Why is long-term abstinence dangerous for men? general hormonal imbalance. Abstinence in women

Many religions of the world present sexual abstinence for men as a way to cleanse the mind and a source of spiritual strength. In Orthodoxy, this phenomenon is preached during fasting. Tibetan monks transform sexual energy into a different form. This energy is the most powerful, so they increase the capabilities of their body, spirit and psychological state. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this issue because it is difficult for a person to abstain from sex.

What is sexual abstinence?

This phenomenon is in the form of refusal, in our case by men, from sexual contacts with representatives of the opposite sex. There are no clear periods of abstinence. This is an individual concept. It all depends on the individual. Men can be divided into two groups: those who are sexually active and those who can abstain from sex for a long time. The body is influenced by many factors that will one way or another affect this male characteristic. Such factors can be regular exercise, climate, environmental conditions, human temperament, and, ultimately, the very structure of the body.

There are forced and voluntary abstinence. The first is more harmful because the man is in circumstances where he cannot have sexual intercourse, although he really wants it. An example of such circumstances could be a certain illness, distance from society, a busy schedule, etc. You need to reassure yourself by suggesting and believing that after a certain time, he will be able to have sex as much as he wants. This will protect the person from stress.

How abstinence affects a man’s body: benefits and harms

Some representatives of strong status practice sexual abstinence before conceiving an egg. This can be explained by the fact that during a break from sex, the body accumulates sperm, and there are a lot of them. A person does not spend them, and during sexual intercourse there is a high probability that some of these sperm will enter the egg. However, such actions need to be carefully considered. The abstinence process should not last longer than 7 days.

Many athletes report that by abstaining from sex before competitions and during training, they have more energy and perform better. The fact is that the beneficial substances that leave the body along with sperm remain in it and saturate it throughout the training camp and competitions.

Long-term sexual abstinence for men affects their feelings. They get worse, and sexual desire increases. With the next sex there will be much more pleasure than with constant bodily pleasures. Creative people often practice abstinence to improve their performance. They have great impulses to create beauty.

A man feels weak immediately after sexual intercourse, his immunity deteriorates and he doesn’t want to do anything. Beneficial substances come out, and it takes time to restore them.

Consequences of sexual abstinence

The positive facts mentioned above will never cover up all the negative aspects for the male body when abstaining from sex. Regardless of a person's personality, harm will occur in any case. The only difference is the time that must pass before these consequences. So there is a possibility of having the following problems:

Deterioration in sperm quality;
Prostatitis and prostate adenoma;
Phobias;
Cardiovascular diseases;
Neurological disorders;
Impotence.

There is another negative point that can greatly hit man’s dignity - this is a reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse. With prolonged abstinence, a personality change occurs, which can even lead to a change in sexual orientation. This is not all the harm that irregular sexual intercourse can cause.

The opinion of official medicine for and against abstinence

The body constantly produces the necessary hormones. Only with regular sexual life can hormonal balance be maintained. If this system fails, the entire life process suffers. Sperm continues to accumulate during abstinence. The body needs to get rid of it. By loading the brain, it looks for ways to do this. The man becomes irritated and becomes aggressive and unrestrained.

The brain finds a way out of this situation and programs the body to get rid of excess sperm during sleep through nocturnal emissions. Realizing that there is a lot of sperm, he gives a signal to block its production. Congestion in the prostate leads to erectile dysfunction.

The male sexual organ, like most other organs, requires constant amounts of oxygen. They enter the body during ejaculation and erection. With age, the blood vessels become filled with large amounts of cholesterol, which prevents oxygen from penetrating into the penis. In other words, men over 50 need to have sex or self-pleasure as often as possible. The practice of sexual abstinence is absolutely unnecessary for such people.

Research by doctors shows that sexually active people begin to experience negative consequences after 10 days of not having sex. Therefore, it is advisable to have sexual intercourse once or several times a week at least. People over 45 need sex 2-3 times a week.

At the same time, this should not be abused.

Frequent sex leads to nervous breakdowns and poor health.
The body expels protein, lecithin, cholesterol, phosphorus and other substances.
Irresponsible sexual relations without contraception can lead to terrible diseases, the final stage of which is death.

Therefore, in some cases it is better to refrain from intimacy with a little-known person.

Sex is a good way to keep yourself and your partner healthy. Those who have sex regularly are less likely to have problems with the cardiovascular system. After all, sexual intercourse is a good way to improve blood circulation. It also has a plus from a sports point of view, since a large number of calories are burned during sex.

In any case, your body knows better what it needs. The main thing is that long-term abstinence does not harm him. There are people who may not have sexual intercourse for up to several months. And such a period does not threaten them. You yourself must feel the changes in yourself. It is better to choose the “golden mean” in this matter. As the saying goes: “What is excessive is not healthy.” You must have the necessary information, regardless of your actions.

What is abstinence for men? Benefit, harm, forced landing or necessity? Opponents and supporters of sublimation have accumulated a lot of evidence, but you can draw specific conclusions only after familiarizing yourself with all the information and “trying it on” for yourself.

Is abstinence so scary or, on the contrary, does it contribute to the accumulation of useful substances and strong energy? For an accurate answer, we will draw knowledge from traditional medicine and popular spiritual practices.

Official medicine - opinion against abstinence

“Abstinence” is a term that refers to the complete absence of sexual activity.

It is very significant that in medicine the synonymous concept is also actively used - abstinence (sexual), which in any other case describes the state of “withdrawal” in a drug addicted person.

Psychological factor

That is, the first obvious harm of abstinence lies in the mental factor. A person with a high sexual constitution will feel discomfort, constantly think about it, feel depressed and even, as a result, be nervous and tense.

This will ultimately affect his health. But for men who are more moderate in the area of intimate life, such deprivations will not seem like agony.

Physiological factor

Urologists warn about the danger of prostatitis. But in addition to abstinence itself, several more factors must be present: infections, poor lifestyle, poor circulation, etc.

Doctors insist that full treatment of prostatitis is possible only if you have an active sex life. This applies to congestive forms; bacterial problems are solved by other methods.

There is no clear opinion on how abstinence affects a man’s life

Constant filling of the prostate gland with sperm helps to cleanse and preserve the functions inherent in nature.

Congestive prostatitis is expressed:

Dilated veins of the scrotum
Changes in the spermatic cord
Swelling of hemorrhoids
Venous stagnation in the rectum

Hormonal factor

It is believed that prolonged restriction of men leads to irreversible consequences.

Sperm quality and fertility

Israeli scientists conducted research using seminal samples from seven thousand men. They came to the conclusion that a long absence of sexual activity negatively affects the quality of sperm, although it increases its quantity.

Since quality is what matters when it comes to conception, they do not recommend practicing sublimation for too long.

On the other hand, short (up to 7 days) abstinence will have a beneficial effect on the prospects of pregnancy. Opponents of this theory believe that frequent sexual intercourse, on the contrary, contributes to the renewal of biologically valuable material and this is beneficial.

Matter of habit

Doctors say that the body adapts to our needs and over time can change so much that erectile function gradually disappears. Morning and regular erections will disappear and even wet dreams will become rare.

Intimate contact is also seen as a way to be physically active and helps prevent cardiovascular disease, but in largely the same way that running or.

Many people believe that sports can replace intimate life

Oxygen starvation

Another piece of evidence used by doctors is the opinion that the male sexual organ constantly requires a certain amount of oxygen. It enters the body only during an erection.

If this does not happen for a long time, the vessels become clogged with cholesterol plaques and this negatively affects health.

Official medicine - opinion for abstinence

When considering the issue of abstinence for men, as well as its possible benefits and harms, doctors like to scare people with terrible diseases, but this does not mean that they express the opinion of the majority.

Not everyone thinks so. Moreover, adherents of the theory believe that the constant release of sperm causes a loss of essential nutrients: phosphorus, lecithin, cholesterol, etc.

The preservation of sex hormones provokes their processing by the body. You do not lose useful substances, which themselves are replenished very reluctantly.

An important question: what abstinence can mean for a couple’s relationship?

They also put forward the following facts in favor of abstinence:

Orgasm in itself is a test for life. At this time, the body is in a state of shock, a powerful spasm appears, which leads to negative processes in the vessels of the brain and muscles.
Immediately after ejaculation, men always feel weak, loss of strength because they lose the lion's share of difficult-to-replenish nutrients. Immunity and energy potential are significantly reduced.
The nervous system is so depressed that neurasthenia is likely to occur.
During copulation, damage to internal organs and increased blood pressure are possible.

Scientists often cite the examples of great geniuses and creators Da Vinci, Newton, Spinoza, Nietzsche, Aristotle, who successfully practiced abstinence and did not notice any negative consequences. On the contrary, they gave the world great discoveries.

The athletes of Ancient Greece were faster, stronger and healthier than anyone in their time. They preferred to completely abstain from intimacy before competitions and thus strengthened themselves.

Abstinence was practiced by many great men, including Leonardo da Vinci

What famous scientists think about the benefits of abstinence:

Richard von Krafft-Ebing, an Austrian-German researcher, considered all “abstinence diseases” to be fiction.
Edouard Chassaignac, a French professor of anatomy and surgery, thought that the healthier a person, the more often he should practice such restriction. This is the absolute norm. Only sick (especially mentally) people find this difficult.
German professor and anatomist Max Fuhrbinger expressed the opinion that all problems among bachelors arise precisely because of the unnatural satisfaction of lust, and not from abstinence.
Endocrinologist Eph. Jay Lidson(Illinois, USA) literally says this: “Abstinence can never be harmful. Moreover, semen retention often has positive effects on physical and mental performance.”
Physiologist and venereologist Jean Alfred Fournier ridicules the very idea of the “danger of abstinence” and insists that in all his many years of practice he has never encountered a case where sex was physiologically necessary to resist the disease.
Dr F. McCann speaks about abstinence as a way to maintain youth and performance, because lecithin contained in sperm has long been used to treat neurological and sexual disorders.

Long-term observations of rabbits copulating led to conclusions about obvious harm, because after the release of sperm, all males were in a state close to epilepsy.

The central system became completely exhausted and the limbs trembled.

Prolonged absence of intimate life negatively affects potency

When observing young stallions, deaths occurred, as this led to overexertion and complete loss of strength. Even young bulls lost consciousness for a while, which once again emphasizes the veracity of the theory of the obvious harm of frequent copulation.

If we gather some general opinion, then doctors say that reproduction is the release of all the best that the human body is capable of. A man loses a huge amount of nutrients, vitamins and becomes weaker. This is the price of reproduction.

Excessive sexual excesses are not desirable for the male body and will not lead to anything good. Many of the above arguments seem plausible.

By observing and practicing spiritually, men often not only do not feel a loss of strength during sublimation, but, on the contrary, feel much more energetic than before.

Of course, this does not happen immediately, but after adjustment to a new way of life.

And although many arguments look plausible, you should not go to extremes

Tip: During the transition to abstinence, yogis are advised to concentrate daily on ajna (between the eyebrows) and sahasrara (crown) at the same time.

Abstinence for men - benefits and harms after 50 years

On this issue, scientists are also divided into two camps. On the one hand, after 45 years, men have better studied their bodies and can give a woman maximum pleasure.

Doctors are literally shouting about the importance of periodic intimate life, how much it affects sexual function and its restoration. According to them, erection and sexual intercourse should become an integral part of life.

It also affects the level, improves the functioning and protects the function of the prostate gland. They believe that abstinence for more than 5 years in a row can lead to impotence.

On the other hand, opponents are confident that with age the male body weakens, and such overexertion is more likely to lead to hemorrhage or cardiac arrest.

Especially if they did not give preference to physical activity and led a passive lifestyle.

In adulthood, the issue of intimate relationships should be treated carefully

Abstinence for men - benefits and harms according to tantra and the Vedas

Abstinence for men, according to Vedic cults, is more beneficial than harmful. In Tibet there are several opinions on this matter.

Vedic tantra is considered an ancient esoteric teaching, the meaning of which is often misunderstood. In fact, there is no obvious promotion of intimacy here.

Both abstinence and intimate practice as such are used, but not for the sake of pleasure, but to comprehend the doctrine of the Superconscious. Each time it is used for self-improvement and concentration on the spiritual side of the issue.

In fact, tantra considers both abstinence and an active sex life to be equally beneficial.

On the other hand, the teaching recognizes that such great power can also be discharged for sublime activities: science, art, worship.

Abstinence also accumulates and prolongs a person's life. In general, moderation and control of one’s actions are promoted, everything that modern doctors insist on.

The Vedas consider this energy to be the most powerful in the universe, because thanks to it a man is able to create a new person! Before the age of 25, it is considered inappropriate to waste this precious resource, therefore complete abstinence is encouraged.

The practice of sexual abstinence is widespread in Tibet

In this way tapas energy accumulates and makes it possible to:

Withstand under any circumstances
Always get your way
"Iron" male patience
Be true to your goals
Stay strong and happy throughout your life

Rami Bleckt, writer, philosopher, mystic, has deeply studied Vedic culture and believes that during ejaculation, the most valuable energy - ojas - is lost.

It is almost never replenished and affects life expectancy and the strength of the nervous system. makes up for the loss a little, but not 100%.

Alternatively, you can use techniques where ejaculation is not associated with orgasm. The man enjoys this.

But there can also be negative health consequences, and not everyone is able to fully master them. consider abstinence from the point of view of the caste to which a particular person belongs.

Sexual energy is the most powerful according to the Vedas

That is, whether abstinence is desirable depends on one’s life purpose:

Brahmins(clergy, teachers) complete celibacy was recommended, since they dealt with spiritual aspects.
Kshatriyas(warriors) - frequent reproduction is permissible, since these are strong individuals with good genetics and energy levels. Their goal is to serve people.
Vaishyam(merchants, farmers) could make love, but had to provide for all their wives and offspring, donate a lot of time and effort to spiritual practices and charity.
Shudra(artists, ordinary workers) were not subject to strict prohibitions as a lower caste, but sexual life existed only within the framework of legal marriage.

Abstinence from ejaculation and the Tao of love

Tao believes that in order to extend the limits of one's existence, one must be moderate in everything. Frequent depletion of the “vital elixir” leads to premature withering of the body and susceptibility to disease. You need to clearly limit yourself in this regard.

Chinese philosophy of Tao insists on moderation in everything

Taoist physician Sun Xiu Mo calculated the optimal frequency of ejaculation:

20 years - every 4 days
30 years - once every 8 days
40 years - once every 10 days
50 years - every 20 days

At the same time, daily physical activity and exercise occupied a special place. As a result, the Tao masters came to the conclusion that the best option would be sexual intercourse without ejaculation.

There are several methods:

Braking method. It consists of diaphragmatic breathing and interrupting sexual intercourse for 20 seconds and then continuing. The man calms down and begins to feel the limits of the moment of ejaculation and learns to control himself.
Extrusion method. During the act, it is necessary to take a deep breath and for 3 seconds press on the point between the scrotum and the anus.
Control according to Kinsei-Simakin. In anticipation of the approaching orgasm, a man must tense his buttocks and thighs to achieve contraction of all muscles. He can even continue to move, orgasm will occur, but without ejaculation.

Tip: try practicing one of the suggested techniques for 2 months. With due diligence, you will get the expected result.

If you are interested in the topic of the benefits and harms of abstinence for men, we recommend watching this educational video:

It is still not clear exactly what long-term sexual abstinence leads to. The opinions of doctors, psychologists and sexologists vary between two extremes and cannot be balanced. Some say that abstinence is very dangerous for health, others believe that sexual abstinence leads to a healthier body. In addition, there are certain differences between men's and women's perceptions of abstinence.

The evidence base for the impact of a long period of absence of sex on a person is insufficient, which is why there is such a diversity of opinions. Only by evaluating them all, comparing them with each other and discarding the absurd ones, can one get an idea of the impact of sexual abstinence on a person.

Sexual constitution (or sexual temperament) is a concept that determines the intensity of sexual desire, depending on a person’s genetic makeup, his prenatal development, the characteristics of his upbringing and the environment in early childhood. Sexual constitution is a value that, unfortunately, does not change throughout life and includes: resistance to harmful factors that influence sexual life, the level of need for sexual intercourse and the limit of sexual activity.

An individual determination of the constitution is made on the basis of identifying several criteria, some of them are: , maximum kurtosis, etc.

Sexual temperament can be of three types:

Strong;
Average;
Weak.

Depending on the degree of sexual constitution, the consequences of sexual abstinence will manifest themselves for both sexes. That is, the lack of sex life will have a greater impact on people with a strong temperament, while those with a weak constitution may not have any consequences from abstinence at all.

Causes

All causes of sexual abstinence can be divided into two groups: voluntary and forced.

Voluntary renunciation of sexual activity is mainly associated with some principles and beliefs of a person. There are many reasons why people may voluntarily refuse to have sex. These include religious vows, strict moral principles, and even some banal promises or actions “on a dare.”

A much more serious problem is forced sexual abstinence, which can be caused by a variety of factors:

An unstable psycho-emotional state, which is characterized by increased irritability, depressed mood, sometimes chronic fatigue, and asthenic syndrome. Such psychological problems arise as a result of an unstable or tense environment at work, constant quarrels with your significant other, any disturbances in relationships with loved ones and sexual partners as well.
If we are talking about the female body, then sometimes abstinence is promoted by a certain time of year, weather conditions, as well as the woman’s social status.
Physiological problems. Cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the digestive tract, pathologies of the kidneys, respiratory system, as well as many chronic processes.
For men, testosterone levels play an important role in sexual life, a decrease in which can lead to a decrease or absence of sexual desire.
Taking certain medications can also cause problems with your sex life. Such drugs include antidepressants, antipsychotics, and female hormones.
Pregnancy and postpartum period.

The most common and significant factors are the psychological state in women and hormonal levels in men. The reasons for forced sexual abstinence can also include erectile dysfunction, but it rather leads to the inability to perform sexual intercourse, rather than to refusal from it.

It is worth noting that voluntary refusal of sex is more dangerous than forced one. The human body always tries to compensate for the violation of any body function and stop the consequences of these violations, including sexual abstinence. However, voluntary refusal will not be perceived by the human autonomic nervous system as a signal to trigger compensation, so such people will experience a change in behavior much faster, mental problems will appear, and hormonal levels will be more clearly disrupted.

The benefits of abstinence for men and women

In fact, the benefits of sexual abstinence are quite small. It is mainly associated with the emotional background of a person, since after moderate abstinence, often of a voluntary nature, the excitement will be many times stronger, just like. And do not forget that this statement concerns short periods of abstinence.

However, some experts are of the opinion that the consequences of abstinence are extremely positive. At least for the male body. The theory is based on the fact that sperm is a source of many elements beneficial to the body, and during abstinence, its excess is reabsorbed back into the blood, thereby beneficially affecting many processes. This is followed by the following conclusion: excessive sexual activity leads to health problems and a deficiency of certain substances in the body that are contained in sperm.

Such a theory, of course, has a right to exist, but she sounds a little dubious. And the main point confirming its absurdity is the fact that the reabsorption of sperm occurs due to its excessive quantity due to abstinence. This process is compensatory, aimed at preventing pathologies of the gonads and organs, in particular the prostate. And the return of the elements that make up sperm into the blood leads to a slight excess of them, but in no way to an improvement in health.

Sexual abstinence in pregnant women

The only physiologically justified period of abstinence from sexual activity in women is pregnancy and the first weeks after childbirth.

Having sexual intercourse in the first trimester of pregnancy is dangerous due to the termination of pregnancy, especially in women prone to spontaneous miscarriage. Mechanical impact, excitement and blood flow to the genitals can lead to irreparable consequences - the embryonic egg will tear away from the wall of the uterus.

Sexual intercourse in the last trimester of pregnancy is absolutely contraindicated, as it can lead to premature birth. There is also a possibility of infection of the fetus due to bacteria entering the vagina and uterus.

After childbirth, sexual abstinence should be observed for 6-8 weeks, so it is during this time that the woman’s genitals are restored to their normal state.

Male and female abstinence and its negative consequences
As already mentioned earlier, the degree of influence of sexual abstinence on the human body mostly depends on his sexual constitution. And the stronger it is, the more dangerous the consequences of prolonged refusal of sex will be.

Male and female bodies are different in many ways, so the consequences will be different. However, there is one common point that concerns the emotional state of such people. Both men and women, as a result of prolonged abstinence from sexual intercourse, become irritable, hot-tempered, prone to depression (more women) or aggression (more men). Sexual abstinence can cause neuroses, nervous breakdowns, and depression. Men experience psychological disorders, leading to an increase in cases of self-satisfaction.

In addition to psychological disorders, people who have given up sexual activity are also characterized by certain physiological health problems.

Negative consequences of long-term abstinence in women:

Sexual function deteriorates. After several months of not having sex, libido may disappear completely.
Stagnation of blood in the pelvis. Since excitement promotes a rush of blood to the pelvic organs, and the lack of discharge impairs circulation.
Disruption of the glands, which contributes to the development of a tumor process in them.
The occurrence of fibroids, fibroids, uterine cancer, mastopathy.
Abstinence is the cause of severe premenstrual syndrome (due to hormonal imbalance).
The overall resistance of the body decreases.

Negative consequences of sexual abstinence in men

The most dangerous problems associated with withdrawal involve the prostate gland. Due to congestive processes in the prostate, inflammatory processes may occur, which will lead to acute or chronic congestive prostatitis, the consequences of which may be impotence or.
Deterioration of fertile function. Sperm after sexual abstinence has an unbalanced composition, and the motility and ability to fertilize sperm decreases significantly. This is unlikely to lead to infertility, but the health of the unborn child may suffer.
Decreased oxygen saturation of the penis. A rush of blood during sexual intercourse contributes to sufficient saturation of cells with oxygen, and abstinence can lead to cholesterol blockages, trophic disorders in the penis, and subsequently to deterioration or disruption of erectile function.

It is also worth noting that sexual intercourse is a source of additional stress on the entire body as a whole, increasing its overall tone, improving blood circulation and, of course, having a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional background.

Therefore, long-term sexual abstinence negatively affects the condition of the entire body, and not just specific organs.

Sex after a long period of abstinence

Women who have voluntarily or involuntarily abstained from sexual intercourse for more than a few months will face the problem of lost libido. Because of this, sex after abstinence in women can cause discomfort, even be painful. Orgasm most often also disappears for some time. And the longer the period of sexual abstinence lasted, the slower the above processes will be restored when sex is resumed.

Men who return to sexual activity after abstinence face more serious problems. The most harmless of them will be premature ejaculation. Lack of erection is also a common occurrence in such situations, however, with the right approach, function can be restored without much effort. But impotence is difficult to correct, so after a long period of abstinence from sex, it is best for men to immediately consult a doctor to have them checked for pathologies in the prostate gland.

In most cases, it takes some time to restore sexual function in both sexes. However, in the end it returns to its original state, allowing you to enjoy your intimate life again.

Prevention

A healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, sufficient physical activity, giving up bad habits;
A stable, favorable emotional environment, healthy sleep (at least 7 hours a day), proper distribution of work and rest during the day;
Timely visit to the doctor if you suspect any violations related to sexual activity and not only;
Contact a psychologist in case of family problems.

Treatment of sexual abstinence

Treatment is carried out if a person refuses sexual intercourse due to forced reasons. And the doctor’s actions are aimed mainly at eliminating this very cause. Most often, therapy consists of restoring the patient’s psychological and emotional state, which is what psychologists and sexologists do.

If the etiology of sexual abstinence is physiological in nature, then even drug treatment is possible. For example, with hormonal disorders in men or with chronic cardiovascular diseases in both sexes.

As a rule, if no serious diseases of the body are diagnosed, sexual activity returns in full within a month, sometimes earlier.

The issue of sexual abstinence is a delicate one: only a specific person in a specific situation can decide for himself whether it is worth introducing restrictions in the area of sexual activity. In scientific and religious circles on the issue of abstinence, different points of view on the problem prevail: sexologists and psychologists argue that restrictions in the field of sex have a bad effect on the physical and mental health of the human body.

Many religious movements insist that celibacy is beneficial for the spiritual development of the individual. We will figure out who is right and who is wrong together. So, is abstinence harmful?

The benefits of restrictions in sexual life

Let's start by finding out whether short-term or long-term abstinence from sex is harmful or beneficial for women's and men's health?

Some scientists believe that a decline in sexual activity is useful for a person’s personal fulfillment, since most of the energy spent on sex remains unspent during temporary celibacy, and a person begins to use it in other areas of his life: work, creativity, study. It is not for nothing that athletes and artists are recommended to refrain from intimate contacts before important performances.

Moreover, reasonable restrictions in the area of sexual life are necessary: in men, excessive consumption of seminal fluid and regular increased energy costs can cause a number of psychological disorders and even cause such a serious disease as neurasthenia. Also, frequent sexual intercourse leads to a deterioration in the fertilizing function of sperm, which is extremely undesirable for couples who want to conceive a child.

Temporary abstinence from sexual relations is also useful as a means to renew the sensual side of relationships - passion flares up with renewed vigor after forced breaks in sexual activity.

It is also worth noting that in the theory of representatives of spiritual and mystical teachings, sexual abstinence is useful for spiritual concentration; a person becomes more capable of concentration, contemplation, and deep reflection.

Here are reasons why restricting sex can be beneficial, but excessive and prolonged celibacy can also be detrimental to your health.

Let's talk about this in detail.

Sexual abstinence is a condition in which a person adheres to forced sexual abstinence. Such a situation may be the result of a voluntary renunciation of sexual life or provoked by certain life circumstances that require a person to remain without the possibility of sexual relations with a partner. This condition is also defined as withdrawal syndrome. Sexual withdrawal is divided into several types.

With total abstinence, all types of sexual activity are excluded.
With partial sexual abstinence, a person periodically experiences wet dreams or masturbation.

In young men, abstinence can be completely natural and usually occurs without harm to the body. But already in adulthood, a man may experience some difficulties when trying to resume sexual activity after abstinence. In some cases, irreversible suppression of sexuality occurs, requiring treatment.

But in some cases, abstinence in men leads to disturbances in the rhythm of sexual life and the manifestation of premature ejaculation.

A long absence of sexual activity sometimes leads to the fact that its normal rhythm is restored relatively slowly. But at the same time, one should take into account the fact that painful sensations during abstinence manifest themselves depending on how pronounced a person’s sexual desire is, what are the characteristics of his temperament, sexual constitution, as well as on other factors. So, if the attraction is weakly expressed, then the periodic absence of sexual activity for several months or even years does not negatively affect the general physiological and mental state of a person. At the same time, if a person’s sexual desire is particularly strong, then the harm from abstinence can be very seriously noticeable for the body.

A person feels a constant negative impact on his mood, performance, he has a high level of excitability and a feeling of constant dissatisfaction. Thus, to the question of whether long-term abstinence from sex is harmful, the answer is yes. Abstinence from sex is especially harmful for people with a strong sex drive.

Symptoms of sexual withdrawal

With sexual abstinence, a person may suffer from severe emotional lethargy, depression, discomfort, and sweating. The balance of nervous processes is also disturbed, which is expressed in irritability and even neuroticism. Congestion may occur. All these symptoms provoke increased attention in a man, and the consequence of this is an intensive increase in congestive processes. With further sexual abstinence, the secretion of the prostate gland is gradually absorbed into the blood, suppressing the hormonal function of the testicles and the production of male sex hormones. As a result, a man's sex drive decreases.

Forced abstinence is harmful for men over the age of forty. In mature men, as a result of withdrawal, not only sexual function is significantly weakened, but prostatitis can also develop.

Consequences of sexual abstinence

Thus, long-term abstinence from sex can have serious consequences for a man. If forced abstinence in a mature person continues for more than five years, this is fraught with severe erectile dysfunction, problems with ejaculation and even impotence.

Since regular sex has a beneficial effect on the functioning of a man’s endocrine system and also strengthens the heart muscle, its absence in mature men deprives them of the ability to keep their body in good shape. A prolonged absence of sex life not only negatively affects a person’s mood, but sometimes even leads to depression. After prolonged abstinence, a man may periodically show unreasonable aggression, signs of excitability and dissatisfaction with life. There are also studies that indicate that a long period of abstinence can cause prostatitis, adenoma and even increase the risk of developing cancer.

The period of recovery of sexual function in a man after a period of abstinence may vary: for some, everything can return to normal in a few days, while for others it takes several weeks. Sometimes, in order to fully restore sexual function, a man even needs a visit to a specialist sex therapist.

There is also evidence that if conception does not occur, then the man needs to abstain from sexual intercourse for some time. This will increase the chance of conception. This theory is explained by the accumulation of germ cells in a man’s body during the period of abstinence. However, this theory has many opponents who claim that sperm quality and sperm motility are much better in those who regularly have sexual intercourse.

But, despite everything said above, promiscuous sexual relations with casual partners, in terms of the degree of harm, outweighs the negative impact of sexual abstinence. Therefore, in order to maintain a normal physical and psychological state, men are recommended to lead an orderly, regular sex life if possible.

Consequences of abstinence in women

What about the weaker sex? Is abstinence harmful for young and mature women?

The female body and psyche tolerate the absence of sexual relations more calmly. This statement is especially true for women after menopause or, on the contrary, who have not yet reached childbearing age.

As for other age groups, the following changes may occur:

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (the notorious PMS) will be more pronounced and painful;
If sexual activity was previously active, and then its regularity began to decline, disturbances and changes in the menstrual cycle may be observed.

Regarding statements that long-term refusal of intimate relations can cause tumors and uterine bleeding, this information should be classified as speculation, not confirmed by science.

In the psychological aspect, women with increased temperament and libido experience the same consequences as men: aggression, irritability, frequent mood swings, increased interest in sexual perversions. In addition, against the backdrop of a long absence of sex, passionate women may develop a tendency towards nymphomania or simply promiscuity.

During sexual intercourse, women produce a special pleasure hormone, which has a positive effect on a woman’s mental state - she becomes less susceptible to depression and apathy.

Nutritionists also have interesting information on this issue: they believe that girls and women who have regular sex life without long breaks are not prone to gaining excess weight, since having sex requires a huge amount of energy. There is also a controversial theory among a number of dermatologists who claim that regular and satisfying sex is the best remedy for youthful and healthy skin.

Let's draw conclusions.

Having assessed the above information, you can easily come to the conclusion that the need for regular sex is a purely individual problem for each person. A man or woman must make a decision about abstinence based on their temperament, character, inclinations, and state of health.

Within reasonable limits, abstaining from lovemaking is definitely useful, but excessive enthusiasm for celibacy leads to negative consequences.

Finally, advice from sexologists, which will be equally good for both men and women: do not practice restrictions on sexual contacts in family life without reason.

Abstinence has a harmful effect on the relationship between partners, weakens the connection between them, and makes them want to seek entertainment and consolation on the side.

Remember that sex, although not the most important thing in life, is still one of the basic and natural instincts of a person, so harmony in this side of romantic relationships also needs to be given enough attention.

For a number of reasons, men and women are forced to be in a state of sexual rest. Sexual abstinence is tolerated by people individually in each specific case, and the degree of depression or irritation from the inability to satisfy sexual hunger depends on the person’s temperament and psychotype.

What does abstinence mean?

Sexual abstinence is, in scientific medical language, sexual abstinence or deprivation, characterized by a forced state of rest in. Reasons for abstinence may vary:

health status;
lack of a partner for sexual relations;
spiritual practices;
celibacy dinner (celibacy);
upcoming competitions for athletes;
asexuality;
individual personal reasons.

Types of abstinence:

Partial withdrawal– the impossibility of real sexual intercourse is compensated by masturbation or nocturnal emissions in men (spontaneous ejaculation).
Total abstinence– sexual activity in all forms is completely absent.

Why is abstinence necessary?

The justification for abstinence comes from the reasons that caused this condition. A short break from sex life helps shake up partners' feelings and increases their attraction to each other. Long-term abstinence is necessary to restore strength during and after serious illnesses, when all energy is aimed at restoring balance in the body and wasting energy during sexual intercourse can aggravate a person’s condition. Conscious total sexual abstinence or celibacy is an important condition in the practice of spirituality in some religions.

Abstinence in women

For women, harmonious sexual intimacy with a partner is the key to a stable, happy relationship. In intimacy, a woman blossoms and creates a positive energy background around herself. Abstinence from sex is more common for women due to their physiological characteristics: menstrual period, pregnancy. Representatives of the fair sex with a high level of sexual temperament (choleric, sanguine) have a hard time enduring periods of abstinence, unlike phlegmatic and melancholic women.

The benefits of abstinence in women

Long-term abstinence from sex in women with a low level of sexual temperament does not have any negative effects and even stabilizes the activity of the nervous system. During menstruation, a sexual break allows you to avoid the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the uterine cavity, which is vulnerable these days. It is important to remember that short-term sexual abstinence for a number of reasons is not a reason to despair, but an opportunity to focus on the positive aspects:

Renewal of feelings. With the next intimacy, the perception of the relationship becomes more intense; everything happens on a “new” wave, with a more intense range of feelings.
Sublimation is the process of transforming unspent sexual energy into creation or creation. Creating works of art, new projects, gushing ideas.
Abstinence as a necessity during pregnancy - in the first and third trimesters in case of threat of miscarriage. Motherhood is an important component of a woman’s family happiness and the benefits of abstinence here are obvious.

Abstinence in women - consequences

Sexual abstinence in girls and young women does not lead to any serious problems, but when a woman has been leading an active sex life for quite some time, sexual abstinence without a good reason can cause a variety of problems and ailments “prescribed” in the body on physical and mental levels. The consequences of abstinence may be as follows:

general hormonal imbalance;
obesity;
congestion in the pelvis contributing to the formation of varicose veins;
tumor growth (fibroids, fibroids, mastopathy);
thyroid diseases;
decreased number of immune cells;
pronounced;
high emotional lability;
change in character for the worse: rigidity, criticality, callousness;
sexual coldness;
discord in relationships between partners due to lack of intimacy.

Abstinence in men

With men, everything is more complicated; by their nature, representatives of the strong think more about sex, and physiology immediately makes itself felt with excitement. Most men can become aroused several times during the day. Abstinence is more difficult for men than for women. Forced sexual abstinence is very difficult for hypersexual representatives. During the absence of a partner, men tend to resort to masturbation more often than women.

The benefits of abstinence for men

Whether sexual deprivation is beneficial or not for men is not a clear opinion. A short absence of sex does not cause significant harm, but it also has its advantages. The benefits of abstinence are obvious in the following cases:

Cardiovascular diseases - in old age, frequent sexual intercourse puts a significant strain on the heart, and it is not uncommon to die during sex from a heart attack or stroke.
The risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases - momentary pleasure is fraught with consequences that pose a threat to health and life. Sex without obligations at parties has repeatedly made men repent.
Caring for your body's resources. Recent studies by foreign biologists have completely dispelled the misconception that abstinence is dangerous. Studying the composition of sperm, scientists came to the conclusion that it is a necessary substance for the body, containing lecithin, phosphorus, calcium and proteins. With frequent sexual intercourse, the body loses these vital resources, and as a result, the central nervous system suffers and becomes depleted. Whether to believe this fact or not, every man decides for himself.
Improving spermatogenesis and sperm composition. Several days of abstinence before planned conception help increase sperm activity, increasing the chances of fertilization. There is also an opposite opinion.

Long-term abstinence in men - consequences

Is abstinence harmful for men? There is no definite answer, everything is individual, but if we consider the average statistical indicators that paint a portrait of an active man in the prime of life and potency, and this is the vast majority of young men, then forced abstinence gives disappointing health prognoses. Possible consequences of sexual withdrawal:

persistent decrease in sexual desire, as such, after long abstinence;
premature ejaculation;
development of neuroses and inferiority complex;
fear of new acquaintances;
nervousness and aggression;
suppression of prostate secretion formation;
varicose veins of the scrotum;
tumors (prostate adenoma, testicular cancer);
impotence.

Abstinence in sports

Sexual deprivation in sports dates back to ancient times, when military leaders noticed that warriors who were not in relationships performed better in competitions and on the battlefield. This is how a strong opinion emerged that an athlete should focus as much as possible on the result before training. It is known that boxer Mohammed Ali abstained for up to a month and a half before fights.

Abstinence plays a significant role in bodybuilding, although there are conflicting opinions on this matter. Abstinence and muscle growth are interconnected by the fact that with excessive sexual activity, the level of testosterone, which affects the increase in muscle mass, falls catastrophically; in return, prolactin, a female hormone, is produced. Experienced athletes know that sex is only beneficial after training or competition, not before.

How to learn abstinence?

If for some reason a person has decided to take a temporary sexual break (fasting, spiritual practices, parting with a loved one during a business trip), how can one go through this period less painfully and learn to reduce the intensity of passions? It is important to remember that moderate abstinence from sexual activity is sometimes beneficial for the body.

What can help those practicing abstinence:

focusing on spiritual growth and self-improvement;
develop creative abilities and creativity during this period;
practice various meditation techniques (contemplation, dynamic meditations according to Osho);
engage in active sports.

Myths about abstinence

Sexual abstinence is shrouded in various speculations and stereotypes. There are the following myths about abstinence:

Lack of sex can cause schizophrenia and develop a tendency towards pedophilia and bestiality. This is not true since these manifestations are often based on endogenous congenital abnormalities.
Long-term abstinence in men and women can cause premature menopause. Yes, there is such a thing as male menopause. It is believed that this myth was created by pharmaceutical companies to better sell condoms.
Transformation of sexual energy into creative energy during abstinence. This is partly true, if a person is by nature initially creative and obsessed with ideas, a period of minor abstinence for him passes painlessly; for everyone else, a sexual pause causes at least discomfort.