Retrograde ejaculation happens when semen enters the urinary bladder during ejaculation instead of moving out through the urethra. It may be caused by diabetes (32% of men with diabetes mellitus have this condition), nerve problems, or surgery of the urethra or prostate. Some medications used for treating high blood pressure, mood disorders and benign prostate hyperplasia are also known to cause this problem.
Symptoms
- Little or no semen is secreted during ejaculation, a condition referred to as a dry orgasm.
- After an orgasm, the urine looks cloudy due to the presence of semen.
- Infertility is common in men with this problem.
Tests to Detect Retrograde Ejaculation
First, the genitals are physically examined for any anatomical defects. Following an exam, a “urinalysis” lab test of a urine sample collected immediately after ejaculation indicates the amount of sperm in the urine.
Treatment Options
In most cases, the diagnosis is carried out by a urologist specializing in urinary tract disorders and male reproductive problems, and the treatment procedure varies depending on the cause of the condition. If retrograde ejaculation occurs as a side effect of medication, discontinuing that medication usually resolves the problem. In cases where retrograde ejaculation occurs as a result of spinal cord injury, genitourinary tract surgery, or nerve damage caused by diabetes mellitus, epinephrine-like drugs are known to help, but the condition may not be completely curable. Although surgery is available, it is rarely a primary treatment for this condition since the results are found to be inconsistent.
Prevention
Diabetic men with this ejaculatory disorder are advised to keep their blood sugar levels under control. Also, diabetics and men with reproductive disorders should avoid medication that is known to cause retrograde ejaculation. If you notice a trace of cloudiness in your urine, you should make an appointment with a urologist right away because the treatments for retrograde ejaculation are more effective when the condition is detected early.
