Does masturbation reduce testosterone levels?

 

Masturbation  is the sexual stimulation of individual's own genitals for sexual arousal, stimulation may involve hands, fingers, etc. 

Testosterone is the male sex hormone,  made in the testicles. Testosterone hormone levels are very important in order to male sexual development and functions. 

Very common and dispersed myth among youth and adults as well that masturbation reduces testosterone level, but this is not completely true, but masturbation may have short term effect on your testosterone level and also effects some other factors like sex drive.

Study in this context is very limited and somewhat conflicting because it is difficult to create an suitable environment to masturbate. in this article , we discuss the effect of masturbation on testosterone level. 

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Effects of masturbation on testosterone level:

Testosterone level is linked to your libido whether your are male or female, it has direct effect on male libido. 

It get spike during masturbation and sex and then fall to regular levels after orgasm. 

Study of 1972, shown that masturbation had no significant effect on plasma testosterone levels. 

A study of 2003, "A research on the relationship between ejaculation and serum testosterone level in men", in this study researcher wants to know relationship between ejaculation and serum testosterone level in men.  in this study they found that fluctuations of testosterone levels from the 2nd to 5th day of abstinence were less, but at the 7th day of abstinence a clear peak(145.7% of the baseline) a clear peak of serum testosterone appeared.(1)

Another study of 2001, "Endocrine response to masturbation-induced orgasm in healthy men following a 3-week sexual abstinence",  study carried out on 10 healthy men and they found that that acute abstinence does not change the neuroendocrine response to orgasm but increase testosterone levels in males.(2)

Signs of low testosterone level

• Erectile dysfunction
• Low libido
• Losing hair
• Feeling exhausted
• Loosing muscle mass
• Weight gain
• Producing low amount of semen

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Factor that affects the testosterone level

• Poor diet
• Climate
• Stress
• Depression
• Age 
• Obesity
• Overheating
• Certain drugs
• Injury to the testicles

Related article: Foods that boost testosterone level 

 

Summary

Masturbation doesn't have negative effect on sexual activities, but masturbation may have short term effect on your testosterone level. 

Related article: How to check testosterone level?