Health benefits of frequent ejaculation as Oxford University scientists find unexpected side effect

Jess Battison
2026-03-29T09:47:31.626Z
Lifestyle

Turns out holding it all in can do some damage in the long run

Better out than in might be Shrek’s take on letting one rip, but it seems it could also be applied to ejaculation.

Yep, w**king is good for you LADs (in the right setting of course, this isn’t some public health push to suggest you can do it in public).

Scientists from Oxford University recently found a rather unexpected side effect as they looked at the impact of abstinence. And this influence on reproduction joins a number of other reported health benefits of frequent ejaculation, both physical and mental.

As the research looked at men’s health in reproduction, it delved into what happens to sperm during abstinence from ejaculation. And while that can be found to increase sperm count, even just for a few days, it may actually have a negative impact on the sperm stored.

Getting off is good for you. (Getty Stock)

Oxford University Study

Published earlier this week, researchers looked at the effects of abstinence in humans and other male animals.

The study found that ‘sperm stored during sexual abstinence actually ‘ages’ and deteriorates in quality’.

The scientists collected semen data from 115 published studies, covering almost 55,000 men. They found that when men abstained from ejaculation, their sperm health would drop massively with sperm motility and viability decreasing.

Even sperm DNA apparently became more damaged.

There are said to be two likely causes of this, with the first being ‘oxidative stress’ – a form of ‘biolgical rust’ that accumulates in sperm and can cause physical damage.

The scientists continued: “The second is energy depletion. Unlike most cells, sperm are highly active and have only a limited capacity to replenish their energy reserves.

“when stored for extended periods, they simply run out of fuel.”

They added the claim: “We know in primates, frequent ejaculation from masturbation improves the quality of ejaculate. Combined with our results, this suggests that male masturbation may have an adaptive benefit: it flushes out damaged, stored sperm.”

It's thought that abstaining from ejaculation can harm your sperm's health. (Getty Stock Image)

Other health benefits of ejaculation

There are a number of other benefits of ejaculating, with masturbation a great positive for all genders.

It can do plenty of good for both your physical and mental health.

Studies have shown that it can help reduce stress and boost your mood.

Plus, it can apparently relieve tension, help increase your focus and even alleviate aches and pains.

With all this, it’s thought to have an impact on reducing or preventing the likes of anxiety and depression. Hello dopamine. Oh, and it’s even suggested that men who frequently ejaculate can have a lower risk of prostate cancer.

And it might be a bit of a given, but it can enhance your sex life, making you potentially last longer and be harder.