2026-05-05T19:34:34Zhttps://uvadoc.uva.es/oai/request
oai:uvadoc.uva.es:10324/824192026-03-13T11:37:18Zcom_10324_1142com_10324_931com_10324_894col_10324_1258
UVaDOC author Fernández Lázaro, Diego author Garrosa García, Manuel author SantaMaría Gómez, Gema author Roche Collado, Enrique author Izquierdo Velasco, José María author Seco Calvo, Jesús author Mielgo Ayuso, Juan Francisco 2026-02-02T07:20:09Z 2026-02-02T07:20:09Z 2025 Fernández-Lázaro, D., Garrosa, M., Santamaría, G., Roche, E., Izquierdo, J. M., Seco-Calvo, J., & Mielgo-Ayuso, J. (2025). Sexual activity before exercise influences physiological response and sports performance in high-level trained men athletes. Physiology & Behavior, 115203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115203 0031-9384 https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/82419 10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115203 115203 Physiology & Behavior 307 Background The influence of sexual activity prior to exercise on athletic performance remains controversial. While pre-competition abstinence is commonly advised, scientific evidence on its physiological impact is limited and inconsistent. Methods A randomized crossover study was conducted in 21 well-trained male athletes (age 22 ± 1 y) to compare the acute effects of masturbation-induced orgasm versus sexual abstinence performed 30 min before testing. Each participant completed an incremental cycling test and an isometric handgrip strength test under both conditions. Blood samples were analyzed for muscle damage (CK, LDH, Mb), inflammatory (CRP, IL-6), and hormonal (testosterone, cortisol, LH) markers. Results Compared with abstinence, the post-masturbation condition resulted in a longer exercise duration (+3.2%, p< 0.01) and higher heart rate (p< 0.001), accompanied by a small increase in mean handgrip strength (p< 0.05). Lower plasma LDH levels (p< 0.001) indicated reduced muscle stress. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were significantly higher (both p< 0.001), whereas inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6) showed no significant change. Conclusions Masturbation 30 min before exercise elicited mild sympathetic and hormonal activation without detrimental effects on performance or muscle damage. These findings suggest that pre-exercise sexual activity does not impair athletic capacity in trained men, challenging the long-standing myth of mandatory abstinence before competition. spa Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional Sexual activity before exercise influences physiological response and sports performance in high-level trained men athletes info:eu-repo/semantics/article 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URL https://uvadoc.uva.es/bitstream/10324/82419/1/2026_04_01_Physiology%20and%20Beavior.pdf File MD5 807de12c1fec15802c38fb61ade42f5f 3027667 application/pdf 2026_04_01_Physiology and Beavior.pdf