In the bedroom, no two people are the same. Therefore, there is no “normal” when it comes to a man’s penis size, erection duration, or even how often he ejaculates.
There are no negative effects associated with ejaculating infrequently. That being said, researchers have found that an increased frequency of ejaculation, especially in young adulthood, is associated with health benefits, including a lower risk of prostate cancer and improved sleep quality.
How Does Ejaculation Work?
Ejaculation is the process of the penis releasing sperm in the form of semen. The biological process begins with arousal, which manifests as an erection (when the penis enlarges and hardens due to an influx of blood flow).
Stimulation of the erection, whether that be from a partner or oneself, will send messages through the nervous system to the brain to move sperm from the testes to the bottom of the urethra. When a man reaches orgasm, muscles in the penis force the sperm — which has now mixed with seminal fluid to form semen — up through the urethra, flowing out of the end of the penis.
Ejaculation is a reflex action controlled by your central nervous system, and while it typically occurs during an erection, it is possible to ejaculate without having an erection. Most men ejaculate when having penetrative sex or when masturbating. Ejaculation frequency varies based on personal preference and individual lifestyle factors.
What are the benefits of ejaculation?
Ejaculation is a natural occurring process with the sole purpose of reproduction – propelling the sperm from the testes into the female reproductive system to reach and fertilize the egg. That being said, the majority of times a man ejaculates in his life, he is not intending to reproduce.
There are tons of additional benefits to ejaculation that don’t include babymaking. A 2016 study found concrete evidence to prove that men between the ages of 20 and 49 who reported a higher frequency of ejaculation had a lower likelihood of receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis as they grew older.
Ejaculating has also been linked to improved sleep quality. Studies show that having an orgasm with a partner leads to better sleep, with 68% of men in a 2019 study reporting better sleep directly after sex.
Researchers attribute this to the release of specific-sleep hormones during orgasm. A study published in Biological Psychology revealed that there is an increase in prolactin – a hormone that can induce rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – following ejaculation, whether with a partner or through masturbation.
Ejaculating is very good for overall health, specifically the heart. A 2016 comprehensive study found that men who were consistently sexually active were less likely to have elevated levels of cardiovascular reactive protein – associated with cardiovascular health risks – than men who were sexually inactive.
Factors Influencing Ejaculation Frequency
So we’ve established that ejaculating is good for you altogether. But that doesn’t mean that everybody does it the same amount.
Factors like age, relationship status, and individual preferences all play a role in the amount of times a man ejaculates per day, week, or month.
In 2015, 975 men in the United States were included in a cross-sectional study. It found that 64% of the men had masturbated in the last month. Additionally, penetrative vaginal intercourse and giving or receiving oral sex were the most common partnered behaviors.
The majority of men who were more sexually active, whether alone or with a partner, were under the age of 50.
As you get older, your sex drive may diminish, leading to less sexual activity per month.
Another factor that influences how often men ejaculate is overall health, both mental and physical. Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety have proven connections to erectile dysfunction, which in turn will limit how frequently a man ejaculates.
Specific health conditions also decrease sex drive and testosterone levels in men, such as Cushing’s syndrome, HIV, obesity, and sleep apnea, among others.
It’s important to keep an open dialogue with your doctor to ensure that you are ejaculating as frequently as feels right to you, and to get on a treatment plan if you suspect there to be any underlying conditions.
What is a Normal and Safe Amount of Ejaculation?
There is no “normal” amount of ejaculating. While the general health benefits of ejaculating often are clear, these do not outweigh personal preference. Be sure to pay attention to your preferences and the needs of you and your partner when considering how often you should be ejaculating.
Listen to your body. Ejaculating becomes unsafe when it leads to overstimulation or exhaustion. If you notice yourself feeling overused and drained, think about taking a day or two off from masturbating.
How to achieve a healthy balance
If you’re having trouble finding a productive balance of how frequently you ejaculate, you may want to consult with your licensed healthcare provider, or even a sex therapist.
Both can be helpful in diagnosing underlying conditions, but sex therapists specialize in supporting sexual functioning through mental and psychological channels.
Can You Run Out of Sperm?
The short answer is no, you can not run out of sperm. Your body naturally makes sperm every single day, with about 1000 new swimmers created every minute. You will always have a constant supply, no matter how often you masturbate or ejaculate during sex.
That being said, it can be easy to think that being in the refractory period – the time after ejaculation before you are able to achieve another erection – means you are out of sperm. Again, untrue. It is simply a physiological response to the feeling of satisfaction from orgasming, and has nothing to do with the amount of sperm ejaculated.
Are There Benefits to Avoiding Ejaculation?
Semen retention, or the practice of avoiding ejaculation, has grown in popularity recently as an internet trend. While there is little scientific evidence proving that this is good or bad, people are starting to try this out for a variety of reasons.
Anecdotal evidence has shown some benefits of not ejaculating, including:
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Improved energy and focus
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Physical rejuvenation
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Deeper emotional bonds in the relationship
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More intense orgasms later on
That being said, doctors have reason to believe there are some possible mild risks associated with semen retention, including:
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Epididymal hypertension (Pain in testicles, or “blue balls”)
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Issues ejaculating
Again, it all comes down to personal preference. If you are interested in giving semen retention a try in bed, discuss it with your partner and decide together.
What Happens to Sperm that is Not Ejaculated?
Sperm that isn’t released from the body during ejaculation is simply reabsorbed back into the body. No harm, no foul.
There are no health concerns associated with having sperm that is “leftover” or “unused".” The body naturally creates between 70 and 150 million sperm per day, so unless you’re really going at it, you’re not going to release all of your sperm.
Learning More About Ejaculation Frequency
There are no real health risks or dangers to ejaculating “too much,” with a few possible benefits from ejaculating often. Figure out what frequency works best for you and your partner. Having a healthy and satisfying sex life is key to leading a fulfilling life.
If you are noticing a change in how frequently you ejaculate and have concerns regarding premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction — or you just want to learn more about maintaining a healthy sex life — REX MD can help.
