does masturbation affect testosterone levels?

Question

i've heard many people saying that sexual activity increases testosterone levels. if it would, masturbation would indirectly stunt your growth, as testosterone affects the process of growth plate closure (bone fusion) if im not mistaken.
i've also heard that masturbation converts testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone).
is any of this true and (if the latter is true) how does dht affect bone maturation?

Answer 1

no

Answer 2

Our body is a perfect machine with an incredible chemical laboratory.

To stimulate testosterone production, the hypothalamus releases a substance to the pituitary gland called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone, in turn, causes the gland to produce two other hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), collectively known as gonadotropins. LH is released into the bloodstream where it travels to the testes and triggers the production of testosterone from cholesterol. If this process continues until the testosterone level becomes too high, the pituitary slows the release of LH so production slows down. FSH is similarly involved in the increase and decrease in sperm production.
When LH reaches the testes, it influences activity in the Leydig cells, which are where cholesterol is gradually changed into a series of compounds until it becomes testosterone. When the small but vital amount of testosterone produced is released into the bloodstream, it is mostly bound to a special "carrier" compound called sex hormone binding globulin or SHBG. SHBG, which is produced by the liver, plays an important role in regulating the amount of "free" testosterone circulating in the body at any one time. The more SHBG there is the less unbound, active testosterone is able to move from the blood stream into cells where it is needed. As SHBG levels rise and fall, so do free testosterone levels, except in reverse.
Therefore in a healthy body testosterone level is under control.

Sexual activity doesn't increase testosterone level, evidently you heard about some endorfine produced during the sexual act which produce more libido.

About DHT, (another androgenic hormones) produced during ejaculation, its high level in the bloodstream gives Prostate enlargement and hair loss, for example. But I don't think a balanced sexual life (masturbation too) can be so risky.
Anyway, when DHT is freed into the bloodstream from your prostate, muscles (including the heart and lungs) and hair rooting cells, your liver function are responsible for removing excessive DHT and estradiol from your blood by the liver P450 detoxification system. Then, everything will flush to your toilet through your kidneys and bladder. Besides, don't think that chastity could give no problem too!

What a great body we've!

Answer 3

Masturbation has nothing to do with your shaky hands problem. Masturbation also does not affect your testosterone level. If your testosterone is low, it's definitely not because of the fact that you masturbate. So, carry on with your masturbation rituals without feeling any guilt. But so much said, don't over do it either.

Answer 4

Other than interfering with sleep male masterbation doesn't have significant impace on developement. The amount you'd have to masterbate to cause an increase of testosterone would indicate an allready elevated level of testosterone. Masterbation can help maintain Testosterone levels in older men but nature will have it's way reguardless.

Answer 5

Well my contribution to this is to point out that castrato singers in the 19th century famously grew very tall. Now I'm putting two and two together and thinking that abscence of testosterone in these males made them grow talller and taller.

But here's another bit of speculation....orgasm produces oxytocin in the brain which may lower levels of testosterone in the short term. I base this speculation on what I've read about the different ways oxytocin effects men and women. Female oestrogen seems to boost levels of oxytocin (the love chemical) in women whilst testosterone seems to inhibit it somewhat in men.

So jerking off may actually regulate your testosterone levels and not increase them. You need to check with real experts though.

Answer 6

If what you are saying is true the word would be full of really short men. DOn't sweat it. Everyone masteurbates and it doesn't affect hormones - it is the other way around.

Answer 7

There is no correlation between masturbation and growth patterns

Answer 8

no