Have you ever heard of retrograde ejaculation? What is it all about? In this episode, I will try to clear up every doubt about it and explain the solution in cases where assisted reproduction treatment is required (IVF / ICSI, Egg Donation).
The sperm sample is largely composed of seminal fluid, but there are also sperm (generated in the testicles), prostaglandins and fructose (supplied by the seminal vesicle), enzymes -phosphatases- and citric acid (from the prostate), and lubricating substances generated in the urethral glands.
All these components are mixed and collected in the prostatic urethra until ejaculation happens (ejection semen from the body). This is achieved by complex conduction system with several structures that allow ejaculation.
When a patient has retrograde ejaculation, that means that, once the semen is in the prostatic urethra, instead of going outside, it passes to the bladder, so that we find the sperm in the post-ejaculated urine.
There are varied causes for retrograde ejaculation. It may be due to diseases that affect the nerve endings (multiple sclerosis or diabetes), injuries derived from surgery on the prostate or bladder; or as a side effect of certain medications.
Retrograde ejaculation is painless for the patient, but can lead to sterility problems, given the impossibility of depositing the semen in the vagina naturally.
For those patients who must resort to assisted reproduction treatment (IVF / ICSI), the procedure is very simple. We will carry out the recovery of the sperm from the urine after masturbation. A few days before sample collection, we will indicate some guidelines for taking bicarbonate, which is needed in order to protect sperm from the pH of the urine by the time of collection.
Later in the laboratory, we will proceed to isolate the sperm from the urine to be able to use them in a conventional way in the treatment of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF / ICSI) or Egg donation.
If you have any questions or want to start a treatment with us, you can contact us by sending an email to info@centromedicomanzanera.com or using the contact forms on our website: https://www.centromedicomanzanera.com/en/formulario_en/
Have a nice day!
María Pombar Gómez
Embryologist
IMAGE: Toonpool
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