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Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which you have trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for satisfying sex. Erectile dysfunction affects as many as 30 million men in the United States.
Premature ejaculation (PE) is a sexual dysfunction characterized by a short ejaculatory latency, a perceived lack of control about the timing of ejaculation, and distress and interpersonal difficulty related to ejaculating too quickly.
Low testosterone or testosterone deficiency, also known as hypogonadism, is a condition in which patients develop symptoms such as low sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), and fatigue because the body doesn’t produce enough testosterone.
Though many men don’t like to talk about it, ejaculation problems are very common. Some of the most common issues include premature, delayed, or retrograde ejaculation.
When you think of male sexual dysfunction, concerns like erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE) probably come to mind first. But there’s another sex-related issue that’s more common in men than you might expect: difficulty orgasming.
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 yourejaculation frequencyactually enhance yoursex 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 “” and more broadly known as sexual continence, semen retention is the practice of avoiding ejaculation during an abstinence period.
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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 isNoFap. This practice is different from semen retention. It advocates for abstinence from masturbation and sexual practices to treat porn addiction andpornography-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.
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. A2018 review of studies suggested that an abstinence period of less than a day (rather than a longerabstinence period) is linked to improvedsperm 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 werelower 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 includestress 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 treatpremature 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 orwipes 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.
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.
Ayad BM, et al. (2018). Revisiting the relationship between the ejaculatory abstinence period and semen characteristics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641453/
Dubin JM, et al. (2024). The broad reach and inaccuracy of men's health information on social media: Analysis of TikTok and Instagram. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9676765/
Hassan M, et al. (2025). Reduction of prostate cancer risk: Role of frequent ejaculation-associated mechanisms. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/17/5/843
Levitas E, et al. (2005). Relationship between the duration of sexual abstinence and semen quality: Analysis of 9,489 semen samples. https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282%2805%2900540-6/fulltext
Martin C, et al. (2017). Current and emerging therapies in premature ejaculation: Where we are coming from, where we are going. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/iju.13202
Xi Qi, et al. (2025). Impact of ejaculation frequency on semen parameters and DNA fragmentation: a cross-sectional study. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12265205/
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Erectile Dysfunction
Premature Ejaculation
Low Testosterone
Retrograde Ejaculation
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Anorgasmia