Plenty of guys have experienced trouble ejaculating — even when they’re sexually aroused and pleasure levels skyrocket. Let’s get to the most basic question first: why are you having difficulty emitting semen during sex (or masturbation)? Odds are, it is one of three things: dry orgasms, retrograde ejaculation, or delayed ejaculation.
Now that you know the cause let’s have an open conversation about what it’s really like to experience these issues and learn why it’s happening to you.
Dry Orgasms
Just from the name, you can guess that if you have a penis and you climax but do not ejaculate, you are having what we call a dry orgasm. More likely than not, having a dry orgasm is nothing to worry about. Many men, especially those younger in age and those with more stamina, experience dryness when having multiple orgasms in a short span of time. The more times you come, the more likely you are to run out of seminal fluid; this should be neither painful nor cause for concern. Dry orgasms are typically a temporary issue that health experts have promised is not linked to fertility — unless the issue persists. If this is an ongoing issue, there might be a bigger issue at play.
Retrograde Ejaculation
Retrograde ejaculation, when semen travels up into the bladder in lieu of being ejected through the penis (uh oh), can also cause dry ejaculations. This is painless and often not noticeable. This is most commonly caused by taking medicine to help your prostate gland (alpha blockers like Flomax). During normal ejaculation the bladder neck tightens down, and the prostate shoots semen out through the penis by rhythmic contractions (think shotgun). If you have a condition that relaxes the bladder, the bladder can’t tighten down, and semen will also go backwards (retrograde) into the bladder. This is also common in people with a spinal cord injury and men after prostate surgery. It is not painful, but it can be a cause of infertility. Among the list of things that can lead to retrograde ejaculation: medications, health conditions causing nerve damage, and damage from prostate surgery are the most common. Signs of retrograde ejaculation include dry ejaculations, and cloudy urine after sex. If this sounds like a common problem, but you aren’t sure of the cause then contact your doctor.
Delayed Ejaculation
When it takes a prolonged period of stimulation for a guy to ejaculate (say, more than 30 minutes), they are likely facing a condition known as delayed ejaculation. It is not uncommon for this to occur once in a blue moon, but if it happens regularly, something might be amiss. The most common cause of delayed ejaculation occurs when someone is taking a common medication for depression, an SSRI (such as Prozac or Zoloft). Sometimes, delayed ejaculations only happen during sex with a partner — but not during masturbation. This probably means there is a psychological or emotional element involved. Otherwise, an infection, hormonal imbalance, medications, or overall health may be causing the delay. It will take chatting with a doctor about your specific symptoms to determine the root cause.
So next time you come out dry, don’t panic. Consult this list and chat with your doctor about your symptoms and a possible cure for your dryness.
All information provided on this website is meant to inform, but it is not intended to act as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional to assess your health and wellness needs and determine the most appropriate course of action for you.