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Can intense exercise, such as marathon running, affect a man’s sexual performance?

Posted March 15th, 2007 at 9:09 AM by Jamal Walker

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise

A study in the medical journal, Fertility and Sterility, shows that the only sexual change caused by hard exercise is a decrease in the volume of a man’s semen.

Twenty-four marathon runners had their blood and semen checked regularly as they increased their training for competition. All sex hormones remained the same except for an increase in the hormone, prolactin, which did not affect their ability or desire to make love. The only change in sexual function was a decreased volume of semen.

Getting in shape won’t make most people better lovers because making love takes only the amount of energy required to walk up two flights of stairs. If you can walk up two flights of stairs, you can make love.

However, those who overdue it in the gym or on training runs - may find themselves too physically exhausted to make love, or at least to do so regularly. By the time that happens, you will probably have sore muscles all the time, will hate exercising, and probably be headed for an injury. Just one more reason (and a darn good one) to ensure proper rest and recovery after your workouts.

Research Sources:

1) CE Jensen, K Wiswedel, J Mcloughlin, Z Vanderspuy. Prospective study of hormonal and semen profiles in marathon runners. Fertility and Sterility 64: 6 (DEC 1995):1189-1196.

2) McConnell, T.R. and Sinning, W.E. Med Sci in Sports and Exercise 1984;16(1):51-55.

3) NEJM 1980;303:112.

4) Med Aspects of Human Sexuality 1980;14(9):121

This post is written by Dr. Gabe Mirkin, M.D. and used with permission. Dr. Mirkin is board certified in Sports Medicine and has practiced for over 40 years. He has completed more than 40 marathons and was a talk show host of a nationally-syndicated radio program for about 25 years. For more articles by Dr. Mirkin, please check out: www.DrMirkin.com

Running and Your Fertility said:

[…] Men and how they are affected As a single childless man, I was more than curious to know how running affects me. On www.thefinalsprint.com they have this article running and men fertility. The conclusion was the only effect was a slight reduction on semen. It was based on A study in the medical journal, Fertility and Sterility. Twenty-four marathon runners had their blood and semen checked regularly as they increased their training for competition. All sex hormones remained the same except for an increase in the hormone, prolactin, which did not affect their ability or desire to make love. The only change in sexual function was a decreased volume of semen. […]
May 24th, 2008 at 5:31 am
How Exercise Affects Sex said:

[…] Source of the story, a study in the medical journal, Fertility and Sterility, […]
September 18th, 2008 at 4:15 am