Sometimes in life we have to face unexpected problems. Especially for someone who dreams of becoming a father, how stressful is it to be unable to ejaculate due to a physical reason? But don't worry. Today's advanced medical science has effective solutions to such problems. That is what we are going to talk about today.
Simply put, what is Electroejaculation?
This name may sound a bit complicated, but let's keep it simple. Electroejaculation is a special medical procedure used to obtain sperm from a man who is unable to ejaculate naturally due to a medical condition or accident.
Normally, when there is sexual stimulation, ejaculation occurs with messages from our nervous system. However, for some people, this process does not happen properly due to an injury to the spinal cord (the nerve cord inside the spine), a neurological disease, or other reasons.
Here, a doctor inserts a small instrument through the anus and places it near the prostate gland, which helps produce and release sperm. Then, the gland is stimulated using very gentle, controlled electrical waves . This stimulation causes ejaculation. The sperm and seminal fluid (semen) that are released in this way are carefully collected by doctors. This collected sperm is then used to conceive a child.
Who needs this treatment?
Not everyone needs this. It is mainly for those who have certain medical conditions that interfere with the ejaculation process. This can also be a cause of male infertility.
The table below can explain this further.
| Condition/Cause | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Spinal Cord Injuries | Damage to the nerves in the spinal cord due to an accident stops the transmission of messages that control ejaculation. |
| Diabetic Neuropathy | Uncontrolled diabetes can damage the nerves associated with the reproductive system over time. |
| Multiple Sclerosis | This is a disease that affects the nervous system and can also interfere with the ejaculation process. |
| Other Sexual Dysfunctions | Erectile dysfunction or other ejaculation problems. |
The most important thing is, if you have a situation like this, don't be ashamed about it, but see a urologist and talk openly about it.
How the treatment works step by step
This is an outpatient procedure, usually done in a hospital or clinic. This means you can go home the same day after the treatment. It is performed by a doctor who has specialized knowledge in this field.
Before treatment
Sometimes, your doctor may suggest trying a method called Penile Vibratory Stimulation (PVS) first. This involves placing a vibrating device on the tip of the penis to stimulate ejaculation. If that fails, electroejaculation may be used.
During treatment
1. Anesthesia: You will be given general anesthesia so that you will not feel any pain or discomfort during this procedure. Therefore, you will be asleep. However, for someone who has no sensation below the waist, anesthesia may not be necessary.
2. Bladder preparation: A catheter is inserted into the bladder to drain the urine. Then, a special medicine is injected into the bladder through the catheter to protect the sperm from damage. Sometimes, when ejaculating, some of the sperm can enter the bladder (this is called `(Retrograde Ejaculation)`).
3. Insertion of the device: A lubricated electrical stimulation device (stimulator device) is inserted through the anus and positioned near the prostate gland.
4. Stimulation: Next, a gentle electric shock is delivered for a very short period of time, about one or two seconds. This is done in several stimulus cycles, gradually increasing the amount of electric shock until ejaculation occurs.
5. Semen collection: The ejaculated fluid and sperm are collected externally through the urethra.
6. Finishing: When the work is finished, the instrument and urethral tube are removed.
What happens after treatment?
Before you wake up from anesthesia, the collected sperm sample is tested for quantity and quality (Semen Analysis). If there are sperm that are healthy enough to conceive a child, they are frozen in a laboratory and stored for future use (Sperm Banking) .
If there are no sperm in the ejaculate (Azoospermia) or if their quality is poor, and you have given your prior consent, the doctor can immediately perform a testicular sperm extraction (``Testicular Sperm Extraction``).
How to get a child?
There are two main ways to help conceive a child using sperm obtained this way:
- Artificial insemination (IUI - Intrauterine Insemination): Here, these sperm are injected into your partner's uterus, at the fertile time.
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): In this, your sperm fertilizes your partner's egg in a laboratory to create an embryo. The embryo is then implanted in the uterus.
Are there side effects and risks?
As with any medical procedure, there may be minor risks.
- Especially for someone with a spinal cord injury, blood pressure and heart rate may increase during this process. But there is nothing to worry about, the medical team is constantly monitoring this and taking necessary measures.
- Very rarely, the stimulation device can cause burns to the rectum.
You may experience some mild pain and discomfort for a few days after treatment. You may also experience painful urination. If this persists for more than three days, you may have a urinary tract infection (UTI) and should contact your doctor immediately.
| If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor. | |
|---|---|
| - Blood in the urine (`(Hematuria)`) or blood in the stool. | |
| - Difficulty urinating, frequent need to urinate. | |
| - Fever or chills. | |
| - Nausea and vomiting. | |
| - Urinary tract infection that lasts more than three days. | |
Take-Home Message
- Electroejaculation is a successful medical procedure used to obtain sperm for the purpose of procreation for those who are unable to ejaculate naturally due to certain medical conditions, such as spinal cord injuries and diabetes.
- This is performed by a urologist, who ensures your safety throughout the process.
- The retrieved sperm can be used to conceive a child through technologies such as IUI or IVF.
- If you or someone you know has this problem, the best thing to do is not to be ashamed or afraid, but to consult a specialist and seek advice. Don't give up hope.
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