drugs that can cause this problem.
References
Bhasin S, Basson R. Sexual dysfunction in men and women. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology . 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 20.
Goldstein M. Surgical management of male infertility. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 22.
Heidelbaugh JJ. Management of erectile dysfunction. Am Fam Physician. 2010;81:305-312.
Review Date: 1/21/2015
Reviewed By: Scott Miller, MD, urologist in private practice in Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
