Semen “Trickles” Instead of “Shooting”

Q. My wife and I have been trying to get pregnant for two years. I had surgery to remove an irritable section of foreskin about three years ago. During the healing, the shaft of my penis tightened. Now my semen does not propel anymore. Instead, it trickles. It appears the amount of semen generated hasn’t changed. We had a child before the surgery, so we are pretty sure this is the problem. What procedure would help us get my sperm into her to reproduce (either naturally or artificially)? I thought about a turkey baster, but she refused (smile).

A. Forget the turkey baster. Who knows what will be found in the old gravy residue. Your baby may end up having feathers!

I am not sure how foreskin surgery could result in a stricture or damage to the penile shafts, which inflate with blood. I would check with your physician or urologist, as a simple solution might be found. The most likely cause of ejaculatory ho-humness may be related to infection in the prostate or seminal vesicles. Obstruction of the ejaculatory ducts or inability of the bladder opening to close tightly at the time of ejaculation could lessen the volume of semen.

You should also arrange with your physician to have a semen analysis with a check for semen volume. I don’t believe that trickling rather than shooting would have much effect on fertility as long as your the semen analysis is normal. Psychologic factors are also important. Studies have shown that “making love to a plastic cup” generally results in a reduced number of sperm when compared to ejaculations associated with intercourse.