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absolute hardgainer
New member
Ok, here we go:
A while ago some board members (Icculus, benchmaniac) asked about any relationship between sex and muscle growth. The responses they got were a bit juvenile at times and I don’t think the question was satisfactorily answered. Therefore I did some research on this issue and came up with the following:
“[] According to a study conducted by Carl J. Charnetsky, professor of psychology, and Francis X. Brennan Jr., assistant professor of psychology, at Wilkes university in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, it seems that people who engage in sexual activity once or twice per week have substantially higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) than those who have sex more than twice per week. (For the record, those who have sex once or twice per week also have higher IgA levels than those who have sex less than once per week or have no sexual activity.) IgA, which is found in all mucosal lining of the body and in the blood, is the most prevalent of the five major antibodies that work as part of the body’s defense mechanism against disease. The general function of one’s immune system can be inferred by measuring IgA levels. []”
“[] Prolactin is a hormone created during orgasms that makes you relax and feel calm after climaxing. It’s responsible for putting men in the ‘refractory’ following an orgasm. That’s the period it takes for a man to be motivated to start humping again.”
The above advice was given by Laura Moore, in Australian Ironman vol. 8 no. 3, in response to a readers question on frequent sex.
It seems as though there is evidence to support moderate sexual activity. As far as training intensity is concerned it doesn’t seem to be the lack of testosterone as a result of sexual activity (which has not been substantiated anyway) that seems to be responsible for athletes loosing their edge. Hormones such as prolactin and serotonin play a key role in relaxing the body – the presence of these after sex may be the cause of lower athletic performance and less build up tension and aggression. Which would be a good reason for athletes not to have sex before competition.
As far as sex and testosterone levels go. There is some evidence that no sexual activity can lead to a drop in testosterone levels, but none that I have found that very frequent sexual activity alters testosterone levels significantly. However, on frequent sexual activity the following should be noted: The testosterone produced by the male body is used first and foremost to bring sperm cells to maturity. If the body is very active in producing sperm cells (due to high frequency of sex and orgasm) does this mean that there is less testosterone available for other functions such as supporting muscle growth?
This is a hypothetical question that may be worth examining further.
If any of the above information is not quite accurate, don't flame me, correct me.
Perhaps some other more knowledgeable board members can put forward more info.
hardgainer (truly)
A while ago some board members (Icculus, benchmaniac) asked about any relationship between sex and muscle growth. The responses they got were a bit juvenile at times and I don’t think the question was satisfactorily answered. Therefore I did some research on this issue and came up with the following:
“[] According to a study conducted by Carl J. Charnetsky, professor of psychology, and Francis X. Brennan Jr., assistant professor of psychology, at Wilkes university in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, it seems that people who engage in sexual activity once or twice per week have substantially higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) than those who have sex more than twice per week. (For the record, those who have sex once or twice per week also have higher IgA levels than those who have sex less than once per week or have no sexual activity.) IgA, which is found in all mucosal lining of the body and in the blood, is the most prevalent of the five major antibodies that work as part of the body’s defense mechanism against disease. The general function of one’s immune system can be inferred by measuring IgA levels. []”
“[] Prolactin is a hormone created during orgasms that makes you relax and feel calm after climaxing. It’s responsible for putting men in the ‘refractory’ following an orgasm. That’s the period it takes for a man to be motivated to start humping again.”
The above advice was given by Laura Moore, in Australian Ironman vol. 8 no. 3, in response to a readers question on frequent sex.
It seems as though there is evidence to support moderate sexual activity. As far as training intensity is concerned it doesn’t seem to be the lack of testosterone as a result of sexual activity (which has not been substantiated anyway) that seems to be responsible for athletes loosing their edge. Hormones such as prolactin and serotonin play a key role in relaxing the body – the presence of these after sex may be the cause of lower athletic performance and less build up tension and aggression. Which would be a good reason for athletes not to have sex before competition.
As far as sex and testosterone levels go. There is some evidence that no sexual activity can lead to a drop in testosterone levels, but none that I have found that very frequent sexual activity alters testosterone levels significantly. However, on frequent sexual activity the following should be noted: The testosterone produced by the male body is used first and foremost to bring sperm cells to maturity. If the body is very active in producing sperm cells (due to high frequency of sex and orgasm) does this mean that there is less testosterone available for other functions such as supporting muscle growth?
This is a hypothetical question that may be worth examining further.
If any of the above information is not quite accurate, don't flame me, correct me.
Perhaps some other more knowledgeable board members can put forward more info.
hardgainer (truly)
