Can a guy release sperm without feeling it?
Yes, and you have probably heard of microejaculations.
They happen during intercourse, even if you don’t feel an actual orgasm.
But can you experience the exact opposite? Is it possible to have an orgasm without ejaculating? Can you run out of sperm?
The answer is yes. If you’ve experienced a dry orgasm before, you’re not alone.
A dry orgasm is the feeling of sexual satisfaction without ejaculation, but is it a medical problem? Can it be treated?
This article will explore what men need to know about dry orgasms, including the symptoms, complications, treatment, and more.
After reading, you will have enough information about when to set an appointment and what to expect in a doctor’s office.
What is a dry orgasm?
A dry orgasm is when you experience a climax, and by definition, you don’t ejaculate or release any semen after intercourse or masturbation. The definition of dry orgasm is the same as the clinical name orgasmic anejaculation.
Even if it seems a contradiction, you can feel an orgasm without releasing sperm in some instances.
There are different forms of anejaculation, including anorgasmic anejaculation, in which patients don’t have an orgasm, and they don’t release sperm, either. They don’t experience any climax at all. Thus pleasure and sexual interest are probably affected in the long run.
Compared to that, dry orgasms are not so severe because patients can still feel sexual pleasure.
In some cases, a dry orgasm should be considered an alarm sign of abnormalities somewhere else. In other cases, there aren’t any serious health issues involved in their occurrence. Still, if you have dry orgasms and want to have children, you should talk to your doctor about that.
What does a dry orgasm feel like?
In a dry orgasm, the main difference is that no sperm comes out anymore. It may feel exactly like a regular orgasm but without sperm.
If you don’t have this problem, it is similar to what happens if you block sperm from coming out by pressing with your fingers.
However, it is more likely to feel less intense because the muscles around the urethra are not moving sperm through.
Some patients may also experience an unpleasant stinging sensation or even sharp pain in the groin. This may cause them to shy away from any form of sexual stimulation in the future.
Is dry orgasm the same thing as retrograde ejaculation?
Retrograde ejaculation and dry orgasm have many things in common. They both feature sexual stimulation, and men reach their climax after intercourse or masturbation. In both cases, it feels like a dried-up orgasm instead of the actual release of sperm.
However, those are the only similarities. Research institutions refer to dry orgasm as orgasmic anejaculation. The concept differs from retrograde ejaculation, where ejaculation happens, but the difference is where the semen goes. Still, both concepts are under the same line.
So, you can basically have two types of dry orgasms. When your body is not producing any sperm, it is the classic definition of orgasmic anejaculation.
When your body is producing sperm, but there’s a backflow of sperm to the bladder instead of being released, this is called retrograde ejaculation.
Symptoms
Are you experiencing dry orgasms? Here are the most common symptoms you should look for:
Sexual pleasure at the climax
This is one of the most important symptoms. If you don’t feel any sexual pleasure, it will be termed anorgasmic anejaculation.
So, can a man be satisfied without ejaculating? Yes.
Little or no ejaculate
In the classic dry orgasm, there is absolutely no ejaculate or semen being released (dry sperm). However, some variations of this condition can feature a minimal ejaculate volume.
Cloudy urine after an orgasm
As mentioned above, retrograde ejaculation can be considered a type of dry orgasm. In these cases, the sperm backflows to the urinary bladder, and the next time the individual urinates, they will notice a cloudy substance in the urine.
Testosterone deficiency symptoms
A reduction of body hair, mood swings, irritability, and low libido can also happen when the cause of dry orgasms is linked to hypogonadism.
What causes dry orgasm?
If no sperm comes out when you ejaculate, what’s wrong with you? Is there anything to do with that?
The causes of dry orgasm and other ejaculation problems can be associated with the structure of the reproductive system, the male sex hormones, a nerve-related or mental health issue, or medications.
Here are the most common causes of dry orgasm or climax without ejaculation with their explanation:
Nerve damage
Different body systems are involved in ejaculation, and the nervous system plays an important part.
If you have multiple sclerosis or a spinal cord injury, the affected nerves can fail to give the signal for the gonads to produce and release sperm. This can also happen in patients with advanced diabetes mellitus.
Medications
Some medications can interact with the nerves that trigger ejaculation and cause ejaculating problems.
For example, medicines for hypertension that block or inhibit certain nerves or alpha-blockers for prostate enlargement. Some antidepressants or medications for mood disorders can also have a similar effect.
A blockage in the sperm duct
When there’s a structural ejaculatory duct obstruction, the sperm is not released as intended. This is more likely the cause of retrograde ejaculation, which is a type of dry orgasm, as mentioned above. Such blockage or structural problems can be acquired or caused by a genetic disorder.
Testosterone deficiency
Sex glands are in charge of signaling the gonads to produce sperm. In case of severe testosterone deficiency, the production of sperm cells and other fluids in the reproductive system might become impaired, causing a dry orgasm and additional symptoms, as mentioned above.
After surgery and other procedures on the reproductive organs
This symptom is particularly prevalent after procedures in the reproductive organs, such as the prostate gland and the testicles.
Suppose you received bladder removal surgery, open prostatectomy or another type of prostatectomy, radiotherapy or prostate surgery, or a similar procedure for testicular cancer. In that case, there’s a chance that you will experience episodes of dry orgasm.
They can be transient or permanent, which is something you should discuss with your doctor.
Here it’s essential to answer the question: can a man produce sperm after prostate surgery? Your doctor will probably reassure you, explaining how the prostate contributes to only 30% of the semen volume. Thus, the volume of sperm can be reduced after prostate surgery, but it won’t always lead to a dry orgasm.
Idiopathic dry orgasms
This problem may also be medically or psychologically caused. For example, if you have issues with anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, dry orgasms are another symptom on the list. It depends on each patient and their medical predispositions.
So, what causes a lack of seminal fluid? It can be related to hormonal imbalances, nerve-related issues, medical treatment or procedure side effects, a blockage of the sperm duct, or anxiety.
Thus, if you’re experiencing this problem frequently, the best way to find the cause is to talk to your doctor about it.
Who’s at risk?
After reading about the causes of dried orgasm and retrograde seminal discharge, knowing who’s at risk is intuitive.
The population at risk of experiencing this problem include:
- People with prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and other prostate gland issues that require radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, and other procedures.
- Patients with advanced diabetes and poor glucose control who are starting to experience nerve-related issues.
- Individuals with mood disorders, anxiety, and depression, especially if they are taking medications.
Should you see a doctor?
The best source of health information is always your doctor because they will adapt medical knowledge to your particular case, resulting in a more accurate opinion. Thus, looking for a medical opinion is essential if you think you’re experiencing dry orgasms and don’t know the reason.
If you can’t ejaculate after prostatectomy and it’s affecting your sexual function or becoming a health concern, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment.
Diagnosis
When you come to the doctor and tell them you’re experiencing dry orgasms, they will ask several questions and try to rule out several diseases.
For instance, you may need to answer questions about your medication use, other symptoms associated with your sexual health, and whether you had recent prostate or testicle surgeries in your pelvic area, penis, or scrotum.
Antecedents of spinal cord injury and recent medication changes can also be useful in diagnosing the cause of a dry orgasm.
A simple urine test is one of the first exams your doctor will recommend. You will be encouraged to masturbate until the climax in the nearest bathroom and then collect a urine sample in a container.
If there is plenty of sperm in the urine samples, you will be diagnosed with retrograde ejaculation. When there is no sperm, it is a case of dry orgasm without retrograde ejaculation.
In some cases, doctors can also use electroejaculation or an imaging test to diagnose the problem. Electroejaculation will rule out the spinal cord and other nerve-related injuries as the cause of dry orgasm. A sonogram and other imaging tests can help your doctor detect urinary tract obstruction.
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Are there any complications with dry orgasms?
What happens if a man stops ejaculating? One consequence of dry orgasm is that partners can find it difficult to understand.
Also, some patients may not be satisfied with the sensation of a dry orgasm or the fact that they can’t release any sperm.
However, the most concerning complication has to do with fertility. If you’re planning to have biological children, you may have it difficult to conceive.
Luckily, there are different ways to prompt ejaculation in patients with a dry orgasm, including electroejaculation and vibrator therapy. Sometimes, these techniques are combined with artificial insemination to achieve a successful pregnancy.
Treatment
What to do if sperm is not coming out during orgasm? It depends on the cause of dry orgasms.
If your doctor detects a specific cause of this problem, there will be a specific treatment. For instance, they could decide to change your medications or give you testosterone replacement therapy in case of hypogonadism.
But in some cases, there won’t be a specific treatment for dry orgasms despite modern research advancements. In other cases, treating psychological stress and receiving counseling can also do the work.
Conclusion
What happens if you stop ejaculating, even if you’re still experiencing an orgasm? A dry orgasm is also known as orgasmic anejaculation, and it can occur along with retrograde ejaculation. But in some cases, you don’t release any sperm at all, not even to the urinary bladder.
A dry orgasm is not a health risk by itself, but it is worthwhile to find the cause. In some cases, dry orgasm is a sign that something is not doing fine and warrants medical attention.
The main problem with a dry orgasm has to do with planned pregnancies because it can affect a man’s fertility. But sperm cells can meet egg cells with artificial insemination and other fertility treatments available for such cases.
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