Retrograde ejaculation is a condition in which semen is ejaculated backward into the bladder rather than out through the penis.
(See also Overview of Sexual Function and Dysfunction in Men.)
In retrograde ejaculation, the part of the bladder that normally closes during ejaculation (the bladder neck) remains open, causing the semen to travel backward into the bladder. One of the most common causes is prostate surgery for noncancerous prostate enlargement. Other common causes of retrograde ejaculation include diabetes, spinal cord injuries, certain medications, and some surgical operations (including major abdominal or pelvic surgery).
Men with retrograde ejaculation can still have orgasms. However, retrograde ejaculation decreases the amount of semen ejaculated out of the penis. Sometimes, no semen comes out. The condition can cause infertility but is otherwise not harmful.
A doctor makes the diagnosis of retrograde ejaculation by finding a large amount of sperm in a urine sample taken shortly after orgasm.
Treatment of Retrograde Ejaculation
Medications
If infertility requires treatment and medications do not help, doctors can sometimes collect a man’s sperm for insemination.
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