At What Age Does a Man Stop ejacul*ting? (2024)

Plenty of men say their best sex happens after 40. But as you rack up years you’ll probably notice some changes to your libido, your erections—and your ejacul*tions. Eruptions that once had the volume and trajectory of a fire hose may now have the intensity of a coiled-up garden hose, which can cause you to worry.

Except, don’t.

A reduction in ejacul*tion volume or intensity as you get older is rarely a sign of concern, say experts. But what age does a man stop ejacul*ting—and more importantly, what happens if a man stops ejacul*ting altogether?

Here’s a look at how aging affects your ejacul*tions, and the best ways to safeguard your ejacul*tions from the ravages of Father Time.

What Is ejacul*tion, Exactly?

Before we talk about how and why your emissions might change as you get older, it’s worth going over what actually happens when you ejacul*te.

ejacul*tion is a complicated dance controlled by your central nervous system. It involves your brain and muscles in your pelvic region.

There are two phases to every ejacul*tion.

Phase 1

In the first phase, once an adequate level of arousal has been reached, nerves from the central nervous system send signals to the vas deferens—tubes that take sperm from your testes—to deposit the sperm that was made in the testicl*s, into the urethra, where they mix with fluids (sem*n) from the prostate and seminal vesicles to create ejacul*te.

Phase 2

In the second phase, your bulbocavernosus muscles (BC) which cover the base of your penis—along with the levator muscles in your pelvis—rhythmically create wave-like contractions that move the ejacul*te down and out of the urethra, says urologist Joshua Calvert, M.D.

These contractions happen every 0.8 seconds during ejacul*tion, forcing sem*n out of your penis in up to five spurts.

At What Age Does a Man Stop ejacul*ting?

There’s no specific age when men stop ejacul*ting. Lower ejacul*te force and volume are expected as you age. Here’s what to expect.

Your ejacul*tions might feel less forceful as you age

What actually makes your member erupt like a geyser? Muscles. Specifically, your BC muscles and pelvic floor muscles. And like other muscles, they weaken with age. As they decline, so too does your ejacul*tory force.

Pelvic floor exercises, like Kegels, can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, says Calvert.

Kegels are discrete and easy. You can do them while watching TV or driving in your car. Just clench the muscles in your pelvic floor that you’d tighten to stop the flow of pee mid-stream.

Regularly doing three sets of 10 reps, three times a day can strengthen your BC and pelvic floor muscles.

You may ejacul*te less as you age

While p*rn sets have you believe you ejacul*te buckets, five cubic centimeters (cc) —the higher end of normal ejacul*te volume—only equals one teaspoon. On average, the volume of an ejacul*tion is between 1.5 cc and five cc, says Calvert.

One study published in the Journal of Andrology, with participants ranging in age from 45 to 80 years, did find sem*n volume and sperm motility—sperm’s ability to move efficiently—declined with age (1).

How hydrated you are is a major factor when it comes to ejacul*te volume, Calvert says. Drinking more water can increase your sem*n volume because you have a higher fluid content in your body, he says.

What happens if a man stops ejacul*ting?

Nothing, really. Remember, more isn’t necessarily better. “Higher volumes of sem*n do not mean higher testosterone levels, or greater virility or even increased fertility,” says Calvert.

What Makes Up Your ejacul*te?

Only a small percentage of ejacul*te is actually sperm. The majority of sem*n is a milky fluid made by the seminal vesicles—a pair of ducts that sit behind your prostate and bladder and help produce sem*n—and the prostate gland.

Fluid from the seminal vesicles contains fructose—to help fuel sperm cells—and has an alkaline pH component. The prostate contributes an acidic protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Calvert says.

“These fluids all come together to optimize the likelihood that sperm is transmitted as high up into the female reproductive tract as possible,” says Calvert.

So, what happens to these reproductive parts with age?

In about 50 percent of men, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia occurs where your prostate enlarges and impedes the flow of urine from the bladder. While an enlarged prostate doesn’t stop you from ejacul*ting, treatments for enlarged prostates—like medications (including finasteride), can lead to ejacul*tory troubles.

Your seminal vesicles may also become less elastic with age. ejacul*te volume may decline slightly because of this, but Calvert notes this doesn’t happen with every guy.

Age-weakened bulbocavernosus muscles can also mean less ejacul*te force.

What About Erections?

Erectile dysfunction is common with ageand a lot of guys think they can’t climax and ejacul*te without an erection, says Calvert.

Not true.

Still, if the thought of having an org*sm and ejacul*ting without an erection bothers you—or your partner—you have options.

A urologist can treat the physical cause of your erection issues with medications calledPDE5 inhibitors. If the problem is more in your big head than your little head (your doctor can help you figure it out), then make an appointment with a sex therapist or other mental health professional. Talking to a mental health professional can help build your confidence and help you find ways to speak to your partner about performance anxiety, says Calvert.