Episode 61: “No Nut November” and the Science of Masturbation

Each November, media buzz around the annual abstinence challenge known as “No Nut November” seems to grow. This challenge involves men giving up ejaculation for the entire month. That means no sex and no masturbation—no orgasms of any kind. Those who participate do this for a wide range of reasons, but often with the intention of enhancing their health. But are there actually any health benefits to abstaining from orgasm for prolonged periods of time? To dive into what the science says, I spoke with Dr. Joshua Gonzalez, a board-certified urologist who is fellowship-trained in Sexual Medicine. We give a research-based take on “No Nut November,” while also offering a crash course in “semenology” to answer common questions about ejaculation and orgasm. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: Where does semen come from and what is it made of? How many calories are in a single “serving” of semen? Is it really a source of protein? Why are so many men concerned about their ejaculatory volume? And is there anything they can do to increase it? Can abstinence from sex and masturbation enhance athletic performance? What is the link between masturbation and health? In what ways can being sexually active (both solo and partnered) potentially boost health? What are the most common sexual difficulties men experience, and what can they do to reduce their odds of developing them? What do men need to know about having better sex? To learn more about Joshua, visit his website at joshuagonzalezmd.com. You can also check out his supplement Popstar at popstarlabs.com and follow him on social media: Instagram @JoshuaGonzalezMD TikTok @JoshuaGonzalezMD Twitter @SexMedLA This podcast was made on Zencastr. Join Zencastr today and receive 40% off of their professional plan for 3 months with my exclusive discount code: sexandpsych *** Want to learn more about Sex and Psychology? Click here for previous articles or follow the blog on Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit to receive updates. You can also follow Dr. Lehmiller on YouTube and Instagram. Listen and stream all episodes on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Amazon. Subscribe to automatically receive new episodes and please rate and review the podcast! Credits: LEGIT Audio (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.