Retrograde ejaculation: what is it and why does it occur?

• Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen goes into the bladder instead of being expelled from the penis after orgasm.
• Although retrograde ejaculation does not prevent erection or orgasm, it is related to a male infertility problem.
• One of the causes of retrograde ejaculation is prostate surgery. However, there are techniques that reduce the chances of suffering it to 0%, such as the Urolift System.

During ejaculation, the man expels the semen out through the penis. In cases where the semen stays inside the bladder, we speak of retrograde ejaculation. But how does this happen? 

When the bladder neck musculature is not fully tensed, this part of the bladder remains open, allowing semen to pass into the bladder. Retrograde ejaculation is therefore understood as the inability of the bladder neck to remain closed, so that semen is redirected into the bladder after orgasm.

However, retrograde ejaculation does not mean that an erection cannot be maintained or orgasm cannot be achieved.

A man with retrograde ejaculation will climax, but the amount of semen expelled will be less, or sometimes none at all.

However, this ejaculation complication can cause the following symptoms:

• Little or no semen is expelled after orgasm.
• Urine after orgasm becomes cloudy.
• Male infertility.

As you have read, retrograde ejaculation means that little or no semen is expelled during orgasm, thus being linked to male infertility.

Since retrograde ejaculation is the inability of the penis to send semen out, it is directly associated with male infertility.

Therefore, there is a high risk of not being able to get a woman pregnant by having sex.

Retrograde ejaculation is not considered a disease. The condition does not affect erection and the man can reach orgasm perfectly well. However, in cases where the couple wants to become pregnant, retrograde ejaculation does pose a problem, as it implies the loss or reduction of fertility, as the fluid that is expelled in ejaculation is minimal, and sometimes none at all.

Therefore, getting a woman pregnant naturally will become a complicated, and sometimes impossible, task.

At the moment of ejaculation, the bladder neck closes completely so that urine and semen do not mix. However, there are certain health conditions that affect the functioning of this muscle. In these cases, the bladder does not close and semen flows back into the bladder, resulting in retrograde ejaculation.

Risk factors that can cause retrograde ejaculation include diseases, medical treatments or surgeries that have damaged the nerves or muscles that control the opening and closing of the bladder.

Thus, the causes of retrograde ejaculation are as follows:

• Diabetes. Poor blood glucose control and the resulting nerve damage can lead to retrograde ejaculation.
• Drugs. Medications for high blood pressure, to treat mood disorders, or to alleviate enlarged prostate problems.
• Diseases. Although retrograde ejaculation is often seen in diabetic people, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury are also factors that can influence the quality of ejaculation.

Yes, prostate surgery is one of the causes of retrograde ejaculation. However, there are some techniques with which it is less likely to happen, and even others with which it does not.

The surgery most likely to cause retrograde ejaculation is surgery in which nerves that control the release of semen are removed or damaged.

Before going into more detail, it is important to know why this surgery is performed and what the intervention consists of. 

Prostate surgery is performed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, that is, excessive enlargement of the prostate for various reasons. In other more serious cases, surgery is the ideal intervention to eradicate prostate cancer.

In both situations, however, the surgery involves removing the prostate gland and, in some cases, the seminal vesicles, as in radical prostatectomy to eradicate prostate cancer.

Prostate surgery to eradicate the cancer is one of the main causes of retrograde ejaculation.

As with any surgical procedure, prostate surgery involves a number of risks. Among them, there are some associated with the anaesthesia and others with the operation itself, such as retrograde ejaculation.

However, prostate surgery can be performed using a number of techniques and for a variety of reasons. So, here we tell you which type of prostate surgery has the highest risk of causing retrograde ejaculation.

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)

Prostate resection surgery is the most common technique for operating on benign prostatic hyperplasia.

One of the risks associated with retrograde ejaculation is Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP).

This surgery consists of removing part of the prostate, which is part of the male reproductive system and is responsible for producing and storing the seminal fluid that joins the spermatozoa during ejaculation to form semen.

Transurethral resection of the prostate is a surgery in which benign hyperplasia is treated. However, there are other laser techniques to treat this prostate condition.

Do you want to know if laser prostate surgery is associated with retrograde ejaculation?

Laser prostate surgery

One of the risks associated with laser prostate surgery is retrograde ejaculation. However, this is more likely to occur with Transurethral Resection of the Prostate, as it is a more conventional and invasive surgery than laser.

Laser prostate surgery can be performed with 3 different lasers: Thulium, Greenlight and Holmium. Although each of them is indicated for a different type of prostate and the technique may vary, in all of them, the mission is to eliminate prostate tissue with a minimally invasive technique.

One of the risks of laser prostate surgery is retrograde ejaculation.

The chances of retrograde ejaculation occurring with laser surgery are lower than with conventional procedures.

It is important to know that none of the lasers are suitable for treating cancer.

However, there are techniques with which retrograde ejaculation does not occur, such as prostate surgery with the Urolift System, to treat Benign Hyperplasia.

The Urolift System is NOT a surgery associated with retrograde ejaculation

Prostate surgery with the Urolift System is a surgery to free the urethral duct of Benign Hyperplasia. It is a minimally invasive technique in which prostate problems are solved, preserving full sexual function.

Urolift System makes it possible to operate on the prostate for BPH without postoperative consequences such as retrograde ejaculation.

Prostate surgery for Urethral Release with the Urolift System is not associated with retrograde ejaculation, as this technique relieves the symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, reducing damage to prostate and urethral tissues.

In addition to retrograde ejaculation, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are also symptoms associated with prostate surgery. However, the Urolift System minimises the risk of all of them.

With the Urolift System there are 0% cases of retrograde ejaculation.

If you are thinking of undergoing prostate surgery, you can ask us for a free, immediate, no-obligation surgical assessment consultation with one of our specialists. This way, you can check whether you are suitable for prostate surgery with the Urolift System.

You can call us on +34 91 141 33 56 or click on the following banner and directly request a surgical assessment consultation.