Health3 min(s) read
Published 11:54 21 May 2026 GMT
Masturbating too much is famously uncool, but according to a recent study that has the seal of expert approval, not masturbating enough comes with its own disadvantages...
Sex and relationship expert Tara Suwinyattichaiporn says going a long time without any kind of sexual release, either alone or with a partner, can affect both mental and physical health.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr. Suwinyattichaiporn explained that intimacy, touch, and sexual release all play a role in emotional well-being. Without the aforementioned, some people may notice higher stress levels, anxiety, or even symptoms of depression.
She also added that cutting out masturbation entirely from one’s daily life can leave people feeling frustrated emotionally and physically, which in some cases may lead to more aggressive behavior.
A 2021 study substantiated that claim, finding that a lack of sexual release could increase aggression, violence, and even criminal behavior in some people. Researchers suggested it may be linked to built-up frustration or attempts to release tension.
There may also be physical effects, especially for men.
A study published in European Urology in 2016 found that men who ejaculated at least 21 times a month had a lower risk of prostate cancer than men who only ejaculated four to seven times monthly.
Researchers believe that may be because ejaculation helps clear out substances that can build up in the prostate over time. The Urology Care Foundation says regular ejaculation could help flush harmful chemicals from the body through semen.
For women, long periods without sexual activity have been linked to vaginal atrophy, where vaginal tissue becomes thinner and drier over time, sometimes causing discomfort.
There can also be changes for men who rarely get erections.
Tobias Kohler from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine told WebMD: “If men don't do anything to maintain normal erections, they will get shortening of the penis.”
Researchers have also studied how abstinence affects testosterone levels.
In a small 2002 study from China, scientists tracked hormone levels in 28 men who stopped ejaculating for several days. Blood tests were taken daily throughout the study.
The researchers wrote: “The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in sex hormone level in men after ejaculation.”
They found testosterone levels stayed mostly stable between days two and five before rising sharply on day seven.
“We found that fluctuations of testosterone levels from day 2 to day 5 of abstinence were minimal. On day 7 of abstinence, a peak of serum testosterone appeared, reaching 145.7% of the baseline (P<0.01). After the peak, no regular fluctuation was observed.”
The study also noted: “Ejaculation was the premise and beginning of the 7 days' periodic phenomenon. If there was no ejaculation, there was no periodical changes in serum testosterone level. These results indicate that the periodic change in serum testosterone level is caused by ejaculation.”
