Science just found consequences of not masturbating and it's left people stunned

Researchers at the University of Oxford say they may have uncovered an unexpected downside to avoiding ejaculation, and it challenges a lot of common beliefs about male fertility.

Serial masturbators are famously uncool, but after recent studies carried out by Oxbridge scientists revealed that producing semen more often can benefit fertility, reaching for the lube can now be considered health-conscious.

When discussing fertility, women are often associated with a biological “ticking clock” because they are born with a limited number of eggs that age over time. Men, on the other hand, produce sperm continuously from puberty, and those sperm can be stored in the body before ejaculation. This means sperm can effectively “age” independently of the man himself.

For years, men trying to conceive have been told to abstain from sex for several days to build up sperm count. While that does increase quantity, the new research highlights a trade-off. The study found that sperm kept during abstinence actually “ages” and declines in quality.

What do the studies mean for masturbation?

After analyzing data from 115 studies involving nearly 55,000 men, researchers discovered that longer gaps between ejaculations were linked to worse sperm health. Motility (how well sperm swim) and viability both decreased, while DNA damage increased.

Scientists believe this decline comes down to two main factors. One is oxidative stress—described as a kind of biological “rust” that builds up and harms sperm. The other is energy depletion, as sperm are highly active cells that eventually run out of fuel when stored for too long.

Although current guidelines recommend abstaining for two to seven days before providing a sperm sample for testing or IVF, the findings suggest that shorter gaps may actually be better for sperm quality. Other studies back this up, showing improved IVF outcomes when ejaculation happens within 48 hours.

How does frequent ejaculation improve sperm health?

Frequent ejaculation, including masturbation, may help maintain healthier sperm. According to the researchers, it could offer an adaptive advantage because “it flushes out damaged, stored sperm.”

This pattern isn’t limited to humans either. Studies across dozens of animal species found the same trend: the longer sperm is stored, the more its quality declines, reducing the chances of successful embryo development.

Interestingly, sperm stored inside females tends to deteriorate more slowly, possibly because some species have evolved ways to protect and nourish it.

Overall, the findings suggest sperm, like eggs, have a kind of “use-by date.” And while many factors affecting fertility are outside a person’s control, this is one that isn’t—meaning avoiding long periods without ejaculation could help improve fertility outcomes.

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