Researchers at the University of Oxford have gone against traditional masturbation advice after the results of their study show the benefits of doing it more often.
Before you get the lotion out, scientists think that ejaculating more regularly may actually improve sperm count and boost male fertility.
Meanwhile, current guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendeds men to abstain from ejaculation for between two and seven days before giving semen samples for fertility testing or assisted reproduction.
But new research involving a sample size of nearly 55,000 men has provided a different outcome. No pun intended.
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So, the results from 115 studies found a consistent pattern - sperm tends to deteriorate the longer it is stored.
This is possibly because sperm cells are particularly fragile and once they mature, they have very little ability to repair by themselves.
Sperm loves to swim about the place and use up a lot of energy when stored, leading to ageing and potential damage.
When it comes to men, long periods without ejaculation were linked to increased DNA damage, higher oxidative stress and reduced sperm mobility.
All of these factors can lower fertilisation success and embryo quality.
Difference in sperm rate deterioration in men and women
Researchers found that women are generally better at preserving sperm quality longer than men.
"This likely reflects the evolution of female-specific adaptations, such as specialised storage organs that provide antioxidants to extend sperm viability," explained senior author Dr Irem Sepil at Oxford's Department of Biology.
"These organs often secrete reproductive fluids to nourish sperm and could provide unexplored avenues for biomimicking technology to improve artificial sperm storage in the future."
Lead author Dr Krish Sanghvi, also at Oxford's Department of Biology, added: "Ejaculates should be viewed as populations of individual sperm which undergo birth, death, ageing and selective mortality.
"The rates of these demographic processes can differ in males and females, mediating the 'demographic' structure of sperm populations and sex-specific differences in sperm storage effects."
How often you should masturbate?
Health educator Dr Jen Caudle said on her YouTube channel that 'masturbation actually can be a very healthy part of overall life and fulfilment, so I don’t want you to think that masturbation is not okay'.
“There’s not a top limit threshold,” the licensed doctor from the US said.
“It’s nothing like ‘oh you can’t masturbate more than this amount of times,’ there’s not a lower threshold.
“There’s not a number of times in a day, a week, a month.
“Certain people masturbate multiple times a day, some people masturbate only certain times every few months depending on whatever.
“Some people masturbate when they’re in a certain mood, some people masturbate at other times, it just depends.”
When to stop masturbating
Dr Caudle notes that the 'only caveat' to masturbating is if it starts to 'interfere with your daily life'.
“It doesn’t interfere with your mental wellbeing, it does not interfere with your relationships; interfere with your ability to go to your job or lead a happy, healthy, productive [life],” she said.
“In certain situations you can see how masturbation becomes compulsive, in which case we say that you need to be evaluated.”
The expert warns that if this becomes the case, then be sure to 'discuss this with a licensed professional'.
Anish Vij