Man who didn't masturbate for 90 days explains what happened as annual challenge begins
No Nut November (NNN) is upon us, with the annual fad set to take social media over as men around the world push themselves to the limit, in a sense.
For those who aren't familiar with the viral trend, NNN consists of people completely abstaining from masturbation and sex in an attempt to refrain from ejaculating altogether for 30 days - the entire month of November.
The challenge is meant to be a test of willpower and discipline, though health experts have warned against the trend as it's believed it could be doing more harm than good.
But the fact of the matter is that several men have tried their hand at the challenge, taking to social media to reveal the changes they'd noticed after completing it.
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What benefits can come from No Nut November?
One man took to Reddit to share how abstaining from masturbation was one of the 'best decisions of his life', claiming that he'd even gone three months without realising he had made it that far.
At that point, he revealed that he had 'more energy, my brain stopped sexualising normal things and my brain fog is basically gone'.
"I find it easier to socialise, and start conversations. I have also experienced a huge energy boost in the gym, and have seen tremendous progress during these 3 months," the user shared.
Apparently, it helped him with 'discipline', including helping him get up on early mornings to work out, ultimately resulting in him vowing to never masturbate again.
"Some people may call this placebo, and even if it was just placebo, all these successes stories have actually helped with other people's mental health," he claimed, advising others to 'live life' as it goes 'past the short pleasures of masturbating' which can even make you a 'slave to your sexual desires'.
What have doctors said about No Nut November?
Dr Rena Malik, a health professional known for her content online, took to her YouTube channel to explain the effects of semen retention, as it can impact your physical and mental health too.
She claimed that if you want to avoid ejaculating, you should aim to orgasm via 'edging', which is a sexual technique that involves getting close to climax before stopping at the 'edge', so to speak.
Dr Malik also pointed out that it can be difficult to have a 'very meaningful important sexual relationship' if you're trying this, adding that it can disconnect you from your partner as you're focused on yourself, while it can mentally 'cause a lot of stress and anxiety'.
She said that regularly masturbating can bring on a 'number of benefits' which include 'better sleep, decreased heart rate, decreased stress and an increase in feel-good hormones'.
Moving on to the potential 'pain and discomfort' you can feel in your pelvic floor or testicles, the doctor said that the blood flow that goes downstairs when you're aroused stops when you're doing NNN.
"If you don't ejaculate, that increased pressure stays around and can be what we perceive as 'blue balls', and for some people that can be quite painful," she added.
Dr Malik suggested getting rid of the stress and tension by masturbating 'two or three times a week'.
She recommended that instead of taking part in NNN, men should go for 'No Fap' November, which means avoiding porn instead of ejaculation.
"It can actually really affect your brain and the way you perceive sex and the way you have relationships with other people," Dr Malik claimed.
What happens to your body during No Nut November?
So, you're probably wondering exactly what happens to your body when you avoid the urge to jerk the turkey for a month.
Well, Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn told the Daily Mail that abstaining from sex or masturbation can lead to many issues, including depression and anxiety for some.
And while there's no scientific evidence to show that the penis changes size due to a lack of masturbation, the sex and relationship expert claimed that, on the rare occasion, people could develop a condition known as penile atrophy. This is when penile tissue becomes less elastic, seemingly shrinking your old chap by a few centimetres.
It's not what you'd call ideal.
In addition to this, smoking, weight gain, medication, and levels of testosterone can affect your man downstairs.
Joshua Nair