As the England squad prepares to face DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, the question of whether players should abstain from sex to enhance performance has resurfaced. While sporting legends like Mike Tyson and Amir Khan have sworn by pre-fight celibacy, and New York Knicks owner James Dolan urged his NBA players to avoid sex during their championship run, medical experts say the practice offers no real athletic advantage.
The myth of testosterone banking
The belief that abstaining from sex increases testosterone levels, thereby boosting athletic prowess, is largely unfounded. Dr Ben Davis, a GP specialising in men’s health and sexual medicine at Central Health London, told Metro: “The core myth that abstinence ‘banks’ testosterone doesn’t hold up well.” He attributes the misconception to a small 2003 study that found a “modest” testosterone increase after seven days of abstinence, but no meaningful change before that point or evidence of benefits beyond seven days. “This is frequently over-interpreted online, particularly in ‘semen retention’ and NoFap communities, into a much stronger claim than the data supports,” Dr Davis added.
No practical benefit for athletes
Dr Jeff Foster, an NHS GP and private men’s health specialist, echoed this view. “It makes no practical benefit. It’s more of a culture thing, and loads of coaches have said it for years, although it’s more urban legend than medical fact,” he told Metro. Both doctors agree that factors like sleep, training load, nutrition, and stress management have a far greater impact on performance than sexual activity.
The role of arousal and timing
Dr Davis noted that abstinence might influence arousal hormones like cortisol, dopamine, and noradrenaline, which could affect an athlete’s focus or drive state. However, he cautioned against having sex just hours before a game: “Where hormones genuinely do shift is around the sex act itself: prolactin rises, and dopamine falls after ejaculation, which is part of why people often feel sleepy and satiated afterwards. That’s a real, short-lived hormonal event — but it’s about post-orgasm recovery and reward circuitry, not testosterone, and it resolves within hours.”
Sex is good for health, but not for sprinting
Dr Foster highlighted the health benefits of regular sex, including stress reduction, improved mood, and relaxation, which can aid recovery between games. He also noted that sex more than 21 times per month may decrease prostate cancer risk. “But what it won’t help you do is kick a ball or run faster,” he said.
England manager Thomas Tuchel recently reversed a ban on players’ partners visiting the team hotel during the tournament, suggesting that the focus is on rest and recovery rather than abstinence. Ultimately, the experts conclude that while sex won’t hinder performance, it also won’t provide a competitive edge on the pitch.
