Does abstinence really boost athletic performance?

[keithlewis]

Ask the Doc: Does abstinence really boost athletic performance?
Dr. Johnny Benjamin, MMAjunkie.com


Buzz In the world of sports, it's one of the most common beliefs regarding peak athletic performance.


But is it based in any scientific reality?

In his latest "Ask the Doc" column, MMAjunkie. com medical columnist and consultant Dr.
Johnny Benjamin attempts to answer the question, "Does abstinence from sex and masturbation really boost athletic performance?"

Q. In the weeks leading up to Georges St. Pierre vs. B.J. Penn II at UFC 94, St. Pierre said that he was told not to have sex and not to masturbate before the fight. And while I was watching "Countdown to UFC 95," Joe Stevenson said he wasn't having sex with his wife or "taking care of himself." Now, when I was playing football in ninth grade, I had a coach that said it was bad to masturbate before games because it "tired you out." Now, my question is what affects, if any, does it have? Does it really make that big of a difference? Not really sure if this is a medical question or not, but I figured it would be worth asking.(From "ICEMAN22")

A. This well-known doctrine has been around probably as long as sport itself. Like many beliefs in life, it has been passed along so well and for so long it has just been assumed to be fact. I've received this question so many times I guess I have no choice but to answer. Wish me luck.

There are at least two components to this question: the physiological and the psychological. The physiology is much easier to quantify than the psychology. Therefore, I'll attempt to deal with it first.

Testosterone levels are directly related to aggression (generally, the higher the testosterone level the more aggressive the individual). Common belief states that testosterone (male hormone) is depleted with sexual activity. Clinical studies have proven this to be false (Oct. 2000 Journal of Sports Medicine).

Actually, just the opposite is true. Sexual activity increases testosterone levels, and long periods of abstinence (six to 12 weeks a short drought for some people) significantly lowers levels (in many cases, to levels commonly seen in children). In contact and combat sports, increased aggression would likely be viewed as a benefit provided by increased testosterone levels.

An additional benefit of sexual activity in women is a block of the release of a pain transmitter, substance P. Decreasing levels of substance P decreases the pain response.

There is also not a great deal of good clinical information to adequately answer whether masturbation works as well as the real McCoy. (Hmm. I don't know, but I'm kinda partial to a beautiful woman myself.)

As anyone who has seriously studied psychology can attest, evaluating and quantifying the human psyche is a difficult task. The level of anxiety and stress associated with sex varies from person to person and relationship to relationship. Therefore, making a general statement regarding the appropriateness of sexual activity as related to any event is difficult and highly personalized.

The take-home message is the proper amount of rest, hydration and nourishment are critical to peak athletic performance.

Early during training and well before the date of competition, it is not unreasonable to experiment and find what works best for you when it comes to sex and performance. Create a pre-fight routine that works for you and stick with it.

Dr. Johnny Benjamin is MMAjunkie.com's medical columnist and consultant and a noted combat-sports specialist. He is also a member of the Association of Boxing Commissions' MMA Medical Subcommittee. Dr. Benjamin writes an "Ask the Doc" column every two weeks for http://www.MMAjunkie.com. To submit a question for a future column, email him at askthedoc@mmajunkie.com, or share your questions and thoughts in the comments section below. You can find Dr. Benjamin online at http://www.drjohnnybenjamin.com, and you can read his other sports-related articles at blog.drjohnnybenjamin.com.