Q:
My boyfriend’s straight friends do No Nut November. They claim it helps with sleep, energy and lasting longer during sex. If I’m to do it with him I’ll prob jerk off in the shower and lie about it lol. No way I can go the whole month. Is there any data to back-up the benefits?
A:
NOPE.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
NO NUT NOVEMBER is just another online challenge with absolutely no basis in science or medical research to back it up. In fact, it can actually do more harm than good.
The amount of misinformation that gets circulated around social media and the internet is astounding. We have people out there who think Bill Gates is microchipping everyone with vaccines and 5G transmits COVID. Why believe in science when conspiracy theories are way more fun? While we’re at it, let’s all eat TIDE pods! Oh wait, that internet trend is out and cooking chicken in NyQuil is in. Even though these are digital wildfires, I’m beginning to think actual climate disaster is our fate because humanity just doesn’t seem keen on anything except self-destruction.
Alas, I digress.
Proponents of NNN love to cite one small study that claims testosterone levels are higher after abstaining, which they in turn attribute to being better lovers and better athletes. But that study was initially published in 2003 and then retracted in 2021 after being debunked by several other studies, one of which showed testosterone levels were actually higher after masturbation.
Not ejaculating for an entire month is bad news BLUES. Blue balls won’t kill you but they will make you feel very uncomfortable. Plus, not ejaculating regularly can weaken pelvic floor muscles. How is that supposed to help someone be a better athlete?
While some people believe masturbation can be harmful to fertility, it’s common knowledge in the world of doctors, therapists, and sexologists, that regular ejaculation maintains healthy sperm counts. One study even showed that ejaculating daily over the period of a week raised sperm count.
Sadly, the real shadow behind No Nut November is an underlying phobia of sex. The theories aren’t based in science, but rather a puritanical need to police sexuality. A study into the trend of NNN suggests that a greater motivation to quit masturbating was linked to a stronger belief that masturbation has negative health impacts, as well as conservative and religious values, and a lower trust in science.
And I get it. A lot of men don’t have a support network to discuss their sexuality, masturbation, or desires—much less resources on how to engage with porn. They’re conditioned in a culture that tells them to brag about their conquests but hide their proclivities, neither being a healthy way of engaging with eroticism or their bodies. I’ve worked with clients for whom NNN was their first attempt to stop what they refer to as porn addiction. However, excessive porn usage is not an addiction, it’s a compulsion—one that sometimes warrants help from a qualified professional so they may re-engage with their bodies and sexuality in a healthy, non-compulsive way. Alas, that’s a whole other topic for another time.
The fact is, masturbation is completely normal, healthy, and has wonderful proven health benefits. It releases endorphins, relaxes muscles, promotes better sleep, reduces stress, and lowers cortisol levels—all elements that promote optimal mental health. What’s more, ejaculating regularly has also been shown to decrease the odds of developing prostate cancer.
The only thing that will help your boyfriend last longer in bed is for him to attune his body with exercises that sharpen the mind-body connection. These include the deer exercise and edging during masturbation and sex. He could also experiment with cock rings, such as these or check out Eddy by Giddy.
Furthermore, there are so many proven ways to boost energy and get a good night’s sleep other than following some internet fad that neglects your prostate health—not to mention, your relationship.
So get to crackin’ and smackin’! Whether it’s loving or cashewal, cheers to a MO’ NUT NOVEMBER!
xx