Semen Retention - What Should We Know About Its Potential Health Effects?
Orgasm is often associated with ejaculation in people who have penises. But these are two different things, and some people teach themselves to have an orgasm without ejaculating. This is called semen retention.
Supporters say that semen retention could be good for you in many ways, including physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
What Is Semen Retention?
Semen retention occurs when a person deliberately resists ejaculating. This can be done by not getting sexually active, stopping before ejaculation, or learning how to climax without ejaculating.
Although this behavior seems new, it is most likely a result of the internet's current prominence. Keeping sperm is an old method that is said to make men stronger physically and spiritually.
“„It's a beautiful, little-known truth that, although they usually happen simultaneously, orgasm and ejaculation are independent biological processes, and one may occur without the other,
explains sexologist Jill McDevitt, M.Ed., Ph.D. Additional termsfor sperm retention include seminal conservation of coitus reservatus and sexual continence.
It is also known as, or is involved in, the following practices:
- Maithuna (Hindu Tantra)
- Maithuna (Hindu Tantra)
- karezza (Italian)
- Sahaja (Hindu Yoga)
- Tantra (Hinduism and Buddhism)
- Cai Yin Pu Yang as well as Cai Yang Pu Yin (Taoist)
What Does Happen To Body During Semen Retention?
There is little scientific evidence that retaining sperm is beneficial or harmful. If a person does not ejaculate, the body will break down the sperm and reabsorb it.
A person may want to save their sperm for a variety of reasons. Some individuals feel that sperm retention may assist with:
Mental Health
- boosted motivation
- energy and focus
- greater self-confidence
- decreased anxiety
- improved attention
Physical Health
- improved skin
- higher testosterone
- weight reduction
- muscular mass growth
- physical revitalization
- a more powerful voice
Spiritual Health
- a higher feeling of purpose
- stronger or deeper emotional ties in relationships overall harmony

6 Successful Men Explain The POWER Of Semen Retention | NoFap Motivation | The Ranveer Show
Is NoFap The Same As Semen Retention?
NoFap, although part of the same discussion, is not the same as sperm retention.
The NoFap lifestyle encourages people to stop masturbating and doing porn. Some NoFappers choose not to do any sexual activities at all in order to change their sexual habits for the better.
Proponents claim it may aid in the treatment of obsessive sexual behavior. "Fapstinence" is said to provide many of the same mental and physical advantages as sperm retention. However, most of the claims lack scientific support.
However, most healthspecialists think masturbation is healthy—even when accompanied by porn.
Semen Retention Benefits
Increased Sexual Stamina
According to McDevitt, the primary reason individuals practice semen retention is to keep an erection after climax, which allows them to continue pleasuring a partner and having sex for extended lengths of time.
Usually, the penis passes through a refractory phase following ejaculation, during which it cannot harden again, but this does not occur after dry orgasms.
More Intense Orgasm
Some people think that if they don't ejaculate for a while, they can have stronger orgasms.
However, some small-scale research from 2001 shows that not ejaculating for three weeks may not have much of an effect on a person's neurological system when they ejaculate.
Help In Premature Ejaculation
People who have premature ejaculation may employ edging methods to extend their sexual activities.
Methods like the start-stop or squeeze procedures involve stimulating the penis until just before orgasm, then stopping or squeezing the penis until the urge to ejaculate goes away.
Multiple Orgasms
Multiple orgasms for males and individuals with penises are feasible, albeit not nearly as often as for women and those with vaginas, and semen retention is considered necessary, according to McDevitt.
You can experience many non-ejaculatory orgasms in a row without losing your erection if there is no refractory phase.
Excellent Sperm Quality
Some individuals feel that retaining sperm might enhance sperm quality and boost fertility. However, studies on this have been limited.
According to earlier research, abstaining from ejaculating for one day is all that is required to offer the finest possible semen samples.
According to research from 2018, ejaculatory abstinence intervals of more than 4 days had a negative impact on sperm. According to one 2015 study, every ejaculation had no significant adverse effects on sperm quality.
If you're attempting to conceive, practicing semen retention for a short while may aid with conception the next time you have intercourse.
Better Self-control And Body Awareness
The discipline of semen retention entails learning to orgasm while ejaculating, a procedure that often needs a person to get extremely familiar with their body and how it functions.
Spiritual Effects
Some spiritual rituals include the concept that retaining sperm offers energetic advantages, such as increased lifeforce energy. "The concept is that ejaculation releases life force," Kat Nantz, a somatic sex coach, adds.
"The notion behind not ejaculating is that your life force is then cycled back through your body, re-energizing you."
Some individuals feel that ejaculation releases emotions and that you might grow closer to them by not releasing them in this manner. Some people think that not masturbating makes them healthier, like making them more confident, more motivated, and better able to feel.
However, there is no scientific evidence to back up these claims.
Complete Body Orgasms
According to relationship therapist Stephen James Burford, semen retention assists full-body orgasms in tantric sex. "You can spread orgasms all over your body by using air, music, and movement," he says.
May Increase Testosterone Level
A few research imply that refraining from sex or masturbating for a week or two is associated with elevated testosterone. After seven days of abstinence, men's serum testosterone levels reached 146% of their previous levels, according to one research.
Another study discovered increased testosterone levels following a three-week abstinence interval.
Carrubba and Giuseppe Aragona, a family medicine doctor at Prescription Doctor, are unconvinced that sperm retention affects testosterone levels.
"Because they're little studies, you have to doubt their validity," Carrubba adds. "There's some evidence that it may boost testosterone levels—and nothing that says it doesn't. If you're interested in it and believe it can help, go for it. Just make sure you're still having safe sex."
Testosterone levels are also linked to physical characteristics like muscle mass and a deeper voice. Still, no evidence has been found to relate the practice of sperm retention to these impacts.

Semen Retention Is Bullsh*t
Semen Retention Risks
Although few hazards are usually with not ejaculating, problems might occasionally develop.
Hypertension Of The Epididymis
Epididymal hypertension, often known as "blue balls," occurs when a person feels sexually aroused but does not ejaculate or orgasm.
Following a time of arousal that does not result in the climax, they may suffer soreness or pain in the testicles. This happens because of a buildup of blood in the testicles when a person is excited.
According to older studies, it is a harmless illness widespread among young male adults. Ejaculation or lowering arousal are common treatments.
Learn more about epididymal hypertension by clicking here.
Problems With Ejaculation
If a person consistently avoids ejaculating or experiencing orgasm, they may have ejaculation problems.
A person, for example, may be unable to ejaculate or orgasm when they want to, or they may have premature ejaculation. They may also have retrograde ejaculation, which causes sperm to return to the bladder.
Benefits Of Ejaculation
Feeling Of Pleasure
Although some individuals feel that ejaculating is harmful, investigations often show that the contrary is true. Endorphins, substances that may help block pain and make a person feel good, are released when a person ejaculates.
Greater Well Being
Regular sexual activity is often correlated with increased well-being in a coupled relationship. However, some evidence shows that the relationship between sexual frequency and increased well-being may be limited.
Although the research mentioned above focused on coupled sex, masturbation is likely to have a comparable impact on well-being. For example, a prior study from 1991 found that married women who masturbate have better self-esteem than those who do not.
Prevent Prostate Cancer
Some research shows that the number of times a man ejaculates may be linked to a lower chance of prostate cancer.
A large-scale study with a 10-year follow-up period indicated that men who ejaculated 21 times per month were 50% less likely to acquire prostate cancer than men who ejaculated between four and seven times per month.
Semen Retention Science
Most research on how refraining from ejaculation affects the body has focused on total abstinence from sexual engagement.
Sperm motility has been shown to increase after short periods without ejaculating, and athletes may perform better if they don't make love for two hours before a competition.
There does not seem to be any study on the impact of dry orgasms yet.
When To Stop Semen Retention
If a person feels pain or discomfort during ejaculating, they should stop. They should also stop avoiding ejaculationif they cannot ejaculate when and if they desire to do so.
If a person cannot ejaculate and wants to father biological children, they should see a doctor since they may need medical assistance. Anejaculation may occur as a result of:
- Spinal cord damage, infection, stress, or psychological problems(situational anejaculation)
- Medicine usage, including the use of certain antidepressants
- Nervous system diseases
If someone discovers blood in their sperm after opting to ejaculate, they should not worry. This should be resolved within a few days. If a person is worried, they should consult with a medical practitioner.
People Also Ask
How Often Should A Man Release Sperm?
There are no 'normal' times to ejaculate. Thus, there are no grounds to restrict your ejaculation. More excellent frequent ejaculation provides more health advantages. The average number of ejaculations depends on age, relationship status, and health.
What Happens If You Hold Your Sperm For Too Long?
Unejaculated sperm is not toxic to the body and does not accumulate. The body reabsorbs sperm that does not exit the body during ejaculation. There are no negative impacts on sexual desire or fertility.
Are There Benefits To Not Ejaculating?
According to a few smaller studies, not ejaculating may boost testosterone levels. Raising your T levels by not ejaculating may be beneficial if your T levels are low. Low testosterone levels may hurt your mood, energy, and sexual desire.
What Are The Benefits Of Not Ejaculating For 30 Days?
- Improved motivation
- Increased energy and concentration
- Increased self-assurance
- Decreased anxiety
- Improved memory
- Increased concentration
Final Words
There is insufficient research to draw solid judgments regarding the possible advantages of semen retention. However, there has been little evidence to show that there may be health hazards.
An outpouring of sperm does not have to be the grand finale of a sex act. Not blowing the metaphorical load is typically not necessary as long as you can get off and enjoy the experience.
A person has the option to refrain from sexual behavior for as long as they choose. They may also experiment with methods like edging or tantric sex to see if it is something they appreciate.
There is no specific frequency at which a person should ejaculate. As a result, individuals should do what seems right to them.