Doctor debunks common myths around No Nut November as annual challenge begins

It may just be the second day of the month, but No Nut November (NNN) is now in full swing, with men all over the internet taking part in the bizarre trend.

If you're unfamiliar with what NNN entails, the viral challenge involves abstaining from the acts of masturbation and sex in an effort to avoid ejaculating for the course of 30 days, or the entire month of November.

While many do it to prove that they have the willpower to be disciplined enough to reach the milestone, some have even claimed that their lifestyles have benefitted from the challenge.

With that being said, though, many health experts have warned against the trend due to the negative effects it can have on someone's well-being, as it could be doing more harm than anything else.

Men around the world will be trying to complete the challenge (Getty Stock Image)

Some claim that completing the challenge can result in lower stress levels, better sleep, better conversation and even higher sperm quality, but the reality is that there is not enough evidence backing this up.

Dr Rena Malik suggested that men try the 'NoFap' challenge instead, meaning that you avoid porn instead of the act itself, as she explained: "If you don't ejaculate, that increased pressure stays around (the pelvic floor area) and can be what we perceive as 'blue balls', and for some people that can be quite painful."

But she's not alone in highlighting some of the truths around NNN, as Dr Anne Truong, known on YouTube for her content around men's sexual health, has weighed in on the conversation.

The health professional has spoken about some of the myths around it all, starting with a 'fullness feeling' that most people say they feel in their downstairs region if they don't ejaculate, despite feeling some of that 'blue balls' pain, but this has been labelled as 'not true'.

She explained: "Some feel that the cause of not ejaculating is that fullness sensation, (but) that's not true."

Dr Truong also said that some believe that it can raise your testosterone levels and even improve your athletic performance overall, as she highlighted that this is 'not necessarily the case'.

Another myth she pointed out was to do with wet dreams, saying that while many believe semen is stored in the testicles, and that your body may react by having 'wet dreams', which involves ejaculating in your sleep, this is not true, as this typically stops after your teenage years, according to the doctor.

No Nut November is thought to bring on a number of benefits, but how much of it is true? (Getty Stock Image)

Her final debunked myth covers the belief that you may not make as much sperm during NNN, though she said: "Your sperm is continuously being made, it's being stored."

Fundamentally, your semen production isn't going to be affected by 30 days of abstinence from ejaculation, nor is there enough scientific evidence to back up claims that your workouts will improve as a result of NNN.