The Surprising Truth: Does Masturbation Decrease Testosterone Levels?

The Impact Of Masturbation On Testosterone Levels: Breaking Down The Decrease

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can be one effective method to increase testosterone levels and relieve symptoms. It involves augmenting your natural testosterone with a therapeutic dose of synthetic hormones. Symptoms of low testosterone can include low sex drive, chronic fatigue, decreased bone and muscle mass, lower sperm counts, and erectile dysfunction (3).

And any activity that promotes good health will be beneficial to your biological functions, like producing testosterone and other hormones. Maybe you’ve been considering a vasectomy but haven’t quite finalized your decision yet because you’re worried about the side effects. Or maybe you’ve already been snipped and you’re wondering What if my vasectomy caused my decrease in low testosterone?

There are a lot of myths surrounding masturbation—that it causes blindness, hairy palms, or acne—many long debunked. A myth that has gained traction lately is that men who masturbate experience lower levels of testosterone (“T”). When you don’t get enough sleep, a situation many Americans are chronically in, your testosterone levels can decline. Another older study revealed that testosterone levels were slightly higher after men abstained from masturbation for three weeks. Still, you may be wondering about the connection between masturbation and testosterone levels. Primary hypogonadism refers to a testicular injury or malfunction of some kind that causes a disruption of your testicles’ ability to produce testosterone. These causes can be genetic or acquired later in life through viral or bacterial infections, direct injuries or by other means like chemotherapy or radiation.

Results show that participants who were involved in sexual activity had significantly higher salivary testosterone levels than men who did not perform any sexual activity. Regular exercise reduces your risk of an abundance of health conditions and diseases. It could even help control sexual health issues such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Your healthcare provider may recommend testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to boost fertility, restore sexual function, and treat bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

Obesity can disrupt your hormone balance and lead to lower testosterone. Hone-affiliated medical practices are independently owned and operated by licensed physicians who provide services using the Hone telehealth platform. For more information about the relationship between Hone and the medical practices, click here.

On the other hand, studies show that alcohol can also lead to premature ejaculation, or ejaculating too soon. And while it’s true that these two conditions are polar opposites, the reality is that alcohol can have a variety of effects and may impact different people in different ways. Urologist Neel Parekh, MD, explains how do you test your hormones alcohol can lead to sexual dysfunction in men in both the short and the long term.

Your diet might also have an impact on your testosterone levels, whilst exercise has been proven to increase it. If you’re worried, it’s worth taking a blood test to check your levels of the hormone. Belief in the benefits or harms of masturbation can influence an individual’s perception of their well-being. This placebo effect can make one feel better or worse about their testosterone levels, regardless of actual physiological changes.

Soy is a plant-based protein found in edamame, tofu, whole soybeans and a whole host of baked goods. Unfortunately, there’ve been longstanding rumors that consuming soy can lower your testosterone levels and increase estrogen levels. But research into the effects soy has on testosterone levels are conflicting. “A lack of both strength training and cardiovascular exercise can contribute to reduced testosterone,” says Dr Huang, who also blames poor sleep. Factors like excessive screen time and the ‘always-on’ nature of modern life interferes with restorative sleep, which in turn affects hormone levels,” he explains. But it refers to the very real way that alcohol — not just whiskey — can affect your ability to get or stay hard (aka erect). Alcohol can also cause ejaculation issues, trouble orgasming and low libido (sex drive).

SEXUAL HEALTH AND testosterone levels are closely linked, explains JD Golon, PA-C, a urology physician assistant at Rush University Medical Group in Chicago. If you notice signs of low testosterone while also experiencing difficulties in your relationship, consider therapy for yourself or for you and your partner. Masturbation, whether solo or with a partner, can have a variety of effects on T levels, though these are mostly short term. Erectile dysfunction affects half of men in their lifetime, according to Dr Foster, but that doesn’t necessarily mean low T.