Energy For Exercise & Sex/Masturbation

[johnson13]

I played relatively intense tennis for two consecutive days. I masturbated twice in between, and interestingly, I didn't feel any fatigue at all during the second day of tennis. I was quite surprised.


It's often said that sex or masturbation before exercise can lead to fatigue, reducing stamina and overall performance. Many athletes and coaches believe that abstaining from sexual activity before a game or workout helps conserve energy, improve focus, and maintain physical strength. However, my experience seems to contradict this common belief. Instead of feeling drained or sluggish, I performed just as well, if not better, on the second day of tennis.


This makes me wonder—how much of the "fatigue effect" is real, and how much is psychological? There are scientific studies on both sides of the argument. Some research suggests that ejaculation reduces testosterone levels temporarily, which could, in theory, lower energy levels and muscle performance. However, other studies claim that any dip in testosterone is minor and short-lived, not significant enough to impact physical endurance or strength.


Another factor to consider is mental focus. Some argue that sexual release before a workout or competition can reduce aggression and drive, which are often useful in sports. On the other hand, for some people, masturbation or sex relieves stress and tension, which could actually lead to better concentration and coordination. It likely depends on the individual and their personal response to sexual activity.


In my case, I didn’t notice any negative effects. If anything, I felt relaxed and physically capable of giving my best performance on the tennis court. This might suggest that masturbation doesn’t always lead to fatigue and could even have neutral or positive effects, depending on factors like sleep, nutrition, and overall fitness levels. Perhaps the idea of avoiding sex before exercise is more of a myth than a rule, and its impact varies from person to person.


So, I’m curious—what do others think? Have you noticed any difference in energy levels, endurance, or focus after masturbating before exercise? Does it drain you, or does it have no effect at all?

[hanar123]

This is actually a really interesting topic because I’ve always been told that masturbation before a workout would drain my energy and make me feel weaker. But when I think about it, I’ve never actually tested it out in a controlled way. I usually avoid it just because of the myth that it reduces performance, but maybe that’s just psychological conditioning. Your experience with tennis makes me wonder if the whole idea is just a placebo effect.

I’ve had workouts where I felt super energized even after masturbating earlier in the day. At the same time, I’ve also had days where I felt sluggish without any sexual activity beforehand. So, it seems like there are way more factors at play—like diet, hydration, sleep, and even mindset—rather than just whether or not you ejaculate.

The testosterone angle is interesting, too. I’ve read that the drop after ejaculation is minimal and temporary, which makes me think the whole “no sex before sports” idea is exaggerated. If it made a massive difference, wouldn’t more athletes be open about abstaining before big events? Yet, you hear different things from different people. Some say they perform better after sex, while others swear by abstinence.

I think the best way to figure it out is to experiment personally. Try different scenarios—masturbate before exercise, abstain for a few days, and compare your energy levels. If it has no impact or even helps with focus, then maybe it’s actually a performance enhancer rather than a hindrance.

[amravat123]

it challenges one of those long-standing beliefs that most guys just assume to be true without question. Personally, I haven’t noticed any major differences in my performance whether I masturbate before working out or not. But I do notice that if I’m well-rested and have eaten properly, I have more energy regardless of sexual activity.

One thing I’ve read is that ejaculation releases prolactin, which is linked to relaxation and even sleepiness. That might explain why some people feel tired after masturbating. But if you’re someone who feels more relaxed and focused afterward rather than drained, then it probably doesn’t negatively affect your physical performance. Maybe the people who experience fatigue are more prone to mental exhaustion rather than actual physical tiredness.

There’s also the mental side of it. If you believe masturbation will make you weaker, then you might subconsciously feel less energetic. The brain is powerful like that. But if you go into it with the mindset that it won’t make a difference, maybe your body will just adapt. It’s like how some athletes perform well even after breaking conventional "rules" about diet, sleep, or training.

At the end of the day, it’s all about personal experience. Some guys may feel drained, while others feel completely fine. The only way to know for sure is to test it for yourself, just like you did.

[deigo123]

I used to think that masturbating before any physical activity was a guaranteed way to feel sluggish, but honestly, I’ve had mixed results. Sometimes I feel fine, other times a bit lazier—but I’ve also had days where I felt exhausted even without any sexual activity. So, I think it’s not as simple as just “masturbation = fatigue.”

One thing I’ve noticed is that my mindset plays a huge role. If I feel guilty or believe that I’ve "wasted energy," I tend to have a worse workout. But if I just see it as a normal biological function and don’t overthink it, my performance is the same. Maybe a lot of the fatigue people report is psychological rather than physical.

I also wonder if it depends on the type of exercise. High-intensity activities like sprinting or weightlifting might be more affected by slight hormonal changes, while endurance-based activities like long-distance running or tennis might not be impacted much at all. Your example with tennis makes me think that ejaculation doesn’t really affect stamina, at least not in a noticeable way.

At the end of the day, I think the key factors are hydration, sleep, and nutrition. If those are in check, then masturbation is probably not going to make a huge difference. I might have to do my own little experiment to see if I notice any change.

[piciossa]

I think a lot of this comes down to old-school thinking versus actual science. The idea that sex or masturbation drains you is something people have been saying for centuries, especially in competitive sports. But when you look at real data, it doesn’t seem to hold up as a universal truth. Some of the greatest athletes in history didn’t hold back from sex before big events, and they still dominated.

I’ve personally never felt a dramatic loss of energy after masturbating. The only exception might be if I do it right before bed and then have to wake up early for a workout—I’ll feel sluggish, but that’s probably just because I interrupted my sleep cycle, not because I ejaculated. If I do it in the morning or early in the day, I don’t really notice any difference in performance.

Also, the mental aspect is huge. If you associate ejaculation with weakness, then your brain might convince your body to underperform. But if you don’t buy into that belief, your body probably just carries on as usual. I’ve had workouts where I felt super strong even after masturbating, which makes me think the whole fatigue argument is overblown.

Honestly, this makes me want to dig deeper into the science behind it. If ejaculation had a major negative impact, we’d probably see way more discussion in professional sports. But instead, opinions seem to be all over the place. Maybe it’s more about personal response rather than a hard rule.

[antonio123]

This is such a cool discussion because it challenges one of those “bro science” ideas that we’ve all heard but never really questioned. I remember in high school, my coach told us to avoid jerking off before games because it would make us weak, and I just took his word for it. But now, I realize there’s little real evidence to back that up.

The funny thing is, I’ve actually felt MORE focused after masturbating sometimes. Maybe it’s because I get rid of any pent-up tension, so I can concentrate better. On the flip side, if I do it excessively or without enough sleep, then yeah, I might feel sluggish. But that’s probably just from overdoing it rather than the act itself.

I also think people’s experiences vary based on how they personally respond to orgasm. Some guys get sleepy, while others feel relieved and energized. That’s probably why we see different opinions on whether it helps or hurts performance. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here.

Ultimately, I think it’s about listening to your body. If you don’t notice any loss of energy or stamina, then there’s no reason to believe the myth. It’s all about balance and how you manage your overall lifestyle.