A dry orgasm, also known as orgasmic anejaculation, happens when you climax during sex or masturbation but without ejaculation, so you don’t produce any sperm.
While they may be alarming, depending on the cause, dry orgasms are usually nothing to worry about. However, this may be an issue if you are trying to have children.
Dr Roger Henderson looks at what causes dry orgasms, what you can do about them and when you should be concerned:
What is a dry orgasm?
A dry orgasm is what happens when a man reaches a sexual climax but does not ejaculate, so no fluid emerges from the penis. It is also sometimes known as orgasmic anejaculation and some men get worried by this if they think it is due to a prostate problem.
Although dry orgasms can indeed be caused by some treatments for prostatic disease, this only occurs in middle-aged and older men as a phenomenon called retrograde ejaculation.
Do dry orgasms affect fertility?
It’s easy to assume that a dry climax means a woman cannot get pregnant, but this is an assumption as there can easily be some sperm around, even if there’s no visible fluid. Dry orgasms are not linked to fertility since after a day or so, your testicles and your other sex glands will have made more seminal fluid.
What causes dry orgasms?
Dry orgasms in younger men
The reason why dry climaxes occur so frequently in teenagers and younger adults is quite simple and harmless. Most young males are capable of repeated orgasms up to a few times in one night and when a man does this his genitals simply ‘run out’ of seminal fluid, and the orgasm doesn’t produce any liquid at all.
This can happen on the second climax, the third or the fourth. But when there’s no more fluid there, the orgasm will be dry and the man will not ejaculate.
In young men, nearly all dry orgasms are simply because the body has temporarily run out of seminal fluid, after one or more previous climaxes. This is harmless and nothing needs to be done.
Other possible causes of dry orgasms
Although uncommon, other theoretical causes of dry orgasms can include the following:
- A blocked sperm duct
- Seminal vesicle obstruction
- Congenital (ie existing at birth) abnormalities of the reproductive system
- Certain drugs for high blood pressure
- Prostatic enlargement
- Mood disorders
- Spinal cord injuries
Is it the same thing as retrograde ejaculation?
In mature men, who have had prostate treatment, dry orgasms are likely to be because of retrograde ejaculation into the bladder. Retrograde ejaculation is a totally different form of dry orgasm occurring in middle-aged or older men who have had prostate surgery, radiotherapy or other treatment to the prostatic area.
Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen, which would normally be ejaculated via the urethra (the urinary pipe), is redirected to the urinary bladder so a dry orgasm occurs. When you pass urine the urine is cloudy, but this appearance is nothing to be worried about. When dry orgasms are due to retrograde ejaculation, it's quite common for the man to complain that climaxes feel 'different' or 'not as intense'. Make an appointment with your GP if you are concerned.
What to do if you are concerned about dry orgasms
If you have any concerns relating to your sexual health, it's worth getting checked out. Try one of the following resources:
- Ask your GP for advice.
- Find a sexual health clinic near you.
- Try Brook's Find a Service tool
- Find contraceptive services near you.
- Call the national sexual health line 0300 123 7123.
- Call Worth Talking About on 0300 123 2930 (for under-18s).
Last updated: 14-10-2020