Retrograde ejaculation happens when the bladder neck does not close properly during orgasm, so some or all of the semen travels backward into the bladder rather than out through the urethra. It can cause a very low or absent semen volume despite a normal feeling of orgasm, and is often noticed when a urine sample taken after orgasm contains sperm. Causes include diabetes-related nerve changes, certain medicines, previous bladder neck or prostate surgery, or spinal cord injury. Depending on the cause, options include reviewing contributing medicines, other medical approaches, or retrieving sperm from post-orgasm urine or by surgical sperm retrieval for use in IUI, IVF or ICSI.
Also known as: reverse ejaculation, backward ejaculation
Related India guides
Sources
- ICMR Standard Treatment Workflows (icmr.gov.in/standard-treatment-workflows-stws)
Last reviewed: 9 September 2026. Written by the Antega Editorial Team. General information only — always follow the advice of your own clinic, doctor or pharmacist.