Could masturbation be killing your gains?

As a popular and natural form of sexual expression and relief, masturbation has been a topic of interest and discussion for a long time, probably since the ancient Greek and Roman times, when athletes would allegedly refrain from their sexual activities before athletic contests. One of the most common questions that men may ask is whether or not masturbation has any impact on their gains in the gym. While the relationship between masturbation and gains in the gym is not entirely clear, there are a few things that are worth considering.

First, there is a common misconception that masturbating can lower testosterone levels, but this is not supported by scientific evidence. It is important to understand that masturbation is a normal and healthy sexual activity that does not have any significant impact on muscle growth or athletic performance. In fact, several studies have found that there is no significant difference in testosterone levels before and after masturbation over longer periods of time, which suggests that it does not have any direct impact on muscle growth or athletic performance.

Although there are many physiological processes involved in masturbation, the most important for our purposes is ejaculation:

When you ejaculate, your body puts out (and has to replenish) semen, which is the fluid that is shot from the penis during male orgasm. It contains a mixture of different fluids from various glands and organs in the male reproductive system. The specific content of semen can vary from person to person, but it typically includes:

1. Sperm: These are the reproductive cells that fertilize a female egg to produce a pregnancy. The number of sperm in semen can vary widely, but a healthy ejaculation can contain millions of sperm.
2. Seminal fluid: This is a mixture of fluids produced by the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral gland. These fluids provide nourishment and protection for the sperm, and help them to survive and travel through the female reproductive system.
3. Enzymes: Semen also contains enzymes such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which help to break down the semen and improve its ability to fertilize an egg.
4. Hormones: Semen can also contain hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, although in relatively small amounts.
5. Minerals and nutrients: Semen contains various minerals and nutrients such as zinc, calcium, and fructose, which provide energy and nourishment for the sperm.

As you may imagine, replenishing semen is a process that takes a significant amount of energy and nutrients, that could have been otherwise used towards your gym goals and once you ejaculate these resources are pretty much gone.

It’s easy to see that excessive masturbation or pornography use is a problem that can potentially lead to physical and mental wear-out, which could impact overall energy levels and motivation to exercise. This is because excessive masturbation can cause a depletion of the body’s energy and nutrient reserves, leading to fatigue and decreased performance.

On the other hand, moderate masturbation may actually have a positive impact on gym gains. This is because masturbation is a form of sexual release, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels. By reducing stress and anxiety, the body is better able to focus on recovery and growth, which can lead to improved gains in the gym.

Additionally, masturbation accelerates your heart and can also lead to increased blood flow to the muscles, which can help to promote muscle recovery and growth. This is because increased blood flow can help to deliver nutrients and oxygen to the muscles, which are necessary for muscle repair and growth.

With all of that being said, no clear evidence has been found to suggest that (moderate) masturbation directly affects your results in the gym. Masturbation is a normal and healthy sexual activity that can have positive effects on your overall physical and mental health. It can relieve stress, improve mood, and promote relaxation, all of which can have a positive impact on your gym performance.

Overall, masturbation is a normal activity that should not negatively impact your gym results, as long as it is done in moderation and does not interfere with your overall physical and mental well-being, especially with your sleep (staying up late to get laid or to watch porn). Ultimately, it is important to listen to your body and find a balance that works for you in terms of sexual activity and exercise performance.