How Sex and Masturbation Influence Athletes' Sleep and Performance

Nelson Vergel · 2026-01-26T06:52:42-0600

Abstract

Purpose: Athletes frequently experience sleep disturbances due to training intensity, competitive pressure, and travel. While sexual activity, particularly achieving orgasm, is linked with improved sleep through hormonal mechanisms in general populations, this relationship remains unexplored in athletes, whose sleep and recovery needs are unique. This cross-sectional study primarily aimed to examine competitive athletes' perceptions regarding how sexual activity (partnered intercourse and masturbation, with or without orgasm) influences sleep quality, latency, and sport performance and explore differences by sex and sport discipline (individual vs team).

Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 164 competitive athletes (males = 115, females = 49; age 18-40 y) from Italian sport federations completed a structured survey assessing sexual behavior, orgasm frequency, sleep parameters, and perceived athletic impact. Statistical analysis included chi-square, Fisher exact, and t tests with significance at P < .05.

Results: A majority reported that orgasmic sexual activity significantly improved sleep quality (partnered sex: 67.7%, masturbation: 49.1%) and latency (partnered sex: 58.4%, masturbation: 46.9%). Partnered sex appeared slightly more beneficial, but the difference was not statistically significant (quality: P = .810, latency: P = .996). Significant sex differences emerged in orgasm consistency during partnered sex (men: 77.8%, women: 30.0%; P < .001) and masturbation (men: 99.1%, women: 83.3%; P < .001). No sex or sport-discipline differences were identified regarding perceived sleep benefits or performance impact; most athletes (≥50%) perceived no negative effects on training or competition.

Conclusion: Competitive athletes perceive sexual activity with orgasm as beneficial for sleep and neutral regarding athletic performance, challenging conventional abstinence recommendations. Practitioners should adopt individualized, evidence-based strategies when advising athletes on sexual behavior in relation to sleep and performance.

Int J Sports Physiol Perform
. 2026 Jan 20:1-11.
doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0265. Online ahead of print.