Does masturbation affect the hypertrophy?

[Cache]

I am asking this seriously.

Thanks!

[5M1L3Y]

I think it does so I stopped(haven't done it in a few months...)...

[alzheik]

Per ejaculation (self-induced):

- 3% reduction in grip strength
- 2.13% reduction in deadlift 5RM
- 1.746% reduction in squat 5RM
- 1.491x acceleration of palm hair growth

These results are permanent, accumulative, and unavoidable.


...okay, seriously? Unless you're some kind of maniacally masturbating machine that manages to manhandle your meat mechanically 3x/hour, then I wouldn't worry about it too much. Worry about the big things, like eating, sleeping, and lifting heavy enough. Getting off every once in a while isn't going to stall your progress.

[chris9]

Listening to the future president of the United States talk about it suggests that it didn't slow him down any:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58D2SBBseNs

I believe he made the same sort comments about smoking weed too.

[baatzt]

Please move this to the bodyweight excercise forum...

[baughmjk]

Please move this to the bodyweight excercise forum...

you just made my day, thank you.

[Dada]

Please move this to the bodyweight excercise forum...

you just made my day, thank you.

Indeed, mine too. First I laughed at the title of the thread, then I laughed even harder after that comment.

Anyway, to answer the question, it's great forearm work.

[eLvarouza]

Where in the 7 circles of hell do people get these ideas?

[markg]

Please move this to the bodyweight excercise forum...

quality!

[mjh]

I've actually found that a quick fiddle encourages a very specific kind of localised hypertrophy, but that it is only a temporary gain, as things return to normal a few minutes after the workout.

and then there's the loss of valuable protein...

[paul]

people get this idea from the pros who say they don't do it because it lowers and gives away testosterone. but what do they think that cum is testosterone? i always believed that it raised testosterone by stimulating endorphins which in turn raised testosterone. but i would really like to know the truth on this.

[markg]

Any volunteers for the big experiment?

[DaveT]

The most sensible answer that I found from www.sexuality.org...

I want to start working out to build muscle mass. Some of my friends say masturbation will increase testosterone, but others say it will decrease testosterone. What effect will masturbation have?

Masturbation is very unlikely to decrease testosterone levels. Semen is not the source of testosterone, and ejaculation will not cause testosterone levels to go down.

All other things being equal, increased sexual activity -- including masturbation -- tends to increase testosterone levels. But these levels depend upon many factors including age, time of day, overall level of physical activity, and general health. Psychological factors can cause changes in testosterone levels: levels go up in men who believe they are going to become more sexually active, levels can be affected by whether a person knows in advance that he will be test for testosterone, and so forth.

In your case, the increase in physical activity accompanying your workouts will probably have a much greater effect on your testosterone levels. If you are a young male AND working out, your testosterone level is likely to be so high that any difference masturbation (or other sexual activity) might make will be insignificant.

In much older men (over 40 years old), especially those with fewer sexual activities of other kinds, masturbation might increase testosterone levels significantly--which is not to suggest that masturbation might replace a reasonable program of physical exercise.

Although athletes were once advised to avoid sexual activities (including masturbation) *immediately* before athletic performances, studies have not found any scientific basis for this advice. So far as I know there have been no studies of the effects of abstinence *throughout* training, and probably there won't be because it would be difficult to find athletes who would agree to be abstinent for a prolonged time and no way to tell whether they really were. At any rate, nothing special about masturbation would cause it to have a bigger effect for better or worse than any other kind of sexual activity.

[Mehdi]

Although athletes were once advised to avoid sexual activities (including masturbation) *immediately* before athletic performances, studies have not found any scientific basis for this advice. So far as I know there have been no studies of the effects of abstinence *throughout* training, and probably there won't be because it would be difficult to find athletes who would agree to be abstinent for a prolonged time and no way to tell whether they really were. At any rate, nothing special about masturbation would cause it to have a bigger effect for better or worse than any other kind of sexual activity.

I think it's more because you feel like sleeping after sex. Doesn't mix well with the excitement/energy you need during sports.

[DaveT]

I think it's more because you feel like sleeping after sex. Doesn't mix well with the excitement/energy you need during sports.

I'm assuming they mean the night before, rather than knocking one off in the locker room 5mins prior to running the 100m!