What Causes Weak Ejaculation And How Is It Treated? - Healthline

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What Causes Weak Ejaculation and How Is It Treated?

Medically reviewed by Roger Bielinski, MD FACS — Written by Stephanie Watson — Updated on August 5, 2024

Age
Ejaculation conditions
Mental health
Lifestyle habits
Treatment
When to see a doctor
FAQ
Takeaway

Some causes of weak ejaculation may include aging, stress, low testosterone levels, and erectile conditions, among others. Treatment may include lifestyle changes and medications.

Ejaculation is the process by which a person with a penis releases semen from their body.

The process happens in two stages:

Emission: This is when semen (sperm-containing fluid) collects in the urethral bulb at the base of your penis.
Expulsion: The muscles around your urethra squeeze to push the semen out through your penis.

Weak ejaculation is when you don’t ejaculate with as much force or volume as you used to.

A problem during the emission stage may reduce the amount of semen you ejaculate, while a problem during the expulsion stage could reduce the force with which semen is expelled.

Weak ejaculation is largely subjective, meaning it’s often noticed by the person.

It’s not usually a cause for concern, but it may impact your enjoyment and desire for sexual activity. Ejaculating less sperm may also be a problem if you plan to have children.

Sexual problems can be hard to discuss, even with a doctor. Yet being open about what’s happening can help you find a solution and prevent weak ejaculation from affecting your sex life.

Keep reading to learn more about the causes and treatments for weak ejaculation.

Aging

Weak ejaculations are most commonly related to getting older. Just as age may weaken your eyesight, it can also reduce both the strength and volume of your ejaculation.

Age also has a significant impact on testosterone levels, which is a male hormone that plays a key role in sex drive, sperm production, and sperm quality.

Testosterone levels are at their highest during adolescence and young adulthood.

According to the American Urological Association (AUA), healthy testosterone levels for males range between 450 and 600 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).

However, testosterone levels start to decrease by up to 2% each year after age 30 years. Over time, this could lead to weak ejaculations and other sex-related problems.

Ejaculation conditions

Any condition that affects the muscles and nerves controlling ejaculation can lead to a weaker-than-normal orgasm. Some of these conditions may include:

retrograde ejaculation
dry orgasm (anejaculation)
ejaculatory duct obstruction
erectile dysfunction
hypogonadism

Perceived ejaculate volume reduction (PEVR) is another common type of ejaculation dysfunction in males that could cause weak ejaculation. PEVR means you release less semen than you once did.

Several causes may increase your risk of developing an ejaculation condition that could lead to weak ejaculation. These may include:

nerve damage caused by conditions like multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease
some medications used to help treat prostate enlargement, high blood pressure, and depression
surgery to treat prostate or testicular cancer, an enlarged prostate gland, or a weak urine stream

Stress and mental health

Several psychological factors have been associated with conditions that may cause ejaculation problems, such as weak ejaculation. Some of these may include:

stress
anxiety
depression
sexual performance anxiety
narcissism
guilt
low self-esteem
being distracted

Speak with a healthcare professional if you think your weak ejaculations are caused by stress or other mental health issues. They could help develop a treatment plan and build a support network that may include group support, a sex therapist, and online therapy, among others.

Lifestyle habits

Some lifestyle and dietary habits may also impact the male ejaculation system, increasing your risk of weak ejaculations and infertility. Some of these habits include:

smoking
drinking alcohol
having obesity or overweight
sitting for long periods
consuming a diet high in red meat, processed meats, and refined carbs
having low quality sleep
using illegal drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine, and methamphetamines
using anabolic steroids and opiates

Treatments for weak ejaculation

Treatment for weak ejaculation will depend on the underlying cause, but may include a combination of:

making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, getting at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly, and eating a well-balanced diet
doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the muscles that help you ejaculate
following a treatment plan for any underlying health conditions you may have
taking certain medications, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
trying testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
getting at least 7 hours of good quality sleep each night
speaking with a sex therapist in person or online
practicing stress-relieving activities, such as yoga, breathing techniques, and meditating

Many of these treatments can also be used to help increase sperm count if you have low sperm count.

A normal sperm count is between 15 million and more than 200 million sperm in each milliliter (ml) of semen. A low sperm count is when there are less than 10 million sperm per ml of semen, or you release less than 39 million sperm each time you ejaculate.

Having a low sperm count may increase your risk of infertility, which can reduce your odds of conceiving a child.

If you think your weak ejaculations are caused by a medication you’re taking, speak with a healthcare professional. They could modify your treatment plan by recommending another medication or altering the current dosage.

It’s important not to stop taking the medication before speaking with a doctor.

Learn more about how to boost male fertility and your sperm count.

When to see a doctor

It can be difficult to talk about sexual problems with a doctor, but they could help develop a treatment plan to strengthen your ejaculations.

Speak with a doctor if:

your ejaculations are weak or contain less fluid than usual
you have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
you experience pain during or after sex
there’s blood in your semen
your urine is cloudy after you orgasm

Frequently asked questions

What causes weak ejaculation?

Some causes of weak ejaculation include aging, low testosterone levels, retrograde ejaculation, psychological stressors, and lifestyle factors like smoking, having obesity, and drinking alcohol.

What age do males stop ejaculating?

There’s no age when males stop ejaculating. Many males can ejaculate for their whole life, while some may experience difficulty ejaculating at any point during their lifetime.

What causes no ejaculation fluid?

Having an orgasm with little or no semen is known as anejaculation. Some causes of anejaculation may include prostate surgery, conditions like diabetes and multiple sclerosis, and medications like alpha-blockers.

How do you treat loss of ejaculatory sensation?

Treatment will depend on the underlying cause. According to the 2022 guidelines from the American Urology Association and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, neurological disease, diabetes, and certain medications may affect the neurobiological processes involved in the sensation of climax.

Takeaway

Problems with ejaculation are common in males, particularly as you get older.

Some exercises and lifestyle changes may help increase the strength and volume of your ejaculations.

If your sexual function has changed in any way, see a doctor for proper evaluation and treatment.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Medically reviewed by Roger Bielinski, MD FACS — Written by Stephanie Watson — Updated on August 5, 2024

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