Hormonal response after masturbation in young healthy men \u2013 a randomized controlled cross-over pilot study

Eduard Isenmann,Hannah L Notbohm,Philipp Zimmer,Ulrich Flenker,Moritz Schumann

doi:10.1186/s12610-021-00148-2

Abstract

BackgroundHormones like testosterone play a crucial role in performance enhancement and muscle growth. Therefore, various attempts to increase testosterone release and testosterone concentration have been made, especially in the context of resistance training. Among practitioners, sexual activity (coitus and masturbation) a few hours before training is often discussed to result in increases of testosterone concentration and thus promote muscle growth. However, there is no evidence to support this assumption and the kinetics of the testosterone and cortisol response after sexual activity have not been adequately investigated. Therefore, the aim of this pilot-study was to examine the kinetics of hormone concentrations of total testosterone, free testosterone and cortisol and their ratios after masturbation. In a three-arm single blinded cross-over study, the effects of masturbation with visual stimulus were compared to a visual stimulus without masturbation and the natural kinetics in healthy young men.ResultsThe results showed a significant between-condition difference in free testosterone concentrations. Masturbation (p < 0.01) and a visual stimulus (p < 0.05) may seem to counteract the circadian drop of free testosterone concentrations over the day. However, no statistical change was observed in the ratios between total testosterone, free testosterone and cortisol.ConclusionsIt can be assumed that masturbation may have a potential effect on free testosterone concentrations but not on hormonal ratios. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings.

Highlights

Hormones like testosterone play a crucial role in performance enhancement and muscle growth
L’objectif de cette étude pilote était d’examiner la cinétique des concentrations hormonales de testostérone totale, de testostérone libre et de cortisol et de leurs ratios après la masturbation
The increase of a was larger compared to visual stimulus, by 0:191 Æ 0:061 as compared to inactivity (PG) (p)

Summary

Introduction

Hormones like testosterone play a crucial role in performance enhancement and muscle growth. Sexual activity (coitus and masturbation) a few hours before training is often discussed to result in increases of testosterone concentration and promote muscle growth. The aim of this pilot-study was to examine the kinetics of hormone concentrations of total testosterone, free testosterone and cortisol and their ratios after masturbation. In a three-arm single blinded cross-over study, the effects of masturbation with visual stimulus were compared to a visual stimulus without masturbation and the natural kinetics in healthy young men. Hormones such as testosterone are proposed to play a decisive role in performance development and muscle growth [1]. Studies have suggested that an increase in cortisol concentration may have a negative effect on TT concentration [9,10,11], initial studies have shown a positive correlation between FT and C levels after physical exercise [11]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion