Q: I've noticed over the years that while the volume of my ejaculate has not changed, the force of the expulsion has greatly diminished. Seriously, it used to regularly land on my chest and neck! Now, it just sort of flows out, without much force at all. Sometimes it will travel a couple inches, but no more "Super Shower" Fun. I have tried Tribulis and other herbal aids to no real and consistent improvement. My doctor only said "It's a muscle" and quickly changed the subject!

Do I have to just accept this loss as part of aging? I recently had a complete physical and was declared healthy. I am normal weight and I exercise five days a week. My wife and I enjoy a healthy sex life. Saving up a load does not improve propulsion, only amount. I want to have a "Peter North" experience again! I take vitamins, eat well and get plenty of rest. I don't believe I have any emotional issues. I get wood daily. I have tried Kegel exercises, but no improvement. I have tried going to the edge and back again before unloading, but no real change. I have normal testosterone levels and enjoy masturbation. Despite even the most exciting porn or my wife's wonderful talents, I still basically dribble when I used to shoot long and hard. I miss the feeling of a strong, powerful ejaculation.

A: First, I just want to say that you get a gold star for all the information you provided. Nothing makes me (or my editor) happier than a detailed explanation of the problem, including your own troubleshooting. You could have easily just typed "My ejaculations are weaksauce, what can I do to shoot big loads?" and hit send, but you didn't. For that reason, I can skip all the possible factors you've ruled out on your own and give you an answer.

Except I don't really have one, other than an expanded commentary on your doctor's dismissive response. (By the way, you might want to consider a new doctor who is either not embarrassed to discuss basic bodily functions or possesses a wider vocabulary with which to explain them.) He is right, though. You listed all the usual suspects of underwhelming sexual performance -- being unfit, being impotent, being tired or stressed, lacking libido -- and crossed them off your list. You mentioned Kegel exercises, but I want to get back to that. I've read and written over and over that strengthening the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) is the best way to control the timing of orgasm as well as increase the force of ejaculation. Getting the baby batter out is what those muscles are, in part, designed to do. The greater the force, the greater the propulsion, so boosting the strength of your PFMs should lead to shooting bullets.

An exercise regimen of any kind is hard to stick to for a lot of us. Even once you have the frequency down, it can be hard to tell if you're doing it right because results are never immediate. Work your PFMs by squeezing them as tight as you can -- like you're about to be immediately incontinent in both possible ways -- and releasing. Take care not to squeeze your butt or ab muscles. Continue to do 10 reps like that at least three times a day. Results can take about a month to be noticeable, and you don't need to change a thing about your current sexual regimen to see them.

Another thing to consider is that prostates generally grow with age. A lot of men report a decrease in the pressure of their urine flow as they get older because the prostate can put pressure on the urethra (which is, of course, the path both urine and semen take when they exit your body). This growth is normal and could be contributing to your decrease in force. If the exercises don't help after a couple of months, talk to a urologist and see if he or she can help.

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