If you have ever had an orgasm without ejaculating, you’ve experienced what people call a dry orgasm.
While the term might sound scary and less than pleasant, a dry orgasm is normal and just as pleasant as an ejaculatory orgasm. In fact, it’s so pleasant and exciting that many are seeking out best practices on how to achieve a dry orgasm.
If you’re curious to learn more about what is a dry orgasm, what are the benefits, and how to achieve one, read on.
What is a dry orgasm?
A dry orgasm is the type of orgasm when someone with a penis climaxes without ejaculating. The lack of ejaculate (aka the liquid) is what makes the orgasm “dry.” A dry orgasm might be an intentional thing, or it might not.
Dry orgasm causes
According to ISSM, there are a variety of reasons why an orgasm without ejaculation might occur:
Multiple orgasms
If you have several orgasms in a short period of time, you might experience a dry orgasm after a few climaxes. This is completely normal and is not something to be worried about.
Your body simply needs time to replenish the reservoirs of semen. After a break and some rest, the ejaculate will start happening again.
Surgery
After certain surgeries, when the prostate gland, bladder, or both are removed together with other parts that play a part in seminal fluid production, such as seminal vesicles, you might experience dry orgasms.
Low testosterone
Hypogonadism, otherwise known as low testosterone, may be another cause of dry orgasms. Testosterone plays a key part in male sexual health and semen production. Lower levels of testosterone may influence the amount of semen your body produces.
Spinal cord injuries
People with spinal cord injuries who are sexually active and are able to achieve an orgasm (around 50% of the population with SCI) may experience dry orgasms in around 13% of sexual encounters, according to research.
Medications
Taking certain types of medications might cause you to experience dry orgasms. One study found that those who take Silodosin, a urinary retention medication, may experience abnormal ejaculations (aka dry orgasms) when no or very little fluid is released during an orgasm.
Genetics
It’s rare, but certain genetic conditions may influence people’s ability to ejaculate. One such rare genetic condition is Klinefelter Syndrome, which occurs when males have an extra X chromosome. Having this genetic condition may result in dry orgasms because your body produces little or no sperm.
Is dry orgasm the same as semen retention?
The terms “dry orgasm” and “semen retention” can often be used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same thing. To understand the difference, let’s refine what semen retention is.
Semen retention is a sexual practice that involves avoiding ejaculation. It’s something people do with the intention for various reasons (health, pleasure, or spiritual). Semen retention can be achieved by avoiding any sexual activity altogether or by learning how to achieve dry orgasms on demand.
A dry orgasm, on the other hand, might be intentional if the person deliberately wants to experience an orgasm but doesn’t want to ejaculate, and we’ll talk about how to achieve that later. However, it might also happen unintentionally due to reasons that are beyond a person’s control at the moment.
Dry orgasm and semen retention benefits
Intentional dry orgasms achieved because you want to engage in semen retention practice could have potential benefits. According to recent research, semen retention is the male sexual health topic on Instagram and TikTok that has the most engagement – people are into learning more about it and its benefits.
Semen retention is not a widely studied subject, with many of the benefits being anecdotal, but here are some popular reasons why people intentionally seek out dry orgasms:
Improved sexual stamina
Some people believe that dry orgasms may help them improve their sexual stamina because the penis remains hard even after a dry orgasm has occurred. That allows them to pleasure their partner for longer during intercourse.
Multiple orgasms
People with penises may also experience multiple orgasms despite the research on the topic being a bit muddy. Semen retention and dry orgasms are one way to achieve multiple orgasms – because there is no refractory period without ejaculation, you potentially are able to have multiple dry orgasms one after another.
Spiritual reasons
Some people practice semen retention and dabble in tantric sex due to spiritual reasons. Instead of releasing energy from your body through ejaculation, you allow it to continue moving through your body.
Better sperm health and quality
People who want to conceive sometimes choose to practice semen retention to improve their semen quality. Research shows that short periods of abstinence may potentially improve sperm motility and other parameters, which may improve male fertility.
Natural way to boost testosterone
The research is not conclusive, but some people believe that abstaining from ejaculation may help boost testosterone levels.
One study looked at athlete performance in relation to sexual activity. They found that it had no impact on the athlete’s performance, but having sex two hours before a competition event may affect an athlete’s recovery capacity.
Another study found that when men abstained from ejaculating for three weeks, they saw a significant boost in testosterone.
How to have a dry orgasm
If you want to learn how to orgasm without ejaculation out of curiosity or because you want to have better control over your orgasms, then here are a few tips to help you get started:
Practice edging
Edging is a practice of delaying an orgasm. It has proven benefits for helping people who have erectile dysfunction and deal with premature ejaculation. For some, it may also enhance orgasms.
To learn how to have dry orgasms, you may want to start with edging. Practicing edging will allow you to get to know your body and the way to experience pleasure better.
Get good at Kegels
Dry orgasms are much easier to achieve if you’re damn good at controlling your pelvic floor muscles. Many men forget about them and don’t think they need to train their pelvic floor with Kegels, but it can be a game-changer for your overall health and sexual function.
Do Kegels to help you master the control over your pelvic floor muscles, and that may help you be in control over your ejaculation during sex.
One Redditor shared that what helped him achieve dry orgasms once he mastered his Kegels was to keep the pelvic floor muscles relaxed completely and only engage them (by clenching hard) at the very end once he was ready to ejaculate.
Experiment and enhance your bodily awareness
Achieving intentional dry orgasms can be challenging, and it may take time. So, approach the practice as an experiment, something you want to practice and slowly get good at with the right intention in mind. You may need to practice and try different things, so an open mind is key.
Intentional dry orgasms are very individual experiences and may look different for everyone. One Redditor shared that he discovered three pillars for achieving intentional dry orgasms:
- Relaxation: Be relaxed and comfortable when trying to have a dry orgasm. Both emotionally and physically.
- Breathing: Keep your breathing deep and slow throughout the whole experience.
- Awareness: Be in tune with your body and everything that’s happening at all times. This allows you to be in control of your pleasure and how you react.
Is dry orgasm the same as retrograde ejaculation?
Other two terms that are often used interchangeably are “dry orgasm” and “retrograde ejaculation.” While they might sound like the same thing, they are two different things.
Retrograde ejaculation is a condition when there is absence of semen during ejaculation. Instead of moving outside the body through the penis during an orgasm, the semen travels backward into the bladder.
A dry orgasm is not the same as retrograde ejaculation – it is one of the three symptoms of retrograde ejaculation. The other two are cloudy urine and infertility.
Is retrograde ejaculation harmful?
Generally, retrograde ejaculation doesn’t cause harm or pain to a person experiencing it. However, it’s often a concern for those who want to conceive because it can severely negatively impact male fertility.
Retrograde ejaculation causes
There are several reasons why one might have retrograde ejaculation:
Medications
There are a number of medications that may cause retrograde ejaculation because they affect the nervous system that’s responsible for things like contractions of the bladder:
- Prostate medications like tamsulosin
- ADHD medications like atomoxetine
- High blood pressure medications like clozapine
- Antidepressants like duloxetine
Surgeries
Certain surgeries like transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) may cause retrograde ejaculation in up to 70% of cases. A procedure called holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) may cause retrograde ejaculation in up to 75% of cases.
These are procedures performed on people with enlarged prostate.
Diabetes
Dysautonomia is a condition when the autonomic nervous system that’s responsible for our immunity, sexual function, digestion, and other bodily functions doesn’t work. Diabetes is one of the many secondary dysautonomias that may cause retrograde ejaculation due to damaged nerves if left untreated.
1 in 3 men between ages 35 and 65 with diabetes experience ejaculatory problems, according to research.
When to seek medical advice
If you experience dry orgasms, are actively trying to conceive, and suspect that it could be due to retrograde ejaculation, you may want to seek out a medical professional who can help diagnose you and prescribe treatment if necessary.
The bottom line
A dry orgasm is the type of climax when someone with a penis comes without ejaculating. It’s normal and harmless in most cases.
You may experience a dry orgasm for a variety of reasons: back-to-back orgasms due to spinal cord injuries, low testosterone, prostate-related surgeries, or medications you take.
A dry orgasm is not the same as semen retention, which is a practice of intentionally avoiding ejaculation, but achieving a dry orgasm can be part of semen retention practice.
Practicing semen retention and achieving dry orgasms may have several benefits:
- Improve sexual stamina
- Boost testosterone
- Improve sperm health and quality
- Offer spiritual benefits
- Enhance pleasure and allow you to experience multiple orgasms
You can learn how to achieve a dry orgasm by engaging in edging, learning how to do Kegels to control your pelvic floor muscles, and practicing different ways to build bodily awareness in your body through various mindfulness practices.
A dry orgasm is also often confused with retrograde ejaculation, which is not true. A dry orgasm can be one of the three symptoms of retrograde ejaculation.
Generally, retrograde ejaculation is not harmful to your health and doesn’t cause pain or discomfort. However, it may interfere with your chances of conceiving. It is caused by several things: medications, diabetes, and enlarged prostate surgeries.
If you’re worried about your dry orgasms and having a retrograde ejaculation because you’re trying to conceive, you may want to seek out medical advice to help diagnose it and help you manage the condition.
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