Doctor explains what really happens to your body if you've completed the first week of No Nut November
We're a week into No Nut November (NNN) - the month where followers of the challenge give up masturbation for 30 days.
A whole seven days without giving yourself a helping hand has passed, so besides any possible frustration, are there really any health benefits to be found from abstaining?
On the other end of the scale, many people may worry if staying pent up could actually be a bad thing.
NNN is a meme-driven trend mostly followed by men, where they aim to avoid sexual release in November.
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Fans of the method claim it's a test of willpower, control and self-discipline, which is often tied to the NoFap movement that goes on past November, where they aim to completely remove masturbation from their life.
Is abstinence good for you, and will a week be long enough to see any changes, both bad and good?
One expert shared his thoughts on the phenomenon.
Writing for Hims, Mike Bohl, MD, said that 'abstaining from sex for a week isn’t going to cure any diseases, give you superheroic mental clarity, or recharge your life force', damn.
However, he says there is some evidence it 'could offer benefits for sexual and mental wellness'.
A study from 2002 featured just 28 men in China, where they examined their serum testosterone levels during a week of abstinence.
After keeping their hands to themselves for seven days, researchers found that their levels climbed to nearly 150 percent of baseline levels.
The lack of masturbation had a marked effect on serum testosterone, which does tie in with some of the theories NNN fans espouse.
However, another expert, Dr Deepali Anand, noted that this 2002 study has since been retracted and should not be regarded as evidence.
Menwhile, a study from 2001 found that three weeks of abstinence increased testosterone levels, but that group was even smaller, made up of just ten men.
Dr Bohl says there is some research - but not much - which suggests that increased testosterone plays a key role in mental health.
In patients undergoing Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) treatment, they frequently report increases in mood, boosted energy levels and an improved sense of well-being.
TRT has also been credited with reducing anger and irritability, so if the 2002 research is correct on a wider scale, then abstinence may improve mental health, but significantly more research is required.
"There is not enough reliable evidence to prove the reported benefits of No Nut November," the Oxford Online Pharmacy says, noting: "Just as there is insufficient evidence to assert that No Nut November is good for you, there is not enough research to confirm that it is bad, either."
The site advises: "If you are worried about low testosterone levels, are concerned about your sperm quality or you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, professional guidance is the safest course of action."
Speaking to Allo Health, Dr Anand added: "If masturbation ever leads to feelings of guilt or anxiety, it’s always better to address those emotions directly."
The expert says that movements like NNN and NoFap are 'are often driven more by personal experiences than scientific facts'.
"It’s important to separate community stories from what research actually tells us about masturbation and health," Dr Anand warned.
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Health, Mental Health
Jen Thomas