Semen retention

• What is semen retention?
• How does semen retention work in the body?
• Why do people practice semen retention?
• What are the claimed benefits of semen retention?
• Semen retention timeline: what happens after 7, 14, 30, or 90 days?
• Is semen retention healthy or harmful?
• Are there benefits to ejaculating regularly?
• Semen retention and fertility: does it help or harm?

Semen retention is the practice of deliberately avoiding ejaculation in the belief it provides disputed health and fertility benefits or for spiritual reasons. Three main methods are used to “retain” sperm:

• Abstinence – the avoidance of all sexual activity, including masturbation. 
• Edging – engaging in sexual activity but stopping before ejaculation.
• Intentional dry orgasm – learning to orgasm without releasing sperm. 

There is a difference between semen retention and medical conditions that prevent the release of semen or cause enforced abstinence. People practising semen retention must do so with intent.

The body is constantly producing and maturing sperm that are then either ejaculated or reabsorbed by the body. The sperm production process is called spermatogenesis. It takes approximately 70 days for a stem cell to become a fully mature sperm. The process involves several stages:

1. Spermatogonia – the stem cells divide and differentiate.
2. Spermatocytes – these cells then split to create haploid cells, with just one copy of each chromosome.
3. Spermatids – cells develop a tail and change shape.
4. Spermatozoa – the cells mature fully.

What happens to sperm if you don’t ejaculate?

Sperm cells are stored in the testes, then die, get broken down and are reabsorbed by the body if they are not ejaculated. They are not retained in the body indefinitely. Mature sperm cells can survive in the testes for several weeks before they die. 

The body also has natural mechanisms that regulate sperm production and storage. For instance, wet dreams are a normal and healthy involuntary nocturnal ejaculation that can occur due to sexual dreaming, hormone changes, or abstinence, as the body releases accumulated body fluids. 

Does semen build up or get “stored”?

The body does not build up or store sperm indefinitely. Instead, a continuous cycle of production and ejaculation or reabsorption keeps sperm levels balanced.

People practice semen retention for physical, mental, spiritual and fertility reasons.

• Physical – some people believe semen retention improves physical energy, stamina, and testosterone levels.
• Mental – semen retention practitioners may also argue it improves concentration, focus and confidence, while reducing anxiety.
• Spiritual – semen retention is a component of some religious practices, such as Tantra. Practitioners may emphasise these origins.
• Fertility – some people believe semen retention can improve sperm quality and fertility. 

There is no strong scientific evidence to support the idea that semen retention has positive physical, mental and fertility benefits.

The proponents of semen retention regularly link sperm to male vitality, strength and energy. However, there is no scientific evidence to substantiate these claims. The claimed benefits can be grouped into personal, sexual and spiritual categories:

Personal claimed benefits

• Greater physical energy, mental clarity and focus.
• Improved confidence.
• Reduced anxiety and depression.
• More attractive to the opposite sex.

Sexual claimed benefits

• More intense orgasms.
• Greater sexual stamina.

Spiritual claimed benefits

• Greater spiritual awareness.
• Elevated consciousness through conservation of “life force”.  

Semen retention features in several religions, most notably in Tantric practices. It is typically mentioned as part of a wider spiritual programme and holistic religious approach that also includes breathwork, meditation and mindfulness.

There is no proven timeline of benefits for semen retention, and all reports are entirely anecdotal. 

Between 7 and 14 days, unejaculated stored sperm cells will usually begin to die, be broken down and reabsorbed by the body. 

30 days is frequently mentioned in online discussions as a “turning point” when practitioners begin to note benefits, while 90 days is often cited as the amount of time needed for the body to “reset” to its “normal” pre-ejaculatory state.

Semen retention is generally safe for most people, though there are some potential concerns about its impact on sperm health and the prostate. The potential harmful side effects include:

• Epididymal hypertension – frequent sexual arousal without ejaculation can result in aching or painful testicles. This is sometimes colloquially known as “blue balls”.
• Reduced sperm quality – abstinence over 10 days is associated with reduced sperm motility and increased DNA fragmentation, potentially impacting male fertility (JCM).
• Prostate cancer – an extensive study conducted by Harvard University found that semen retention is associated with increased risk of prostate cancer.
• Psychological impact – people practising semen retention often report frustration, anxiety and symptoms of depression if they “relapse”, and can begin to place an irrational significance on avoiding ejaculation.

Yes, there are benefits to regular ejaculation, including:

• Stress relief – orgasms release feel-good hormones like dopamine, endorphins, prolactin and serotonin, which act to reduce feelings of stress (IJSH).
• Improved sleep – while a large-scale study has yet to be conducted, smaller studies suggest the increased oxytocin and prolactin levels and lower cortisol levels following ejaculation improve sleep quality (CMAJ).
• Reduced risk of prostate cancer – a large-scale Harvard study found that frequent ejaculation reduces the risk of prostate cancer.

Semen retention may have a positive short-term effect on fertility and a negative long-term effect. With fertility testing, abstaining for at least two days is normal, and most healthcare professionals will tell you to refrain from masturbation or sexual activity for anywhere between two and seven days before testing.

However, long-term abstinence is associated with lower sperm motility, poorer sperm morphology and increased DNA fragmentation, all of which negatively impact male fertility.

Semen retention is often associated with the NoFap community. While the two often overlap, there are important distinctions. 

NoFap emerged as an online community centred around the popular social site Reddit. Its primary aim was to support those inside and outside the community struggling with porn addiction and compulsive sexual behaviours. Its preferred solution was porn abstinence. Over time, and as NoFap ideas have mixed with ideas surrounding semen retention, an increasingly large section of the community has also embraced masturbation abstinence.  

As with all online communities, opinions and ideas diverge, and the importance of semen retention ideas will vary from person to person. For many people involved, the NoFap community is a source of valued support. However, we always recommend seeking a professional medical opinion if you have questions concerning the impact of semen retention on your health and fertility.

The length of time someone can go without ejaculating varies considerably from person to person. The body also self-regulates via natural mechanisms like wet dreams. While you can consciously abstain from sexual activity for an indefinite amount of time, you may find you ejaculate unconsciously during sleep.