Why Some Men Are Turning Away from Ejaculation

In recent years, a growing number of men have begun to question one of the most basic assumptions about male sexuality: that ejaculation is always necessary, natural, or healthy. A movement centered on intentional non-ejaculation, also called semen retention, has emerged. Some practitioners draw on ancient yogic philosophy, where sexual energy is seen as a source of vitality and spiritual focus. Others approach it through the framework of modern men’s work, viewing the practice as a way to develop discipline, presence, and greater awareness of their desires, with both mental and physical benefits. Across these two, the idea is similar: that learning to consciously control our sexual urges can increase focus, clarity, energy, vitality and personal growth.

But not all contemporary expressions of this trend are rooted in ancient wisdom. In certain neo-tantric spaces and emerging online subcultures, non-ejaculation is being reframed as a marker of “superior masculinity,” a test of dominance and self-control. What was once intended as a supportive or introspective practice is now, in some circles, evolving into a form of spiritualized austerity often accompanied by guilt, moral pressure, or rigid ideas about what a “real man” should do with his own sexuality.

Whatever the case, semen retention raises complex and important questions: Is there validity to the claims of energy retention, increased focus, longevity, or spiritual strength? Or is this new wave of non-ejaculation simply rebranding shame-based control under a spiritual guise? What does modern science tell us about the health implications, both physical and psychological, of prolonged ejaculatory retention?

This article explores all of these questions. I draw from ancient yogic and Ayurvedic traditions, contemporary men’s-work perspectives, critiques of neo-tantra, modern masculine-dominance tendencies, and peer-reviewed scientific research. My aim: a balanced, honest, and clear-eyed examination of non-ejaculation, with no hype, no dogma, and no shame or blame.

The Ancient Yogic Perspective: Life-Force, Ojas, and Brahmacharya

One of the oldest roots of semen retention lies in classical Indian yogic tradition especially the concept of Brahmacharya. In ancient texts, Brahmacharya refers broadly to self-restraint, which includes sexual restraint, not only at the physical level but also at the mental and emotional levels. Within ancient yogic traditions, retention of semen is thought to preserve vital energy or life-force (often called Ojas). This energy is believed to support vitality, mental clarity, spiritual insight, and longevity.

According to classical theory: when semen is retained, that energy does not vanish. It can “rise” inside the body and be transformed through practices like bandha (energy locks), pranayama (the practice of energy control), asana (posture) and meditation, thus nourishing physical and spiritual health on a deep level.

Importantly, ancient yogis did not treat retention as an isolated exercise. It was rather part of a disciplined lifestyle: ethical conduct, moderation, meditative and physical practice, self-awareness, non-harm (ahimsa), and celibacy. Yes, celibacy, as Brahmacarya was a practice for renunciates in the Indian Vedic tradition.

In some Neo-Tantric circles, non-ejaculation started being encouraged as a practice of energy control, self-exploration and personal restraint, but soon missed the whole point by turning sexual practices into a mysticized form of hedonism, equating better sexual performance and orgasm with enlightenment. This alone deserves another (long) article. But let’s leave it here for now.

What’s important to understand at this point is that, in its original context, non-ejaculation was not a standalone “hack.” It was part of a larger set of practices in the renunciate path.

The Men’s Work Perspective: Discipline, Self-Mastery, Emotional Regulation

From a modern men’s-work viewpoint, non-ejaculation can serve as a practice of self-discipline, presence, and mastery over urges, not as repression, but as reorientation of focus and energy. For men who have spent decades conditioned to suppress emotions, avoid vulnerability, or act compulsively, learning to navigate desire intentionally can be transformative and bring awareness to the way we many times numb ourselves into sex, self-pleasuring, and porn addiction.

In this framework, withholding ejaculation becomes a tool for:

regulating sexual energy rather than acting on impulse,
building awareness of one’s inner state, urges, and responses,
developing nervous system resilience,
cultivating deeper intimacy and presence, when eventual release happens in a conscious, connected way, rather than an act of instant gratification.

When approached with maturity, without any shame or guilt, semen retention becomes a practice in self-mastery, personal growth, and deeper relational capacity.

The Neo-Tantric Risk: When Semen Retention Turns Into Dogma

While parts of the non-ejaculation movement draw from genuine yogic insight or mindful men’s-work practices, a very different trend has taken root in some neo-tantric circles. What began as an exploration of energy, presence, and inner connection has gradually morphed into a rigid ideology in certain communities.

In these spaces, semen retention is no longer taught as one tool among many, or as an optional practice for self-awareness. Instead, it becomes a moral requirement, a test of purity, discipline, or “spiritual advancement.” Men are encouraged not just to experiment with periods of retention, but to avoid ejaculation indefinitely, often without regard for emotional health, relationship context, or biological reality.

This shift distorts the original intention of the yogic teachings. Non-ejaculation was traditionally integrated within a larger path of renunciation, with its own precepts, lifestyle, and practices. It was never meant to be a solo badge of enlightenment. Yet in some neo-tantric circles today, dogma replaces discernment, and performance replaces presence.

The most concerning aspect is the introduction of shame into the conversation. Instead of inviting men into self-discovery, some communities imply that ejaculation reflects weakness, spiritual regression, or a lack of masculine power. This mirrors the moralistic tone of Western religious austerities more than anything found in authentic tantras or yoga sutras.

When retention becomes dogma, it stops being a path of growth and becomes another form of repression, the very opposite of what classical tantric traditions intended.

The Rise of Macho Online Subcultures: Retention as Superiority

Parallel to the neo-tantric distortion, a separate movement has exploded online: a macho, hyper-competitive subculture that reframes semen retention as a symbol of “elite masculinity.” This trend appears in various corners of social media, self-proclaimed “alpha male” groups, and male-domination forums where personal development is replaced by fantasies of power and hierarchy.

In these spaces, non-ejaculation becomes a form of masculine currency. Men boast about how long they can “retain,” treating it less like a practice of self-regulation and more like a public scoreboard. The rhetoric often suggests that ejaculation weakens men, diminishes their worth, or strips them of dominance. Retention is framed as a way to “rise above other men,” control women, or assert superiority.

This is not spiritual discipline, it is insecurity dressed as mastery.

Rather than cultivating emotional maturity or grounded presence, these subcultures promote a belief that masculinity is something proven through deprivation and control. It is a worldview rooted in competition, hierarchy, and self-punishment, with little regard for actual well-being.

This ideological twist carries several dangers:

It encourages shame-based sexuality, similar to the religious purity cultures many men grew up with.
It reinforces toxic masculine patterns, suppression, domination, comparison, and emotional detachment.
It divorces the practice from any grounding in wisdom traditions, relational awareness, or personal growth.
It pathologizes natural sexuality, framing it as something to conquer rather than integrate.

The result is not a healthier form of masculinity but a more brittle one. Men striving to appear powerful while becoming increasingly disconnected from their bodies, emotions, and relationships.

If anything, this trend shows why nuanced conversations about sexuality are needed now more than ever. Without context, without wisdom, and without emotional grounding, even a potentially beneficial practice can become a tool of insecurity and distortion.

What Science Says: Research on Ejaculation Frequency, Semen Retention, and Health

Amid traditional beliefs, spiritual interpretations, and modern cultural narratives about semen retention, it’s essential to separate myth from measurable physiology. Medical and psychological research has addressed the biological effects, hormonal fluctuations, fertility implications, and mental health outcomes of ejaculation frequency. And what emerges from the scientific literature is far more nuanced than both extremes, between glorifying permanent retention and dismissing intentional non-ejaculation entirely.

Below is a careful look at what the evidence actually demonstrates.

Prostate Health: Frequent Ejaculation Appears Protective

One of the most consistent findings in men’s health research concerns the relationship between ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer risk. A large cohort study published in European Urology (Harvard, 2016) followed 31,925 men over nearly two decades. The key finding:

Men who ejaculated 21 or more times per month had a 20–30% lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men who ejaculated 4–7 times per month.

Several proposed mechanisms explain this protective effect:

Ejaculation may help clear potentially harmful substances from the prostate.
It may reduce inflammation.
It may improve overall prostate function.

No study has found that chronic, long-term semen retention protects the prostate. If anything, the opposite appears more likely.

Fertility: Moderate Abstinence Helps, Prolonged Abstinence Does Not

Semen retention is sometimes promoted online as improving sperm quality, but the research shows a far more detailed picture.

What short-term abstinence does:

2–5 days of abstinence is associated with increased semen volume and sometimes higher concentration (beneficial for fertility testing and ART procedures).

What prolonged abstinence does:

A 2025 meta-analysis of 23,527 samples found:

Longer abstinence increases semen volume, but also increases DNA fragmentation, a marker associated with reduced fertility.
Sperm motility and morphology often decline with long periods of retention.
Ejaculating regularly (every 2–3 days) appears to support optimal sperm health.

In other words: moderation improves semen quality, prolonged retention often worsens it.

Testosterone: No Meaningful Increase With Long-Term Retention

One of the most persistent myths in online masculinity circles is the idea that avoiding ejaculation dramatically boosts testosterone. Science does not support this belief.

A 2001 study found a small spike in testosterone around day 7 of abstinence, but levels returned to baseline immediately afterward.
No study has demonstrated sustained increases from prolonged non-ejaculation.
Exercise, sleep, and body composition have profoundly stronger effects on testosterone than ejaculation frequency.

Thus, non-ejaculation is not a reliable or medically significant method for increasing testosterone.

Mental Health and Mood: Results Are Mixed

Psychological research on non-ejaculation and semen retention is limited, but a few trends appear:

Potential positive effects

Some men report increased confidence, focus, or motivation during intentional short-term retention.
These effects seem to stem from improved self-control, reduced compulsive behavior, and increased mindfulness, not from physiological changes.

Potential negative effects

Prolonged abstinence is correlated with increased irritability, intrusive sexual thoughts, and heightened stress.
Shame-driven abstinence, common in purity-based or macho subcultures, is associated with anxiety, secrecy, and guilt.
Men with rigid control tendencies may experience worsening compulsions or sexual tension.

The key variable appears to be intention rather than abstinence itself. A man who practices retention out of curiosity and discipline may benefit. A man who practices it from shame, fear, superiority, or dogma may suffer psychologically.

Sexual Function: Retention Can Improve Control

From a sexual health perspective, non-ejaculation can support:

delayed ejaculation skills
increased sensitivity awareness
better communication during sex
more present-moment embodiment

Physiological Risks of Long-Term Retention

Science does not support claims that long-term, indefinite retention is physically beneficial, and some concerns exist:

Higher prostate cancer risk with infrequent ejaculation (multiple studies).
Higher rates of nocturnal emissions due to natural physiological pressure.
Increased sperm DNA fragmentation.
Potential erectile dysfunction in cases of chronic sexual suppression (not abstinence, but suppression specifically).
Increased stress and sympathetic nervous system activation in those who retain through willpower rather than awareness.

In short: The body was not designed for permanent suppression, but it handles temporary abstinence quite well.

Summary of Scientific Consensus

When looking at evidence across urology, endocrinology, psychology, and sexual medicine, a clear pattern emerges:

Supported by Science

Short intentional abstinence (1–7 days) may improve certain performance or fertility markers.
Regular ejaculation supports prostate health.
Long-term retention offers no proven hormonal advantages.
Psychological outcomes depend on the intention behind the practice.

Not Supported by Science

Claims of massive testosterone boosts
Permanent retention as a health practice
Retention making men “superior” or “more masculine”
Retention granting increased life force in a measurable biomedical sense

Evidence Supporting Frequent Ejaculation

A major 2016 longitudinal US study found that men who reported higher ejaculation frequency in adulthood had a lower risk of prostate cancer compared to men with lower ejaculation frequency.
Another 2025 meta-analysis of 23,527 semen samples found that varying abstinence durations significantly affected semen quality parameters. The data suggested that frequent ejaculation correlated with improved sperm vitality and lower DNA fragmentation index, compared with prolonged abstinence.
Multiple review studies and medical sources emphasize that there is no strong and consistent evidence that prolonged abstinence provides guaranteed health benefits such as increased lifespan, boosted testosterone, or improved long-term fertility.

Evidence About Abstinence / Semen Retention

Some studies show that brief periods (a few days) of abstinence may lead to increased semen volume or concentration, which can be relevant for fertility or certain health goals.
But findings are inconsistent: extended abstinence has been associated in some cases with increased sperm DNA fragmentation, decreased sperm motility, or no clear benefit to overall semen quality.
Regarding mental health and general well-being, a 2021 review concluded that the literature is sparse and inconclusive: there’s no consistent evidence that longer abstinence improves mental health or overall health outcomes; psychological effects may vary widely between individuals.

Key Takeaway from Research

Science does not condemn semen retention, neither does it sanctify it. Scientific data does not support grand claims of “superhuman vitality,” lifelong youth, or guaranteed health benefits from permanent non-ejaculation. On the contrary: frequent ejaculation may correlate with lower risks of certain conditions (e.g. prostate cancer), and long-term abstinence, especially without balanced lifestyle, emotional health, or awareness may carry potential risks or at least offer no clear benefits.

The benefits of semen retention lie in mindfulness, discipline, self-awareness and sexual exploration, not in physiological miracles or dogmatic rules.

Benefits and Risks: A Balanced, Evidence-Based View

Here’s a balanced report of what may be gained and what may be risked through semen retention.

Possible Benefits (Under Conscious, Limited, and Mindful Use)

Short-term abstinence (days to a week) may increase semen volume or concentration, which can be relevant for fertility or sperm health.
Some men report increased mental focus or self-discipline when intentionally redirecting sexual energy (though these are subjective reports, not proven scientifically).
Delaying ejaculation when engaged in sexual activity may enhance awareness, intimacy, control, and prolong sexual experience (mindful sexuality).
For some men, the practice may serve as a tool for self-regulation, reducing compulsive sexual behavior or pornography dependency when done within a broader framework of emotional awareness and self-care.

Potential Risks and Limitations

Long-term, rigid non-ejaculation does not appear to offer documented medical benefits; in fact, frequent ejaculation is associated with reduced risk of prostate disease in multiple studies.
Prolonged abstinence may lead to increased incidence of sperm DNA fragmentation or reduced motility, which could negatively impact fertility over time.
For many men, rigid non-ejaculation can become psychologically fraught: shame, repression, feelings of failure, heightened stress if sexual release is avoided indefinitely, especially when the practice is tied to moral or spiritual “oughts.”
If practiced outside a broader context of emotional health, self-awareness, and balanced sexuality, the discipline can slip into control, rigidity, and even unhealthy masculinity dynamics.

Why Semen Retention Is Problematic When Dogmatic

The recent rise in semen retention ideologies, sometimes dressed as modern spirituality, or masculine power practice can carry dangerous undertones. When semen retention becomes a rigid requirement or a moral duty, it risks:

reviving Western religious-style austerity around sex in secular contexts,
equating sexual release with failure, shame, or weakness,
encouraging shame-based self-control rather than mindful self-care,
reinforcing toxic masculine norms under the guise of spiritual growth,
promoting comparison, competition, and exclusion rather than community, compassion, and emotional maturity.

This is not evolution, it's dogma. What was once an optional spiritual discipline is being reframed as a rigid test of masculinity, missing the original context of inner balance, emotional growth, and self-awareness.

Semen Retention as a Tool, Not a Religion

Semen retention can be a valid and potentially useful tool. When practiced consciously, with self-awareness, emotional maturity, and respect for one’s body and mind, it may help some men gain clarity, develop self-discipline, explore sexual energy with intention, and deepen their relationship with their sexuality. But it must always remain a choice, not a new religion or doctrine.

Permanent non-ejaculation should never become a badge of “superior masculinity,” a measure of spiritual purity, or a source of shame for those who don’t or can’t comply. That kind of rigidity only rebuilds the old architecture of shame and suppression under a new name.

True masculine maturity comes with integration: awareness of one’s body, respect for one’s health, emotional honesty, deeper connections and the freedom to choose what serves life, not what cultivates anxiety, shame, or control. If a man explores non-ejaculation, let it be as a conscious experiment, not as a rigid identity. Let it be a doorway to inner work, not a gate to isolation, guilt, or suppression of deeper intimacy. In a changing world, we need practices that evolve with us, not dogmas that separate us.

References

Rider, J. R. et al. (2016). Ejaculation Frequency and Subsequent Risk of Prostate-Cancer. JAMA / European Urology.
Hanson, B. M. et al. (2017). The impact of ejaculatory abstinence on semen analysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.
Xi, Q. et al. (2025). Impact of ejaculation frequency on semen parameters: improved sperm vitality and lower DNA fragmentation with regular ejaculation. ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT06127875 / peer-reviewed publication.
Mascherek, A., Reidick, M. C., Gallinat, J., & Kühn, S. (2021). Is Ejaculation Frequency in Men Related to General and Mental Health? Frontiers in Psychology.
Sivananda, The Practice of Brahmacharya. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre.

Semen Retention Explained: Benefits, Risks, and the Rise of a New Masculinity Trend