Does masturbation affect testosterone?

You've probably heard of famous athletes and successful men who have abstained from masturbation and sex for long periods to increase their success.

Similar examples are boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, conquerors such as Napoleon, as well as American President Abraham Lincoln.

One of the main reasons for such practices is the belief that masturbation can "drain" your testosterone (T) levels, as it is produced in the testicles, and during ejaculation their contents are "emptied".

But despite the topic's popularity, research on the subject is scarce. And the available studies suggest that the overall effect of masturbation on testosterone levels may be neither positive nor negative.

On the other hand, the effect of sex on testosterone appears to be mostly positive, and men with higher testosterone levels often also have increased sexual desire.

In this article, we will discuss how sexual activities like masturbation affect testosterone and whether abstaining from ejaculation may have any benefits for male sex hormone levels in men.

What is the impact of masturbation on testosterone?

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One of the concerns related to the impact of masturbation on male sex hormone levels is the fact that sexual tension and desire decrease after orgasm, which is often associated with low testosterone.

However, research shows that ejaculation does not have a direct impact on testosterone. A case study showed that testosterone levels can actually increase during sexual intercourse, but remain unchanged before, during, and after orgasm. [1].

Another study in 10 men also showed that ejaculation during masturbation had no effect on their testosterone. [2]. Animal studies in primates also show no change in T levels after ejaculation. [3].

Ejaculation may even help maintain normal T levels by reducing stress levels. Previous research has shown that certain types of stress, such as the stress of anticipation, can lower T levels in men. [4].

Unfortunately, there are no studies that report the long-term effects of ejaculation during masturbation.

However, research on T levels in older men shows that those who have sex more often (and therefore ejaculate more often) tend to have higher testosterone levels than the rest of the participants. [5].

It is important to note that the long-term increase in T levels in these men may be due to frequent ejaculations, but also to the psychological effects of sex, such as feelings of closeness, success, and dominance, which are usually absent during masturbation.

Therefore, it remains unclear whether masturbation may have any long-term effects on testosterone in men.

So, does masturbation lower testosterone?

Although evidence is scarce, human and animal studies show that masturbation and ejaculation do not reduce testosterone levels in the short term.

However, experiments with rodents have shown that ejaculation frequency can affect the body's response to testosterone.

A study on male rats found that 1-2 ejaculations in a short period of time had a stimulating effect on testosterone receptors in their bodies. [6]. On the other hand, four or more had the opposite effect and reduced receptor activity.

This is why researchers suggest that too many ejaculations can lead to sexual exhaustion and reduce receptor reactivity to T levels.

Other animal studies also confirm these results, reporting both a decrease in testosterone receptors and an increase in estrogen receptors in rats after repeated ejaculation. [7], [8] .

It is important to note that all of these studies were conducted on rodents, and the effects observed in animal studies often do not translate to humans.

Does semen contain testosterone?

It is normal for semen to contain testosterone, as well as other hormones, including estrogens, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). [9].

T is the main hormone contained in semen, as the testicles produce large amounts of it and it is essential for the normal growth and development of sperm.

In fact, intratesticular T levels are much higher than blood testosterone levels, so the fact that some amount of the hormone will pass into the semen cannot affect serum levels.

On the other hand, synthetic testosterone, which is administered through medication, will not pass into your semen.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can be administered via tablets, intramuscular injections, subcutaneous implants, and gels, so it cannot affect intratesticular T levels. Even if a transdermal patch or gel is applied to the scrotum, the dose of TRT is much lower than normal intratesticular levels in healthy men.

In fact, men who take synthetic testosterone may experience lower intratesticular T levels and therefore lower amounts of the hormone in semen.

This is because exogenous testosterone suppresses normal T synthesis in the testicles, and in some cases can even lead to infertility.

Are there benefits to not ejaculating?

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Avoiding ejaculation, for example by abstaining from masturbation, is a practice that is claimed to bring both mental and physical benefits, including improved athletic performance, greater endurance, better self-control, greater confidence, and more.

Most of these supposed benefits are based on the belief that retaining sperm can significantly increase testosterone levels.

However, data on the long-term effects of ejaculating and retaining semen is limited. Currently, only one study has shown that abstinence can significantly increase T levels in men. [10].

The study was conducted on 28 male patients who abstained from ejaculation for several days, and only on the 7th day was a significant spike in testosterone levels recorded with 145%, after which T returned to normal.

In a longer study involving three weeks of abstinence, only a minor increase in testosterone was observed. [11]. Moreover, even longer studies, lasting up to 3 months, report that such periods lead to a drastic decrease, rather than an increase, in T levels. [12].

It's important to note that the latest study was conducted in infertile men, so it's possible that there were other factors that could have influenced the results.

On the other hand, maintaining intense sexual arousal and groping without ejaculation can increase T levels in men. One study of men attending a sex club showed that watching live sex acts resulted in a 11% increase in testosterone levels. [13].

It is important to note, however, that those who participated in the act and reached orgasm reached an even higher peak in their testosterone levels – an average 72% increase.

What are the side effects of not ejaculating for a long time?

Sexual abstinence and semen retention are not dangerous for men and their health. From a health perspective, there is no limit to how long you can go without ejaculation, and holding your semen for too long does not pose a risk to your well-being.

Your testicles produce sperm all the time, and sperm that are not ejaculated are broken down and reabsorbed by your body.

This is why many men practice semen retention or abstaining from masturbation for personal, religious, and spiritual reasons, without any risk to their health.

However, when practicing it in an attempt to increase testosterone, it's important to consider that research also shows an increase in T levels after regular sex.

For example, one study of couples showed that men had significantly higher testosterone levels on nights they had sex compared to nights they abstained. [14].

This is why sperm retention is a safe practice and a personal choice, but not necessarily the most effective strategy for increasing testosterone levels.