Management of the dry ejaculate: a systematic review of aspermia and retrograde ejaculation

Abstract

A dry ejaculate (aspermia), may occur either because of an inability to transport semen (anejaculation) or because of an inability to ejaculate in an antegrade direction (retrograde ejaculation). The treatment of aspermia varies with underlying etiology and includes medical therapy with sympathomimetics, urinary sperm retrieval, bladder neck reconstruction, prostatic massage, penile vibratory stimulation, electroejaculation, and surgical sperm retrieval. A systematic review of the current literature was performed for articles on ejaculatory dysfunction related to dry ejaculate. However, the data are insufficient to allow firm comparisons between treatment options. Treatments must be tailored to the individual patient, and treatment decisions should involve consideration of ease of administration, degree of invasiveness, and anticipated success.

Keywords: Aspermia; anejaculation; dry ejaculate; ejaculatory dysfunction; infertility; lack of emission; retrograde ejaculation; sexual dysfunction.