Comments on: Health risks associated with preventing ejaculation?

Question: Health risks associated with preventing ejaculation?

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:18:29 -0800

Is circumventing ejaculation with pressure to the perineum harmful?

About eight or so years ago when I was a teenager I read somewhere that pressing down firmly on the perineum with your fingers during an ejaculation prevents the semen from coming out (not entirely I was to find out, there's still a little leakage, but it does stop the bulk of it). Being a teenager, I found this a very useful means of saving tissues.

However, I got into a habit of doing this and continue to do it to this day, about 2/3 of the time I orgasm. How exactly does this work, and is it in any way harmful to my prostate, etc.? I'm not having any problems with my prostate, urinary tract, or sex drive at the moment, I'm asking out of curiosity.

By: IAmBroom

IAmBroom — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:47:37 -0800

Ya know, for a second there I thought you meant "tissues" in the "bodily cells" sense, and was ready to ask what magical spell (or majikal, or whatever is in vogue) you were attempting... Heh.

I've heard this recommended by several sources, and IIRC it is recommended in some tantric practices. However, I've never heard of a problem resulting from it. Done it a few times myself, but never regularly.

If there's no short-term damage (everything ~~comes out~~ works OK the next time, right?), you're probably doing nothing harmful.

IANAD, FWIW; but I wouldn't rely on the opinion of a doctor, either, without some medical research to back it up.

By: Jacqueline

Jacqueline — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:06:25 -0800

FWIW, an ex-boyfriend of mine had been doing it every time he masturbated for at least 10 years with no problems yet.

By: gramcracker

gramcracker — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:08:40 -0800

Gosh, I really don't know. They certainly don't teach us that in med school.

What you're doing is basically compressing your urethra (see this diagram and this one) to prevent anterograde flow. Since it's got to go somewhere, it's going retrograde, probably into your bladder and maybe some back into your epididymus. You'd have to ask a urologist about any long-term damage, but my guess would be 1) possibly some inflammation of the urethra leading to increased risk of urinary tract/bladder infection 2) changing the pH of the urine in the bladder (it's usually mildly acidic, but prostatic fluid and semen is basic) which might affect things long term and 3) probably the biggest concern would be potential damage to your two bladder sphincters (one under subconscious control, the other under your own conscious control).

But again, all speculation.

By: baphomet

baphomet — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:39:57 -0800

Hurt like hell the one time I tried it.

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:51:36 -0800

Never did me any harm AFAIK.

By: TomMelee

TomMelee — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:58:57 -0800

I don't think there's longterm harm, but what I HAVE noticed is that when you go wee after you're finished, it's extra cloudy. Maybe TMI, but I'm going to guess that maybe doing that a whoooole lot maybe not so good. Wait. The perianal area? Never even heard of that...I was thinking the squeezing-like-a-cock-ring method. Having had an inguinal hernia when I was younger, I tend to avoid the area south of the forest.

Carry on.

By: heavenstobetsy

heavenstobetsy — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:04:45 -0800

My ex did that pretty regularly. Or so I think. Anyway he'd been doing it for years with no issues. So I'd imagine you're cool.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:12:47 -0800

Ah, the point of a million gold coins! You get 10,000 free lives! They come from every sacred sperm you're not spilling! ;) Tantra and SMB geekery in one delicious lump!

I was gonna say "Nah, it doesn't hurt a thing. You're talented!" But it looks like infertility is possible.

By: Ambrosia Voyeur

Ambrosia Voyeur — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:15:08 -0800

(well, duh.)

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:36:33 -0800

Its going back into the bladder. Doesn't sound good. Its gotta go somewhere--you are still ejaculating.

By: crossoverman

crossoverman — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:58:22 -0800

Do you still need to save tissues? I'm not sure why you would want or need to do it now...

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:08:42 -0800

he'd been doing it for years with no issues

heh.

By: ikkyu2

ikkyu2 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:37:34 -0800

It causes retrograde ejaculation into the urinary bladder. No ill effects that I'm aware of.

By: bifter

bifter — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:21:12 -0800

Prostatectomies also reroute seminal fluid to the bladder I believe (although I did ask my father to spare me the finer details of the surgery...) - no negative effects to this that I know of.

By: sid

sid — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:38:02 -0800

I was gonna say "Nah, it doesn't hurt a thing. You're talented!" But it looks like infertility is possible.

After reading the Medline article, it seems that infertility is listed as a symptom if retrograde ejaculation is caused by physiology or medication rather than self-administered perineal pressure.

By: Silvertree

Silvertree — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:13:23 -0800

Kleenex are cheap. Doesn't sound like there is a conclusive evidence that it WILL cause damage, but it might. I dunno, even though other people in this thread have said that they haven't had any problems a research methodology things would worry me. How old when they started? Now? How often?

I just wouldn't be willing to take the chance on damaging Mr. Happy.

By: crunch buttsteak

crunch buttsteak — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:23:16 -0800

By: Guy_Inamonkeysuit

Guy_Inamonkeysuit — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:52:33 -0800

Come again?

By: TomMelee

TomMelee — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:21:40 -0800

Guy_Inamonkeysuit, when done in conjunction with "peaking" or "brinking", you can end up with an insanely intense orgasm and a Peter North quality cumshot. Zowwie!