Erectile Dysfunction

Does Masturbation Decrease Testosterone in Men?

January 10, 2022

Medically reviewed by

David Culpepper, MD

Recent surveys have shown that roughly 78% of adults in the world masturbate, and these numbers are even higher for men specifically: 92% of American men, 93% of German men, and 96% of British men say they masturbate. 

Masturbation is a common activity for both men and women, it seems.

But there are a lot of myths about the potential consequences of masturbation, most of which have been debunked. Scientists have not been able to find a link between masturbation and blindness, hairy palms, or shrinkage. 

However, beliefs that masturbation can reduce testosterone persist. Low levels of testosterone can result in a few sexual side effects including erectile dysfunction, but is masturbation the culprit?

What Are the Side Effects of Masturbation? 

Research indicates most men start masturbating between the ages of 14 and 17 as they're in the depths of puberty. This is typically when they start being warned about the potential consequences of masturbation, too, such as those listed above. 

Most of these myths have been thoroughly debunked. Outside of a few issues with chafing and a reduced level of sensitivity, there aren’t many negative side effects to masturbation. 

On the other hand, several benefits have been linked to masturbating. It can help you to relax, get better sleep, reduce stress, and boost self esteem, to name just a few. 

Is There a Link Between Masturbation and Testosterone? 

There has been no scientific evidence to suggest that masturbation or ejaculation has any negative or long term effects on testosterone levels. 

Testosterone plays a role in many important bodily functions, such as regulating bone and muscle mass, fat distribution, and the production of red blood cells and sperm. The most noticeable impact of testosterone day-to-day may be its effect on sex drive. Since men's sex drive is often reduced after masturbating and having an orgasm, it’s possible this myth originated due to a simple misunderstanding. 

After men reach sexual climax, they enter a refractory period in which getting an erection is more difficult. The length of this period varies for each guy and can depend on age. The refractory period may last just a few minutes for younger men, but it may last a few hours or even days as you get older. 

During the refractory period, muscles in the penis relax and the erection fades. Blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing also slow down and return to normal levels. 

Perhaps most importantly is that guys become much less responsive to sexual stimulation. It’s possible that this severe drop in sex drive could be mistaken for a lower level of testosterone. That's not the case, as refractory periods are completely normal. 

A few studies have suggested that abstinence can boost testosterone in men. One study found that after seven days of abstinence, participants experienced 145% of their baseline levels of testosterone. While it may be possible that refraining from masturbation can increase testosterone levels, engaging in masturbation does not appear to lower it. 

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What Causes Low Testosterone?

Men reach their peak testosterone production sometime in their late 20’s or early 30’s. After this, testosterone production decreases by an average of 1.6 percent every year.

Eventually, this steady decline can result in some significant side effects, such as depression, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, concentration issues, and general irritability. It can also lead to experiencing sexual side effects such as a reduced sex drive and erectile dysfunction

While aging is the most common reason for experiencing lower levels of testosterone, there are several possible reasons it can happen, including:

  • Testicle trauma or infection
  • Chemotherapy
  • Certain medications
  • Alcohol abuse or cirrhosis of the liver
  • Kidney failure
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Stress
  • Obesity
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Sleep apnea

How Can You Treat Low Testosterone? 

If you're experiencing low testosterone, there are a few ways that you can naturally increase your production levels. Although these lifestyle changes aren't likely to restore production levels to their peak, they may boost production enough to reduce symptoms you might be experiencing. 

Get More Exercise 

Getting consistent exercise is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body generally, and it can increase your testosterone in the process. 

The best ways to increase both short-term and long-term testosterone production is through resistance training and lifting weights

Reduce Stress 

Stress is mostly unavoidable, but constantly experiencing stress can lead to an increase in cortisol levels. Cortisol and testosterone have a sort of polarizing relationship: when one increases, the other will decrease

Using stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, or breathing exercises may help to reduce your stress levels. It may also be a good idea to talk to a therapist if you're constantly or under abnormal amounts of stress.

Get Better Sleep 

Sleep is important for overall health, but it also plays a significant role in testosterone production. One study showed that men getting five hours of sleep per night experienced, at a minimum, a 15 percent decrease in testosterone production. 

Getting more and higher quality sleep can help to boost your testosterone levels, or at least keep them from being impaired. 

The Takeaway 

There are virtually no side effects to masturbation, and the relationship to testosterone is adjacent at most. If you're experiencing symptoms of low testosterone, it likely has nothing to do with your masturbation frequency. 

Depending on the symptoms, it could be a sign of something else completely. Erectile dysfunction is a common experience in men with low testosterone, but it’s often the result of an underlying medical condition.

If you're having difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection, Rex MD may be able to help. We help men get prescription ED meds online and shipped to their door, if prescribed, with free consultations from licensed clinicians. Click here to get started.

 


SOURCES

Effect of 1 Week of Sleep Restriction on Testosterone Levels in Young Healthy MenFREE | NCBI

Acute suppression of circulating testosterone levels by cortisol in men | PubMed

The effects of short-term resistance training on endocrine function in men and women | PubMed

Low Testosterone (Low T): Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic

World's Largest Masturbation Survey Uncovers How Traditional Views of Masculinity Prevent Men from Having Fulfilling Sex Lives & Relationships | PR News Wire

Prevalence, Frequency, and Associations of Masturbation With Partnered Sexual Behaviors Among US Adolescents. | Jama Network

Masturbation | Better Health

Understanding How Testosterone Affects Men. | NIH

Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation. | NCBI

A research on the relationship between ejaculation and serum testosterone level in men. | PubMed

Testosterone for the aging male; current evidence and recommended practice | NCBI