The term dry orgasm refers to orgasms that include a sexual climax with little or no ejaculation from the penis. While a dry orgasm is not typically dangerous or painful, it can be a cause for concern for couples attempting to conceive a child since ejaculation is part of the physical reproduction process.
The sensation of dry orgasm is reported to be unique when compared to a typical orgasm but the experience varies person to person.
“A dry orgasm does feel slightly different.” says Emily May, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Writer at Private Sugar Club. “For many, the pleasure is still there, but it can feel like something is missing, but for others, it’s just as satisfying, minus the mess.”
While in most cases dry orgasm isn't a problem, it can be worth discussing with a healthcare provider as it may be the result of a treatable health condition. Additionally, anyone who is experiencing this issue and considering parenthood will want to talk with their partner and their doctor to discuss their options.
Causes of Dry Orgasm
There are a number of things that can lead to dry orgasm:
Some people experience a dry orgasm after orgasming repeatedly in a short period of time. In this case the body has essentially exhausted its supply of semen. Usually, in this case, orgasms will revert to their typical state after rest.
Another reason is that the body simply does not produce enough semen to ejaculate.This can happen due to several genetic conditions including Klinefelter Syndrome and Cystic Fibrosis.
Finally, sometimes dry orgasms happen because, the semen the body is making during ejaculation is going into the bladder instead of exiting through the penis. This is called retrograde ejaculation and it can happen as a result of certain medical including:
- Medication side effects. Particularly with medications used to treat depression, enlarged prostate, and high blood pressure.
- Nerve damage, which some people might experience with medical conditions like a spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis.
- Surgery, including surgeries to treat prostate or testicular cancers.
Treatment for Dry Orgasm
To treat dry orgasm, a medical professional will try to identify the primary cause and, depending on each patient’s situation, suggest an appropriate course of action.
For some people this may be a permanent condition. As it is typically not painful or harmful this is often only problematic in terms of reproductive health. For this reason, the next steps in treating dry orgasms is to identify an alternate means of conception, if that's something the person experiencing the condition wants.
Some things a healthcare professional may suggest to someone dealing with dry orgasm might include:
- Adjusting existing medications or introducing new medications
- Addressing any underlying conditions, such as diabetes
- Investigating the need for medical procedures to keep the neck of the bladder closed during ejaculation or to treat any structural problems or blockages that are preventing the flow of semen
- For those who wish to conceive, exploring fertility treatments
- If conception via sexual intercourse is not possible, exploring different conception avenues such as sperm retrieval for fertilization or freezing for future conception.
