{"id":11042,"date":"2025-05-20T16:25:36","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T16:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/?p=11042"},"modified":"2025-05-23T20:27:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T20:27:21","slug":"does-masturbation-affect-fertility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/does-masturbation-affect-male-fertility\/","title":{"rendered":"Does masturbation affect male fertility?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When it comes to masturbation, it\u2019s completely normal to wonder \u2014 what is normal? Will ejaculating too often boost your fertility, or hinder it? Is there a certain number of times you should masturbate per day, week, or month to maintain optimum fertility? Does masturbation affect sperm count?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially relevant if you are in the process of trying to get your partner pregnant (known as trying to conceive or TTC). Here, we\u2019ll break down the facts about whether masturbation affects male fertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sperm is being produced by the testicles constantly, and as it waits in storage, quality declines. There\u2019s no evidence that \u201csemen retention\u201d or avoiding ejaculation is beneficial for fertility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019re trying to conceive, you may want to avoid masturbation during the fertile window, when you\u2019re having sex every 1\u20132 days \u2014 or for 2\u20135 days before a semen analysis, sperm freezing, or IVF procedure. Otherwise, there\u2019s no reason to avoid masturbation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Masturbation has many mental and physical health benefits and is overall part of a healthy sex life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:2px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Does m*sturbation lower sperm count or affect male fertility?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IzL7v0dpJEc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding sperm production<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand how frequent ejaculation affects fertility, let\u2019s get back to basics and talk a little about how you make sperm. Sperm production (spermatogenesis) begins during puberty and continues throughout your life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The testes produce around 50\u2013100 million viable sperm every day. At first, the sperm cells are immature and unable to swim. They go through a series of divisions as they mature \u2014 which create genetic variation \u2014 and eventually become able to move on their own. It takes about 74 days for a newly formed sperm to become fully mature.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This production cycle means that the sperm you ejaculate today began developing about two-and-a-half months ago. Lifestyle changes aimed at improving your fertility may take several weeks to show up in a semen analysis \u2014 your current sperm quality reflects your health and habits from the past three months, not just the last few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Read more about how lifestyle changes can improve sperm health in our <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/guides\/sperm-improvement-guide\/\"><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">sperm improvement guide<\/span><\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The body stores mature sperm in the \u201ccauda epididymis,\u201d a structure within the epididymis, the tube at the back of the testicles. When you ejaculate, sperm moves via muscle contractions to the vas deferens. The vas deferens connect to the seminal vesicles, which produce seminal fluid (semen). The sperm mixes into the semen, then moves to the urethra for ejaculation. When you orgasm, this leads to ejaculation, releasing the sperm and seminal fluid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t ejaculate, sperm sits in \u201cstorage\u201d for a while \u2014 more on that below \u2014 then is eventually reabsorbed by the testes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if sperm takes nearly three months to mature once produced, does masturbation affect male fertility?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is semen retention good for fertility?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to improve fertility or increase low testosterone, you may have come across information about \u201csemen retention\u201d (intentionally avoiding ejaculation). Some people claim avoiding ejaculation and \u201cretaining semen\u201d improves energy levels, fertility, sexual pleasure, and emotional health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The concept has been around for a long time. But there\u2019s no scientific evidence to back up the claims. In fact, abstaining from ejaculation for more than a few days is actually detrimental to your sperm quality. Here\u2019s what science has found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Semen volume (how much semen you ejaculate) and sperm concentration (how many sperm are in your semen) do increase after 1\u20132 days of abstinence.<sup>1<\/sup> But sperm <em>quality<\/em>, or the health of your sperm, declines after two days of abstinence and worsens over a more extended period, and the genetic health of sperm suffers from longer abstinence windows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/abstinence-sperm-quality-2-1-1-1024x518.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1830\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>While sperm sits \u201cin storage\u201d inside the body, it\u2019s subject to oxidative stress, which causes sperm to degrade. Sperm motility (how many sperm are swimming) drops, and DNA fragmentation \u2014 the degree of damage to the DNA carried by sperm \u2014 increases. This oxidative stress is considered a significant cause of infertility.<sup>2<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We recommend<strong> <\/strong>that you abstain from ejaculation and sex for 2\u20135 days before collection for in vitro fertilization (IVF), semen analysis (testing), or sperm freezing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/abstinence-sperm-quality-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1827\" style=\"width:1450px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it okay to masturbate while I\u2019m trying to conceive?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It really is a personal choice how often you choose to masturbate when you are TTC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/how-often-to-have-sex-when-trying-to-conceive\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">How often should you have sex if you\u2019re trying to conceive<\/span><\/a>? It\u2019s less about how much, and more about when. You should pinpoint your partner\u2019s fertile window, the 3\u20135 day period before ovulation when pregnancy is most likely. Experts recommend having sex every 1\u20132 days during this window, especially on the day just before ovulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking into consideration the information above, it doesn\u2019t make sense to \u201csave up\u201d semen for long periods of time before trying for pregnancy. So masturbating before or after the fertile window shouldn\u2019t affect your chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ejaculating multiple times per day may reduce sperm count.<sup>3<\/sup> So during the fertile window, when you\u2019re having sex frequently, you might want to temporarily avoid masturbation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try not to pressure yourself about masturbation frequency. Sex is an anxiety-inducing subject for many people, and trying to conceive can compound insecurities and self-criticism. Unfortunately, stress and anxiety can negatively impact your fertility. Communicating with your partner about needs and expectations while TTC is important for maintaining good mental health and a strong relationship during your fertility journey.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-1329ae13\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-4fd5cacd\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-4c1ac49f\">\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-132d78a4\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-132d78a4 skip-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/20240425_Legacy__1471749246481-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"20240425_Legacy__1471749246481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/20240425_Legacy__1471749246481-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/20240425_Legacy__1471749246481-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/20240425_Legacy__1471749246481-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/20240425_Legacy__1471749246481-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/20240425_Legacy__1471749246481.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-8c34c375\">\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-f5b90abb gb-headline-text gb-headline-545ba7d5\">Trying to conceive?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3bce79ad gb-headline-text gb-headline-864305d0\">Find out which sperm test is best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\na:link {\n  text-decoration: none;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-container gb-container-219b7976 legacy-segment\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.givelegacy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-segment=\"{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Quiz Opened&quot;,&quot;options&quot;:{&quot;element_id&quot;:&quot;943262f9-e0fb-4587-80f6-fc8c087125c9&quot;}}\">\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-f4eb10ab gb-headline-text gb-headline-85062f44 btn-link\">Get started<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-563d254a\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"48\" height=\"49\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-563d254a\" src=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/wp-content\/uploads\/icons\/arrow-right-circle-2.png\" alt=\"arrow-right-circle-white\" title=\"arrow-right-circle-white\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does masturbation cause infertility in men?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No, masturbation does not cause infertility in men (or anyone). The actual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/is-male-infertility-genetic\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">causes of male infertility<\/span><\/a> vary and can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hormonal imbalances<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Varicocele, or a swelling of veins in the testicles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infections, including some sexually transmitted infections (STIs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Defects in the tubes that carry sperm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certain medications, such as TRT (testosterone replacement therapy)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lifestyle choices, including alcohol and drug use<sup>4<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, how often you masturbate isn\u2019t one of them. If you\u2019re concerned about your fertility, before varying your masturbation frequency to address the situation, consider taking an at-home sperm test or consulting with your healthcare provider or a fertility specialist such as a urologist or reproductive endocrinologist. That can give you actionable information about your sperm health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your sperm count may be slightly lower if you ejaculate more than once every 1\u20132 days. So if you\u2019re trying to conceive, doing IVF, doing a semen analysis, or freezing your sperm, you should abstain from masturbating for 2\u20135 days prior. Between fertility treatments and during times when you\u2019re not TTC, masturbation won\u2019t do any harm. In fact, it can have several health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The benefits of masturbation and ejaculation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a healthy relationship with masturbation, it has real benefits. For instance, masturbation may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Improve your mental health by reducing stress.<\/strong> Orgasms stimulate the brain to release endorphins, the \u201cfeel-good chemicals\u201d that can improve your mood.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Help you sleep better.<\/strong> Ejaculation stimulates the release of chemicals such as oxytocin, vasopressin, and prolactin. These induce relaxing feelings and help you sleep.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Give your immune system a boost.<\/strong> Some studies suggest that masturbation and orgasm may strengthen immunity.<sup>5<\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make sex better.<\/strong> Masturbation increases the blood flow to the genitals. This keeps your sexual organs functioning properly. It also helps you get used to the sensations of sex and become more comfortable with your own body. This can help if you are experiencing concerns with body image, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, or other anxieties around sex.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lower the risk of prostate cancer.<\/strong> In 2016, a study published in the journal <em>European Urology<\/em><sup>6<\/sup> journal found that men were 20% less likely to develop prostate cancer if they ejaculated more than 20 times per month (21 times was the magic number).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lower the risk of heart problems.<\/strong> Research by the <em>American Journal of Cardiology <\/em>suggests that a lack of sex (once a month or less) can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.<sup>7<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Bottom line: Apart from a short-term impact on sperm counts, masturbation won\u2019t affect your fertility \u2014 and there\u2019s no evidence that avoiding ejaculation has any medical benefits. Relax and have fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fertstert.org\/article\/S0015-0282(05)00540-6\/fulltext#secd926879e2478\">1. Levitas, et al. \u201cRelationship between the duration of sexual abstinence and semen quality: analysis of 9,489 semen samples,\u201d 2005.&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2. <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6472207\/\">Alahmar, et al. \u201cRole of Oxidative Stress in Male Infertility: An Updated Review,\u201d 2019.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4947206\/\">3. Mayorga-Torres, et al. \u201cCan a Short Term of Repeated Ejaculations Affect Seminal Parameters?\u201d 2016.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/male-infertility\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20374773\">4. Mayo Clinic. \u201cMale infertility,\u201d 2022.&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>5. <a href=\"https:\/\/karger.com\/nim\/article-abstract\/11\/5\/293\/229074\/Effects-of-Sexual-Arousal-on-Lymphocyte-Subset?redirectedFrom=fulltext\">Haake et al, \u201cEffects of Sexual Arousal on Lymphocyte Subset Circulation and Cytokine Production in Man,\u201d 2004.&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>6. <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC5040619\/\">Rider et al. \u201cEjaculation Frequency and Risk of Prostate Cancer: Updated Results with an Additional Decade of Follow-up,\u201d 2017.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>7. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajconline.org\/article\/S0002-9149(09)02324-8\/abstract\">Hall et al. \u201cSexual Activity, Erectile Dysfunction, and Incident Cardiovascular Events,\u201d 2010.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advice on masturbation and fertility. Does frequent masturbation affect male fertility? How often should you masturbate when trying to conceive?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":11044,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Does masturbation affect male fertility or sperm count? - Legacy Sperm Experts","_seopress_titles_desc":"Will ejaculating too often boost your fertility, or hinder it? Is there a certain number of times you should masturbate per day, week, or month to maintain optimum fertility? Does masturbation affect sperm count? Here, we break down the facts about whether masturbation affects male fertility.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,134,121,123,70,35],"tags":[334,247,119,122],"class_list":["post-11042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-improving-sperm-health","category-lifestyle","category-sex","category-sexual-health","category-trying-to-conceive","category-understanding-male-health","tag-ejaculation","tag-masturbation","tag-sex","tag-sexual-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11042"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11042"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11042\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47144,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11042\/revisions\/47144"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}