Every November, the internet decides that the secret to unlocking your inner superhero is… not having an orgasm for 30 days. If you have searched for No Nut November benefits, you've probably met a confident podcast guy promising sky-high testosterone and laser focus.
We love a challenge as much as anyone. But we also love receipts. So we went through the research to see what skipping orgasms actually does to your body, and the long and short of it (pun fully intended) is this: you won't gain superpowers, and you won't lose any either.
What Is No Nut November, Anyway?
No Nut November is an internet challenge where people (mostly penis owners) avoid ejaculating for the whole month, whether through masturbation or partnered sex. It overlaps with "NoFap" and "semen retention" communities, which claim holding back unlocks energy and clarity.
Quick inclusion note: lots of bodies don't ejaculate, lots of people don't orgasm on command, and plenty of folks, including many asexual people, simply aren't interested. Pleasure was never a monthly attendance chart.
The Testosterone Myth (Starring a Retracted Study)
The most-quoted "proof" is a small study from 2003 that tracked 28 men after ejaculation. It reported that serum testosterone peaked on day seven of abstinence at about 146% of baseline, then stopped showing any regular pattern. Translation: even on its own terms, it described a brief bump, not a month-long power-up.
Here is the plot twist. That paper was retracted in 2021. The study behind a thousand gym-bro threads is no longer part of the scientific record.
For trans and nonbinary readers on HRT: your hormone levels are shaped by your prescribed regimen, not by whether you climaxed last Tuesday. Ask your prescriber, not a meme.
Does Holding It In Make You More Productive?
A 2020 study in Archives of Sexual Behavior surveyed 1,063 men recruited on Reddit, and about 64% said they had tried to abstain from masturbation at least once. The strongest predictors of wanting to quit weren't sexual problems. They were beliefs: seeing masturbation as unhealthy or a productivity killer, lower trust in science, more religiosity and more conservative attitudes.
The researchers stress that this is correlational, so it can't tell us what causes what. But it suggests a lot of abstinence challenges are powered by shame and messaging rather than by real health benefits. Many of us, especially Indigenous, queer and immigrant folks, inherited plenty of that messaging. Unlearning it is a form of body sovereignty: your body, your rules.
What Regular Orgasms Might Actually Do for You
Cleveland Clinic describes masturbation as a normal, healthy part of sexuality, linked to less stress, better sleep and improved mood. It also states that research hasn't supported claims that it causes erectile dysfunction, infertility, low libido or a lower sperm count. (Your palms are fine.)
For people with prostates, a large U.S. study followed nearly 32,000 men for 18 years. Those who reported ejaculating 21 or more times a month had roughly a 19–22% lower risk of prostate cancer than those reporting four to seven. Big caveats: it is observational, the participants were male health professionals, and the link didn't hold for aggressive or advanced cancer. Still, it's the opposite of what retention fans promise.
And that sleepy, chill feeling after you finish? Research shows prolactin rises sharply after orgasm, from solo play or partnered sex, and stays up for over an hour. It's a normal part of the cycle that helps explain why desire dips for a bit afterward. It is not your life force leaking out.
A Fertility Footnote: Sperm Like to Be Fresh
If you or a partner are trying to conceive, "saving it up" isn't the hack it sounds like. A 2024 meta-analysis of randomized trials found that shorter abstinence was linked to better sperm motility and less sperm DNA damage. Longer abstinence raised concentration and volume, but more isn't automatically better. Follow your fertility clinic's specific instructions if you're working with one.
So, Are There Any No Nut November Benefits?
If taking a break feels good to you, go for it. Some people use a pause to notice their habits, explore pleasure that isn't goal-focused, or try edging and slower, full-body touch. That's valid, and it's your call.
Just check your why. If the challenge is fueled by guilt, or you feel out of control with sex or porn, that's a great moment to talk with a sex-positive therapist rather than white-knuckling it through a meme. And if your body says yes this month, that's not a failure. That's Tuesday.
Want to make "yes" more interesting? Our guide to masturbation positions for every body and our explainer on why masturbation sleeves are so popular are a good start, and so is our science-backed lube breakdown.
Shop the Article
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Browse more in our Penis Toys and Dolls & Masturbators collections.
The Takeaway
No Nut November is a meme, not a medical protocol. The famous testosterone study was retracted, the productivity claims lean on belief rather than evidence, and regular orgasms are linked to good things, not bad ones. Pause if you want, play if you want, and let pleasure be guided by curiosity instead of shame.
This article is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for medical advice. If you have pain with ejaculation, blood in your semen, erection changes, fertility concerns or feel out of control around sex, check in with a healthcare provider.
Sources
- Jiang M., Jiang X., Zou Q., et al. (2003). A research on the relationship between ejaculation and serum testosterone level in men. Journal of Zhejiang University Science A, 4, 236–240. (Retracted in 2021.)
- Zimmer F., Imhoff R. (2020). Abstinence from Masturbation and Hypersexuality. Archives of Sexual Behavior.
- Cleveland Clinic. Masturbation: Facts & Benefits.
- Rider J.R., et al. (2016). Ejaculation Frequency and Risk of Prostate Cancer: Updated Results with an Additional Decade of Follow-up. European Urology.
- (2002). Orgasm-induced prolactin secretion: feedback control of sexual drive? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 26(1), 31–44.
- Lo Giudice A., Asmundo M.G., Cimino S., et al. (2024). Effects of long and short ejaculatory abstinence on sperm parameters: a meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 15.
Photo: cottonbro studio / Pexels
