How Sex Impacts Male Testosterone Levels & Production
By Ali Kuoppala | Last reviewed Tue 25 September 2018
Medical Review by Dr. Stefano Pizzo, MD
There has been lots of discussion about porn and excessive masturbation possibly lowering testosterone and disturbing the activity of androgen receptors and brain dopamine receptors. This has naturally led to the fact that many men are now scared of having too much sex as they think this would “drain” them from testosterone and be associated with similar negative effects as masturbation and excessive porn viewing.
Fret not, the good news are, that sex with a real person, does not decrease testosterone levels. In fact, research has shown that sex is one of the best – and arguably most enjoyable – ways to increase natural testosterone levels for free.
But how can that be? Sex and masturbation are basically the same thing?
Answer: Sex and masturbation are not the same thing at all. In real sex, you get the effects that woman’s pheromones have on the male body, you get the effects that come from the feelings of power and domination, you get a steady flow of dopamine instead of a quick rush, etc.
Basically what I’m trying to say here is this: Your brain is an extremely complex organ, and it’s damn sure that it knows the difference between a hand and a real woman.
Here’s some research about how sex affects the production of testosterone:
Sex and Testosterone Levels
Luckily, there’s plenty of research about sex and how the act of lovemaking affects testosterone levels…
…And why wouldn’t there be? Testosterone is the principal male sex-hormone that drives our urgency to mate.
Researchers are not exactly sure why sex boosts the big T production, but they suspect that it has to do with dopamine, pheromones, feelings of domination and power, and even winning.
Here’s some studies that I managed to find:
a) In this study the researchers took saliva samples of testosterone from their 44 subject males before they entered a sex club, and then waited outside for them to return to take another sample. They found out that the men who had sex inside with a woman, experienced 72% increase in testosterone, whereas the men who only watched the act, noticed a 11% increase in the hormone.
b) In this 1992 study, the researchers examined four couples and their sexual activity. They found out that on the nights when the couples had sex, both the male the female subjects had significantly higher testosterone levels than on the nights when there was no sexual activity.
c) The scientists in this study, found out that older men who have more sex, also have more testosterone in their serum.
d) In this animal study, researchers found out that even the anticipation of sex increases testosterone levels quite significantly, most likely due to the elevations in the motivation/pleasure hormone, dopamine.
e) This study found out that the lack of sexual activity (caused by erectile dysfunction in most subjects), lowered testosterone levels a lot. The researchers conclude that this happens through a central effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
f) Not only does sex increase testosterone, but higher testosterone levels will also make you want to have more sex (study, study). So this clearly creates a positive feedback loop where the sex stimulates testosterone production and that testosterone then makes you want to have more sex.
So clearly, testosterone and sex are deeply tied together. More sex = more testosterone, whereas more testosterone = more sex.
Conclusion
If you want a free and extremely enjoyable way to increase your testosterone levels. Then just have some good ol’ sex. Not with a hand, but with a person.
Now, I know that few guys will come here and tell me how they found out in some bro-science bodybuilding site that ejaculations would lower testosterone, and thus, sex would be a no-go. But that’s false.
Just read this to understand why.
Ali Kuoppala
