Hormone health and sex are closely linked—but getting frisky won’t solve low T.
Have more sex. Avoid sex before a sports competition. No fap. More fap. That’s just some of the conflicting advice you’ve probably heard—from Reddit to the men’s locker room—about the connection between sexual activity and testosterone levels. But what’s the truth? Can sex increase testosterone, or does it temporarily slash your levels?
Put simply, research shows that both sexual activity and abstinence temporarily affect testosterone levels, according to urologist Justin Dubin, M.D. “But neither cures low testosterone.”
To understand the impact of sexual frequency on testosterone levels, you need to look at how much—and for how long—testosterone increases after sex.
About the Experts
Joshua Calvert, M.D., is a urologist specializing in infertility and testosterone replacement therapy.
Justin Dubin, M.D., is a urologist at Memorial Healthcare System in Miami, Flo., and co-host of the Man Up podcast.
A 2020 study in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that testosterone levels rise by about 2 ng/mL with ejaculation (1). But this increase doesn’t last long.
“This spike likely reflects the body’s preparation for sexual activity and reproduction,” urologist Joshua Calvert, M.D., says. This brief increase kickstarts sperm production by activating Sertoli cells in your testes, which are in charge of making new sperm (2).
Testosterone also activates the parts of the brain that regulate arousal and libido, particularly the hypothalamus and the amygdala (3). So, as you become aroused and reach orgasm, your testosterone levels will increase.
Before you unbuckle your belt, know this: The study found that testosterone levels returned to baseline within 10 minutes. In other words, the fleeting bump won’t move the needle if you have clinically low testosterone, also called hypogonadism. Low testosterone, which typically falls below 300 ng/dL, can cause symptoms such as insomnia, low libido, muscle loss, weight gain, and depression—just to name a few.
“If your testosterone goes up for a few minutes after sex, is that going to make you feel different? Absolutely not,” Dubin says. In fact, testosterone levels can fluctuate by up to 25 percent throughout the day, typically peaking in the morning (4). While activities like sex, exercise, and sleep can all temporarily raise your testosterone levels, the impact is minor and short-lived.
“Having frequent sex won’t fix chronically low testosterone levels, which are typically caused by underlying issues like aging, certain medical conditions, or lifestyle factors,” Calvert says.
Bottom line: While sex has a ton of physical and emotional benefits, it’s not a reliable long-term solution for boosting testosterone.
The relationship between testosterone and sex is more of a one-sided crush than a committed give-and-take partnership. While sexual activity won’t fix low testosterone, a hormonal imbalance can certainly put a damper on your sex life.
Low libido and desire, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction are common symptoms of not having enough testosterone, according to a 2017 study (5). That’s because testosterone regulates phosphodiesterase type 5 enzymes (PDE5s) and nitric acid, which regulate arousal and erectile function (6).
Because of this connection, sexual function can be a helpful marker for hormone health, Dubin says. “If you’re older and have frequent sex, that probably means that you’re healthier and more physically fit—and therefore, probably have healthy testosterone levels.”
So, if you’ve noticed a lull in the bedroom, it’s a good idea to get your testosterone levels checked by a doctor—skip Reddit for this one.
Short-term abstinence from sex or masturbation could also temporarily bump up your testosterone. A 2001 study in the World Journal of Urology found testosterone increased over a three-week period of abstinence (7).
“This might be the body’s way of building up reproductive resources and preparing for future activity,” Calvert says.
Still, it’s important to keep things in perspective. The boost in testosterone from sex is short-lived and minor in the broader context of hormone health.
“Movements like No Fap often promote abstinence as a way to ‘boost masculinity,’ but the science doesn’t support abstinence as a reliable long-term solution for low testosterone,” Calvert says.
You’ll find it no surprise that over 90 percent of men masturbate—and a 2022 survey in the Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests 40 percent of men get their rocks off at least once a week (8).
Whether you’re having sex with a partner or masturbating on your own, the impact of ejaculation on testosterone levels is the same. When you ejaculate, your testosterone levels will rise for about 10 minutes before returning to baseline (1).
Testosterone levels temporarily rise by around 2 ng/dL within 10 minutes of ejaculation and short periods of abstinence. Testosterone rises with ejaculation to kickstart sperm production. With three weeks or less of abstinence, your testosterone levels may rise slightly as your body builds up sperm in anticipation of sexual activity. However, more or less sexual activity won’t make a clinical, long-term difference in your testosterone levels.
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