Does masturbation before exercise affect performance? A 2026 trial found 3.2% longer cycling time

In 21 trained men, masturbation 30 minutes before testing did not hurt cycling or grip strength, and exercise time was 3.2% longer. Earlier studies agree.

Published October 2026

Short answer

No sign of harm: in 21 trained men, masturbation 30 minutes before exercise did not hurt performance, and cycling time was 3.2% longer. Too small to promise a gain. Evidence grade C (Limited). One small randomised crossover trial (21 men) plus an earlier 10-man trial and a narrative review; downgraded for small samples and mostly lab-test outcomes.

Key takeaways

In a randomised crossover study of 21 well-trained men, masturbation-induced orgasm 30 minutes before testing was followed by 3.2% longer exercise time on an incremental cycling test than abstinence [1].
Handgrip strength was slightly higher after orgasm, and a marker of muscle stress (LDH) was lower; inflammation markers did not change [1].
Testosterone and cortisol were both higher after orgasm, which the authors describe as mild sympathetic and hormonal activation without harm to performance or muscle damage [1].
A 10-man crossover trial found sexual intercourse the night before did not change grip strength, balance, agility, reaction time, anaerobic power or maximal oxygen uptake [2].
A 2016 systematic review found most studies exclude a direct impact on aerobic or strength performance, noted that an interval under 2 hours might hurt, and called for better trials [3].

What the study did

Athletes have long been advised to avoid sexual activity, including masturbation, before competing, but scientific evidence on this is limited and inconsistent [1]. In this randomised crossover study, 21 well-trained men (average age 22) were tested twice: once 30 minutes after masturbation-induced orgasm and once after sexual abstinence. Each time they did an incremental cycling test and a handgrip strength test, and blood samples measured muscle damage, inflammation and hormone markers [1].

What it found

After orgasm, men cycled 3.2% longer (p < 0.01), had a higher heart rate (p < 0.001) and had slightly higher average handgrip strength (p < 0.05) than after abstinence [1]. Plasma LDH, a sign of muscle stress, was lower (p < 0.001). Testosterone and cortisol were both higher (p < 0.001), while inflammation markers (CRP, IL-6) did not change [1]. The authors concluded that this mild sympathetic and hormonal activation did not harm performance or cause muscle damage [1].

How it fits

A 2016 systematic review concluded that most studies exclude a direct impact of sexual activity on aerobic and strength performance, that the day before competition appears harmless, and that at the time no studies had examined masturbation [3]. It flagged that an interval shorter than 2 hours may hurt performance, and that smoking or alcohol alongside sex could, so the 2026 result with a 30-minute gap is a useful new data point [3]. A 2019 randomised study of 10 married men found that intercourse the night before did not change any of six performance tests, compared with five days of abstinence [2]. See the Isometric Exercise page for the evidence on isometric exercise.

Limits

The new study had 21 young, well-trained men and tested a single session in the lab, not competition, so it cannot say whether results apply to women, older people, or other sports [1]. It tested masturbation rather than partnered sex, so it cannot speak to intercourse, and only one timing, 30 minutes before testing [1]. The abstract reports p-values rather than effect sizes for most outcomes [1]. Mood, sleep and nerves before a real contest were not measured. Evidence overall comes from small studies [3].

Go deeper

Isometric Exercise — Isometric exercise — holding a contraction without moving, such as a handgrip squeeze or a wall sit — lowers resting blood pressure: pooled trials find drops o…

References

Sexual activity before exercise influences physiological response and sports performance in high-level trained men athletes.. Physiol Behav, 2026.
Effects of sexual activity on several measures of physical performance in young adult males.. J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 2019.
Sexual Activity before Sports Competition: A Systematic Review.. Front Physiol, 2016.