The claim that "male abstinence improves sperm quality" has been hotly debated online, but is there any scientific basis for this claim?

1. Will prolonged abstinence improve sperm quality in men?

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that many couples trying to conceive have husbands abstain from sex to save their sperm for when the woman is most fertile. However, researchers have found this practice to be highly inadvisable .

While a man's semen volume may increase after prolonged abstinence, sperm is a metabolic byproduct. If it cannot be expelled normally, it will gradually age and deteriorate .

Furthermore, after two days of abstinence, the number of active sperm will decrease, reaching its lowest point on the sixth day . As the abstinence period lengthens, the number of abnormal sperm will also increase.

If a man abstains from sexual activity for an extended period, his sperm will gradually lose its motility and fertilization ability , thus affecting the chances of conception. Even if conception is successful, there is a higher risk of miscarriage or birth defects .

In addition to causing a decline in sperm quality, prolonged abstinence may also cause other harm to the body:

1. May induce prostate disease

When men abstain from sex for extended periods, sperm cannot be ejaculated smoothly and can accumulate and block the prostate, epididymis, and seminal vesicles, leading to congestion in the reproductive organs. Over time, this can easily induce urological diseases such as prostatitis or seminal vesiculitis, thereby increasing the risk of male infertility .

2. May lead to sexual dysfunction

Organs also follow the principle of "use it or lose it." If a man abstains from sex for a long period, his reproductive organs will inevitably become dull, testosterone levels will decrease , and sensitivity will decline. Over time, this can lead to sexual dysfunction due to decreased libido.

3. Affects mental health

A normal and harmonious sex life can help relieve stress and negative emotions. However, prolonged abstinence leaves stress with nowhere to be released, which can lead to anxiety and irritability, seriously affecting mental health.

II. Is there a limit to the number of times a man can ejaculate in his lifetime?

Many people have heard the phrase "death from exhaustion," which refers to the fact that a man's lifespan ends when he reaches his maximum ejaculation count. Some men therefore abstain excessively from sex in order to avoid shortening their lifespan. But is this really the case?

While it's true that men can die suddenly during intercourse, it's definitely not due to "exhaustion of semen." The greater reason for sudden death is that the individual already has underlying cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, or vascular malformations.

In addition, some men who mistakenly take aphrodisiacs may experience sudden death due to excessive excitement or strenuous activity.

Do men also experience a period of sperm abortion? Actually, there is no such thing as a "period of sperm abortion" for men.

Studies have found that the optimal age for male fertility is 25-40 years old , during which sperm motility and quality are at their best. After age 40, sperm motility and quality decline, but sperm count does not decrease ; even at age 60, sperm production is still ongoing.

Therefore, even when a healthy man gets old, he still has reproductive ability. It's just that the sperm's survival ability changes, and there's no such thing as sperm being completely depleted.

3. These 4 behaviors can quietly "steal" a man's lifespan!

In our minds, men's lifespans seem to be shorter than women's. However, the following four behaviors often steal men's lifespans, and male friends should not take them lightly:

1. Skipping breakfast

Men often skip breakfast in their rush to get to work in the morning. However, skipping breakfast long-term can affect the body's energy intake, reduce the activity of the cerebral cortex , and accelerate aging, thus impacting men's lifespan.

2. Prolonged sitting

Prolonged sitting can easily impair metabolism , leading to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. Furthermore, prolonged sitting can cause joint degeneration in men , slow blood circulation in the lower limbs, accelerate blood clot formation, and speed up the aging process.

3. Smoking and excessive drinking

Cigarettes and alcohol are often considered "friends" of men, and they are frequently seen at work-related social events or when men drown their sorrows in alcohol.

Professor Jia Jidong, Chairman of the Hepatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association , stated that excessive alcohol consumption in a short period can easily lead to acute alcohol poisoning . Over time, this can even induce alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and further cause cirrhosis. It may also induce esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, and other cancers, thereby shortening male lifespan.

4. Excessive stress

With today's fast-paced lifestyle, men do indeed experience significantly more stress than women. However, if they don't know how to manage stress, it can lead to a decline in mental well-being and even negatively impact their daily diet and sleep patterns. Ultimately, this can affect both their physical and mental health, potentially reducing their lifespan.

Modern men do indeed face a lot of life pressure, and a healthy and harmonious sex life can help relieve stress. In addition, men should remember that skipping breakfast, smoking, excessive drinking, and a sedentary lifestyle are all harmful to their health.