Patient's question:
I am 32 years old, and I have always been in good health. This year, I just got divorced from my girlfriend whom I had met two years ago. The sexual life is still quite satisfying, but every time I orgasm, there is no semen released. I can still achieve a higher level of sexual climax during ejaculation, but I can't see any semen flowing out from my genitalia. Both my wife and I are very puzzled. We clearly feel the pleasure, but when I went to the hospital for a thorough check-up, the doctor said I have retrograde ejaculation.What is retrograde ejaculation?
Doctor's answer:
Retrograde ejaculation refers to a condition where a patient has sexual desire and the urge to ejaculate, but no semen is expelled from the urethral meatus. Instead, the semen flows backward from the posterior urethra into the bladder. Retrograde ejaculation is primarily caused by nerve damage and dysfunction of the bladder neck sphincter due to endocrine imbalances. It is commonly seen in cases of bladder neck surgery, sympathectomy, spinal cord injury, diabetic neurogenic bladder, and other conditions. Congenital factors, such as congenital abnormalities of the bladder neck, congenital urethral valves, spina bifida, and bladder diverticula, can also lead to retrograde ejaculation. Additionally, severe urethral stricture or large bladder stones caused by acquired injuries or inflammation may result in retrograde ejaculation.