Hands Off or Hands On? The Truth About Masturbation and Fertility

You’ve probably heard it all. That too much tugging the love rope will fry your swimmers. That jerking off “drains your life force.” That you should be saving your seed like it’s a precious elixir from an Indiana Jones movie.

But is any of that true?

Whether you’re actively trying to start a family or just want to keep your swimmers healthy for future adventures, we’re here to give you the hard facts (pun absolutely intended) on how masturbation affects fertility. And spoiler: it’s probably not doing nearly as much harm as your great-uncle warned you about.

Let’s get into it.

Before we talk about whether your solo sessions are sabotaging your sperm count, let’s define what fertility actually is. Male fertility boils down to a few key factors:

• Sperm count: How many sperm you’ve got in each milliliter of semen (a normal count is 15 million or more per mL)

• Sperm motility: How well your sperm can swim (think of it as the sperm Olympics)

• Sperm morphology: The shape of the sperm (yes, looks matter—at least to your fertility)

• Ejaculate volume: The amount of semen you produce when you climax

If any of these factors are off, it can make conception a little trickier. Now that we know what we’re working with, let’s talk about what happens when you work with yourself.

Short answer: No. Masturbation on its own does not tank your fertility. In fact, medical studies show that regular ejaculation may actually be good for sperm health, especially when it comes to sperm quality and DNA integrity. Think of it like regularly changing your oil: flushing out the old stuff makes room for the fresh, potent swimmers your body produces daily.

If you’re worried about masturbation and fertility, know this: science is on your side.

You produce millions of sperm a day, and your body’s constantly refreshing the supply. If you ejaculate frequently—whether it’s with a partner or during some quality alone time—you may notice that your semen volume or sperm count is a little lower temporarily.

This doesn’t mean you’re running on empty. It just means your body needs a little time to restock the shelves.

In other words: Masturbating every day? Probably fine. Five times a day? Maybe give the boys a break and hydrate.

Technically, yes—temporarily. If you’re ejaculating multiple times a day for several days in a row, your ejaculate volume and sperm count per sample might be a bit lower. But this is not the same as long-term fertility damage.

Take a couple days off, and your levels bounce back like a teenager on their third Red Bull.

And there’s zero evidence that masturbation causes long-term infertility, erectile dysfunction, or any sort of “sexual depletion” the internet loves to scare you about.

This is where things get interesting.

Frequent ejaculation may actually improve sperm quality in some men. A 2016 study found that ejaculating daily for seven days led to better sperm DNA fragmentation rates (translation: healthier sperm). Why? Because sperm that hangs around in the testicles too long can accumulate DNA damage.

It’s kind of like milk in the fridge: fresher is better.

If you and a partner are actively trying to conceive, should you abstain from masturbation?

Only if your doctor tells you to.

Some fertility specialists recommend abstaining from all ejaculation for 2–3 days before a “fertility window” to build up sperm volume. But if you’re going more than 5–7 days without ejaculating, sperm quality may actually start to decline. There’s evidence linking abstinence and sperm quality to negative changes in motility and morphology.

So if you’re trying for a baby, balance is key. Don’t go on a no-nut monk streak unless you’ve been advised to. And if you do, you’re gonna want to be strategic about when you let the swimmers out of the pool.

Weirdly, yes.

Masturbation can help:

• Reduce stress and male fertility problems caused by hormonal disruptions

• Clear out older sperm that may have damaged DNA

• Improve awareness of your own sexual response, which may help during partnered sex

• Prevent issues like erectile dysfunction or performance anxiety when trying to conceive

Basically, it’s like a warm-up lap for your reproductive system. And it’s one you don’t need a partner for.

Let’s put the masturbation myths to bed—literally.

Masturbation is a normal, healthy part of sexual function and self-awareness. It doesn’t ruin your fertility, and in some cases, it may actually help improve it. Your body is designed to make millions of sperm daily. You’re not going to run out.

So whether you’re flying solo, tag-teaming with a partner, or trying to start a family, masturbation isn’t the enemy. It’s just part of the ride.

And if you’re looking to upgrade your performance, boost your volume, or add some endurance to your sexy-time session, Popstar’s got what you need.