ejacul*tion refers to sem*n being released from the penis during org*sm. There are many reasons why someone may not ejacul*te for a long time. Some people do it intentionally for personal or religious reasons. Some people abstain to increase their sperm count for fertility purposes. Other people may have a health condition that makes ejacul*tion difficult or impossible.
The effects of not ejacul*ting haven’t been studied extensively, but there is no evidence that doing so—even for extensive periods—is harmful. There are no known negative side effects of not ejacul*ting. That said, if you are unable to ejacul*te, or are having trouble ejacul*ting, it’s important to see a healthcare provider to find out if you have an underlying health condition that may be causing this.
There are several reasons why someone may not be ejacul*ting. Sometimes the reasons are intentional, and sometimes they are not.
Intentionally Abstaining
Whether or not to engage in sexual activity or masturbation is a personal choice. Some people make mindful choices not to ejacul*te for specific periods or extended periods. For example:
- Many religions advise abstention from masturbation or sexual activity.
- Someone may also choose not to ejacul*te for personal reasons or as a part of a spiritual journey.
- Healthcare providers might recommend abstaining from ejacul*ting for several days while trying to conceive or before fertility treatments.
Delayed ejacul*tion
A sexual disorder called delayed ejacul*tion can be the cause of not ejacul*ting. Delayed ejacul*tion is defined as either a delay in the ability to ejacul*te or a complete inability to ejacul*te.
Delayed ejacul*tion is not common and experts aren’t sure what causes it. It used to be believed that relationship issues or psychological issues cause delayed ejacul*tion. It might be caused by endocrine, genetic, or neurobiological conditions, or it might be a medication side effect. Endocrine conditions are hormone-related, such as low testosterone.
Retrograde ejacul*tion
Retrograde ejacul*tion is when sem*n is not expelled through the penis during org*sm, but enters the bladder instead. This is often referred to as a “dry org*sm” because you experience an org*sm, but you see a very low volume of sem*n or no sem*n at all.
Conditions like diabetes, previous pelvic surgeries, neurological conditions, and bladder malformations can cause retrograde ejacul*tion. It may also be a side effect of certain medications.
Anejacul*tion
Anejacul*tion is when you don’t ejacul*te at all during sexual activity. A person with anejacul*tion experiences erections without ejacul*tion. However, they may ejacul*te during nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) or while masturbating.
There are various potential causes of anejacul*tion, including health conditions like spinal cord injuries, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Potential psychological causes include a lack of body awareness, guilt or shame about sex, and performance anxiety.
Aging
People with male reproductive organs can ejacul*te and produce sperm for their entire lives—there isn’t a particular age where this ability goes away. However, similarly to people with female reproductive organs, reproductive capacity decreases as they age. As such, it can be more difficult to experience erections and org*sms/ejacul*tions as they get older.
Side Effects of Not ejacul*ting for a Long Time
There is nothing inherently harmful about not ejacul*ting for a long time. There are no known dangerous physical or psychological side effects. However, some general side effects are possible for certain individuals.
Physical Effects
Testes constantly produce sperm. If you don’t ejacul*te it, the sperm becomes reabsorbed into the body. Some people are concerned that you will get “blue balls” if you don’t ejacul*te, or pain due to sexual arousal that doesn’t end in org*sm. However, there are no known medical problems associated with this phenomenon, and any discomfort resolves without intervention.
Psychological Effects
The mental health effects of not ejacul*ting or abstaining from ejacul*ting aren’t well-researched at this time. However, many people report different emotions when they haven’t ejacul*ted for a long period of time. Some people might experience clarity or peace of mind, while others may report feeling more irritated or distressed.
People who experience ejacul*ted-related health problems, such as delayed ejacul*tion or anejacul*tion, may experience relationship stress, or anxiety surrounding sexual contact and sexual desire.
There are no reported benefits of not ejacul*ting, and the benefits of this practice have not been studied. Nevertheless, people who intentionally refrain may report benefits, such as mental and emotional balance, decreased fixation on sex, increased energy, and stress relief.
While many people abstain from ejacul*ting for several days while trying to conceive, or going through fertility treatments, the effectiveness of this practice is not clear. Research has found that abstaining from ejacul*ting for several days increases sperm count and sem*n volume. It’s less clear if this practice is helpful for other sperm aspects, such as motility (movement speed), vitality, and morphology (sperm shape).
Benefits of ejacul*ting
Again, the mental health benefits of ejacul*ting or not ejacul*ting are not well studied. Still, there are some immediate benefits to experiencing org*sm, including reduced stress, improved mood, and even pain relief.
There is some evidence that ejacul*tion frequency might be protective against developing prostate cancer. For example, one 2016 study found that participants who reported higher rates of ejacul*tion were less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
It’s normal to ejacul*te frequently, and ejacul*ting daily or even several times a day has no known negative side effects. ejacul*ting frequently may cause certain side effects, such as chafing of the skin (usually from masturbation specifically) or fatigue.
Some people may be concerned that frequent ejacul*tion may cause sex addiction or other sexual disorders. While the exact causes of sex addiction haven’t been identified yet, it is not thought to be caused by excessive masturbation or sexual activity. On the other hand, excessive masturbation or sexual activity may be a symptom of a sex addiction.
Masturbating frequently might affect sexual function, leading to issues like sexual desensitization, where you become less sensitive to sexual stimulation. Some people who masturbat* frequently experience trouble getting erections or reaching org*sm through other forms of sexual activity.
Can Masturbating Too Much Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
When To See a Healthcare Provider
It’s normal for some people to not ejacul*te for a long time. In most cases, it will not cause physical or psychological harm.
See a healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your ejacul*tion patterns. If you are intentionally not masturbating because of guilt or shame about sex or masturbation, you may want to speak to a therapist about your feelings and concerns.
Conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and sexual disorders can result in an inability to ejacul*te. Endocrine disorders, neurological disorders, and medication side effects may also cause these symptoms. A healthcare provider can evaluate you for any underlying medical conditions and discuss treatment plans.
Not ejacul*ting for several days, weeks, or even longer, is not damaging to your health. Some people abstain from ejacul*ting for religious reasons, personal reasons, or to increase sperm count while trying to conceive.
If you are unable to ejacul*te, you may have an underlying medical condition causing these symptoms. It's important to visit your healthcare provider for an evaluation.
