As England prepares to face Norway in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals tonight, the age-old question of whether abstaining from sex can boost athletic performance has resurfaced. However, medical experts say the belief is largely a myth.
Doctors debunk abstinence myth
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 noted that the idea likely stems from a small 2003 study that found a modest testosterone increase after seven days of abstinence, but no meaningful change before that and no evidence of benefits beyond seven days.
Dr Jeff Foster, an NHS GP and private men's health specialist, added: "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."
Why some athletes abstain
Despite the lack of scientific backing, some athletes like boxers Mike Tyson and Amir Khan have practiced abstinence before fights, with Khan claiming it gives him "tunnel vision" focus. New York Knicks owner James Dolan also urged his players to abstain during their championship run, which ended a 53-year title drought in June.
Dr Davis explained that hormones like cortisol, dopamine, and noradrenaline are affected by the absence of sexual activity, and some athletes may perform better when maintaining a higher arousal state. However, he stressed that the effects are short-lived and not related to testosterone.
What really matters for performance
Both doctors agreed that sleep, training load, nutrition, and stress management are far more important than sexual activity. "These dwarf anything sex-related," Dr Davis said.
Dr Foster noted that sex may actually aid recovery between games by reducing stress and improving mood, and that having sex more than 21 times per month can decrease prostate cancer risk. However, he cautioned that sex in the hours before a game could be counterproductive due to post-orgasm hormonal shifts that cause sleepiness.
England's World Cup campaign
England manager Thomas Tuchel has reversed a ban on players' partners visiting the team hotel during the tournament, suggesting the squad is not adhering to abstinence rules. The team faces a tough challenge against Norway, with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
