Andrew Siegel MD 3/21/15
There is scarce medical literature on ejaculatory problems aside from those of ejaculatory timing issues (premature and delayed ejaculation) and hematospermia (blood in the semen). Despite being given short shrift in medical academia, not a day goes by in my clinical urology practice where I do not see at least several patients who complain of declining ejaculation function.
What Is The Origin Of The Word “Ejaculation”?
Ejaculation derives from ex, meaning “out” and jaculari, meaning “to throw, shoot, hurl, cast.”
Trivia: You do not need an erection to ejaculate and achieve an orgasm. A limp penis cannot penetrate, but is eminently capable of ejaculation and orgasm.
If “Semen” Or “Ejaculate” Is Too Medical For You:
The most popular slang is “cum.” It originates from the expression “come to climax” shortened to “come” and ultimately to “cum,” but not to be confused with the Latin “cum,” e.g., I graduated summa cum laude or the word meaning “along with being,” e.g., my basement-cum-gym! “Jizm,” “jism,” and “jizz” are also popular and are not to be confused with other “–ism” words that mean a doctrine, e.g., socialism and capitalism! We cannot forget “splooge,” “spooge,” “spunk,” “wad,” “nut,” “load” and “man juice.”
What Happens To Ejaculation As We Age?
Ejaculation and orgasm often become less intense, with diminished force, trajectory and volume of semen. What was once an intense climax with a substantial volume of semen that could be forcefully ejaculated in an arc several feet in length gives way to a lackluster experience with a small volume of semen weakly dribbled out the penis.
Fact: I have never heard a patient complain that his penis is too large, nor have I ever heard anyone protest that his ejaculate volumes are too abundant.
Fact: The pervasive porn industry–where many male stars are hung like horses and whose penises seem capable of ejaculating flooding pools of semen– has given the average guy a bit of a complex.
So What’s The Big Deal?
Men don’t appreciate meager, lackadaisical-quality ejaculations and orgasms. Sex is important to many of us and getting a good quality rigid erection is foremost, but the culmination—ejaculation and orgasm—is equally vital. We may be 40 or 50 years old or older, but we still want to point and shoot like we did when we were 20. As the word origin indicates, we desire to be able to shoot out, hurl or cast like an Olympian Master Blaster and we yearn for that intensely pleasurable feeling of yesteryear.
Ejaculation Science 101
Sexual climax consists of three phases—emission, ejaculation, and orgasm. When the intensity and duration of sexual stimulation surpasses a threshold, emission occurs, in which secretions from the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, epididymis, and vas deferens are deposited into the urethra within the prostate gland. During ejaculation the pelvic floor muscles contract rhythmically, sending wave-like contractions rippling down the urethra to forcibly propel the semen in a pulsating and explosive eruption. Orgasm is the intense emotional excitement that accompanies the physical act of ejaculation.
Big Head Versus Little Head
Ejaculation is an event that takes place in the penis; orgasm occurs in the brain. The process of emission and ejaculation is actually a very complex and highly coordinated neurological event involving several specific centers in the brain (amygdala, thalamus and other areas), spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.
What’s Makes Up The Reproductive Juices?
Less than 5% of the volume of semen is actually sperm and the other 95+% is a cocktail of genital juices that provide nourishment, support and safekeeping for sperm. 70% of the volume comes from the seminal vesicles, which secrete a thick, viscous fluid and 25% from the prostate gland, which produces a milky-white fluid. A negligible amount is from the bulbo-urethral glands, which release a clear viscous fluid (pre-come) that has a lubrication function.
What’s Normal Volume?
The average ejaculate volume is 2-5 cc (one teaspoon is the equivalent of 5 cc). While a huge ejaculatory load sounds like a good thing, in reality it can cause infertility. The sperm can literally “drown” in the excessive seminal fluid.
Why Does The Seminal Tank Dry With Aging?
As we age, there are changes in the reproductive organs, particularly the prostate gland, one of the few organs in the body that enlarges as we get older. The aging prostate and seminal vesicles produce less fluid; additionally the ducts that drain the genital fluids can become blocked. In many ways, the changes in ejaculation parallel the changes in urination experienced by the aging male. Many medications that are used to treat prostate enlargement profoundly affect ejaculatory volume. Additionally, the pelvic floor muscles—which play a vital role in ejaculation—weaken with aging.
What About Those Pelvic Floor Muscles?
The pelvic floor muscles play a key role in ejaculation. The bulbocavernosus muscle (BC) is the motor of ejaculation, which supplies the “horsepower.” The BC surrounds the inner, deepest portion of the urinary channel. It is a compressor muscle that during sex engorges the spongy erection chamber that surrounds the urethra and also engorges the head of penis. At the time of climax, the BC expels semen by virtue of its strong rhythmic contractions, allowing ejaculation to occur and contributing to orgasm. A weakened BC muscle may result in semen dribbling with diminished force or trajectory, whereas a strong BC can generate powerful contractions that can forcibly ejaculate semen at the time of climax.
How To Get The Juices Flowing Again?
Pelvic floor muscle training can be useful to improve the dynamics of ejaculation. The stronger the BC, the better the capacity for engorgement of the erection chamber that envelopes the urethra and the higher the ejaculatory horsepower, resulting in optimized urethral pressurization and ejaculation. The intensified ejaculation resulting from a robust BC can enhance the orgasm that accompanies the physical act of ejaculation.
Wishing you the best of health,
AndrewSiegelMD.com
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Author of Male Pelvic Fitness: Optimizing Sexual and Urinary Health: available in e-book (Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo) and paperback: http://www.MalePelvicFitness.com
Co-creator of Private Gym pelvic floor muscle training program for men: www.PrivateGym.com Gym—also available on Amazon
The Private Gym is a comprehensive, interactive, follow-along exercise program that provides the resources to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that are vital to sexual and urinary health. The program builds upon the foundational work of Dr. Arnold Kegel, who popularized exercises for women to increase pelvic muscle strength and tone. This FDA registered program is effective, safe and easy-to-use. The “Basic Training” program strengthens the pelvic floor muscles with a series of progressive “Kegel” exercises and the “Complete Program” provides maximal opportunity for gains through its patented resistance equipment.
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