Are There Benefits of Semen Retention for Your Sex Life?

Key Takeaways:

• Semen retention is the deliberate act of avoiding ejaculation.

• Some people claim that semen retention could have benefits such as reduced erectile dysfunction, decreased anxiety, and improved cognitive function.

• There’s very limited research looking at the benefits of semen retention, and most of the reported benefits are anecdotal.
  

Stopping yourself from ejaculating may sound frustrating, but the practice of semen retention has become increasingly popular. Elevated “life force”, more sexual pleasure, higher testosterone — are any of these so-called semen retention benefits backed by science? And can reducing your ejaculation frequency actually enhance your sex life?

While browsing the internet, you might come across guys passionate about the benefits of semen retention, claiming that avoiding ejaculation does wonders for their physical health.

If you’re thinking of joining them, keep reading to take a closer look at the scientific evidence behind the practice, including potential benefits, risks, and how to do semen retention properly.

First off, what is semen retention? Colloquially referred to as “blue balls” and more broadly known as sexual continence, semen retention is the practice of avoiding ejaculation during an abstinence period.

The practice of ejaculatory abstinence has grown in popularity, thanks in part to social media. But semen retention isn’t new.

Similar to celibacy, semen retention is an ancient practice based on the idea that ejaculation decreases a man’s mental and physical health. Proponents throughout history have claimed that semen retention benefits include higher testosterone, enhanced fertility, and better overall health.

Semen Retention vs. NoFAP

Another trend that might come up in the same context as semen retention is NoFap. This practice is different from semen retention. It advocates for abstinence from masturbation and sexual practices to treat porn addiction and pornography-induced sexual dysfunction.

While semen retention and NoFap have different objectives, they both promote periods of abstinence as a means of achieving sexual health benefits.

Curious about what these semen retention benefits are? We’ll go over them below.

The supposed benefits of semen retention may affect several aspects of men’s health and wellness, but research supporting semen retention benefits is incredibly limited.

Here are eleven of the most popular claims:

1. Reduced erectile dysfunction (ED)

2. Decreased anxiety

3. Increased self-esteem

4. More sexual energy

5. A general increase in energy levels or life force

6. More restful sleep

7. Deeper personal relationships

8. Increased ejaculation

9. Improved mood

10. Improved fertility and sperm count

11. Elevated serum testosterone levels

Other claims include that it may increase:

• Overall well-being

• Mental clarity

• Semen quality

This all sounds good, but is any of it real?

Are the Benefits of Semen Retention Backed by Science?

The claims of health benefits of semen retention are merely anecdotal, typically from social media and internet forums. More research and longer-term studies are needed to investigate the possible benefits of semen retention for men.

Does semen retention increase testosterone? There’s currently no evidence that semen retention increases testosterone levels.

Another claim of semen retention is that purposefully abstaining from ejaculation could improve sperm quality. A 2018 review of studies suggested that an abstinence period of less than a day (rather than a longer abstinence period) is linked to improved sperm motility. However, the studies varied in quality.

There may be potential benefits of ejaculating regularly, regarding sperm quality. One older study of more than 9,400 sperm samples found that those collected after more than two days of abstinence were lower in sperm count and motility.

A 2025 study found that increased ejaculation frequency is associated with better sperm vitality without affecting sperm motility.

Are there negative effects of semen retention? Though the benefits of semen retention need more research, the practice doesn’t appear to pose any risks to a person’s physical or mental health, at least for the short-term.

However, there might be benefits of ejaculating for mental and physical health. The numerous health benefits of ejaculation include stress relief, better sleep, increased focus, and better cognitive function. Theoretically, not ejaculating regularly could strain your mental health.

Research also consistently suggests that higher ejaculation frequency in the absence of risky sexual behavior may be linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer. 

Semen retention can take on different forms. Some guys may practice a period of abstinence from all sexual activity, stop sexual activity prior to ejaculation, or try achieving an orgasm without ejaculation (sometimes called a dry orgasm).

A couple of methods of semen retention are:

• Abstinence. Abstinence is refraining from all sexual activity, which can mean different things to different people. It might be with or without a partner, only refraining from certain sexual activities, or something else entirely.

• Edging. Edging is participating in sexual activity right up to the point of orgasm, then stopping. It can help treat premature ejaculation (PE). To try edging, learn what it feels like before you orgasm while masturbating or having sex, so you know when to stop sexual activity.

Dating back to ancient times and growing in popularity today, the practice of semen retention is abstaining from or preventing yourself from ejaculating.

People practice this in many ways, such as full-on abstinence from any sexual activity, swearing off porn, or trying techniques of reaching orgasm while not ejaculating.

Here’s what you should remember about the practice:

• There are many purported benefits of semen retention. Those who support it often claim semen retention benefits, such as improved mood, a boost in energy, and reduced sexual dysfunction, to name a few.

• But research on these benefits is very limited. The claims made about the benefits of semen retention are largely based on an individual’s personal experience, not scientific studies. That said, it’s likely safe if you want to try it, especially for a short period of time. 

• There are better-proven methods to address sexual health conditions. If you’re thinking of trying semen retention to address premature ejaculation, there are better options. Proven treatment options forPE include medication like sertraline and topical sprays or wipes containing anesthetics, such as lidocaine or benzocaine. You can speak with a healthcare provider about PE treatment options through our telehealth service for more medical advice.

Before trying semen retention or other forms of sexual abstinence for issues like premature ejaculation, it can be helpful to know more about what else you can do for support. Learn about how to deal with premature ejaculation in a relationship, try these premature ejaculation exercises, or explore tips for controlling ejaculation.

Are there proven benefits to semen retention?

The proposed benefits of semen retention largely come from anecdotal evidence. There’s not a lot of scientific evidence backing the claims of health or sexual benefits of semen retention.

Should I practice semen retention?

Whether you should practice semen retention or not mostly comes down to personal preference, spiritual practices, and the effect it may have on your relationship.

Does semen retention increase male fertility?

Semen retention is unlikely to improve male fertility. In fact, some research suggests that more frequent ejaculation may be associated with better sperm quality. If you’re worried about fertility, visit a fertility specialist who can analyze a semen sample to test your semen quality.