Does Masturbation Cause Low T? Facts Vs. Fiction

There’s no shortage of opinions online about testosterone and sex drive, and lately, questions about masturbation, “gooning,” and low T have been flooding search bars.

Some men swear that frequent masturbation “kills testosterone,” while others claim abstaining for a week can send T levels skyrocketing.
But what does the science actually say?

Spoiler: your habits probably aren’t tanking your testosterone, but there’s more to the story.

First, What Happens During Orgasm

When you masturbate or have sex, your body goes through a short hormonal cascade:

• Testosterone and dopamine rise during arousal.
• Cortisol (a stress hormone) briefly increases after orgasm.
• Then testosterone returns to baseline.

These shifts are normal and temporary. In fact, your body self-regulates testosterone throughout the day. For healthy men, masturbation just changes their levels for a few hours at most.

Does Masturbation Lower Testosterone Long-Term?

Short answer: No, it doesn’t.

A 2023 study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that masturbation caused a temporary increase in free testosterone, the active form that affects libido, energy, and mood, but had no impact on total testosterone levels after.

Another study in Andrology reported that after orgasm, testosterone quickly returns to baseline and may even help maintain normal daily rhythm in healthy men.

In other words: you can’t “masturbate your testosterone away.”
You can focus on lifestyle habits that significantly impact testosterone, such as sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management.

What About “Gooning”?

“Gooning,” a slang term for prolonged, trance-like masturbation, has become a hot search term, often paired with claims that it drains testosterone or “rewires the brain.”

While it hasn’t been studied extensively, experts say the issue comes down to overstimulation rather than actual hormone damage–especially any lasting sort.
Excessive edging or “gooning” can desensitize the brain’s reward system, making it harder to achieve arousal or orgasm with a partner.

In some men, it can also contribute to performance anxiety or delayed ejaculation, but again, this is behavioral, not hormonal.

“Testosterone levels don’t plummet because of masturbation — they fluctuate naturally throughout the day. What really impacts testosterone is stress, sleep, and lifestyle,”
— Michael Seay, MSN, APRN, NP-C, SynergenX

When to Actually Worry About Low T

If you’re dealing with:

• Constant fatigue or brain fog
• Decreased muscle mass or motivation
• Low libido
• Mood swings or irritability

…it’s worth testing your testosterone levels, but not because of how often you masturbate.

Low T is usually caused by age-related hormonal decline, weight gain, chronic stress, or certain medications, not sexual habits.

At SynergenX, we start with comprehensive lab testing and medical evaluation to find the real cause, then build a treatment plan that fits your body and your life.

In Summary

Masturbation, even daily, won’t wreck your testosterone.
“Gooning” and other extreme habits might affect mental or sexual satisfaction, but not your hormones.

If you’re tired, unmotivated, or just don’t feel like yourself, it’s not because of self-pleasure; it’s because your testosterone levels deserve a closer look.

Sources

1. Exton, M. S. et al. Endocrine response to masturbation-induced orgasm in healthy men following a 3-week sexual abstinence. World Journal of Urology, 2001.
2. Chou, R. H. et al. Hormonal changes during masturbation and orgasm in healthy men. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023.
3. Jiang, M. et al. Changes in serum testosterone after sexual abstinence and ejaculation. Asian Journal of Andrology, 2003.
4. Verywell Health. Does Masturbation Decrease Testosterone? Updated 2024. verywellhealth.com
5. Men’s Health. Does Masturbation Raise or Lower Testosterone? 2024. menshealth.com
6. Birches Health. Understanding “Gooning”: Causes, Effects, and Treatment. 2024. bircheshealth.com