I’m a Doctor and Here’s How Sex Can Affect Your Athletic Performance

For years, there has been the belief that the sex before doing sport may negatively influence physical performance .

In this sense, many athletes They believe that the energy built up by sexual abstinence before a competition can be released later during the competition, which could help to win the match or race in question.

However, Some experts suggest that sexual activity before competition can improve performance. .

This, beyond the benefits that sex brings in itself both physically and mentally.

One of them is Michael Siebers, a doctor in psychiatry and psychotherapy and research assistant at the Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Sexual Research in Essen .

In conversation with Deutsche Welle explained that Sex activates the cardiovascular system, stimulates blood circulation, relieves stress and pain, and helps with sleep. .

For that, several hormones are involved .

The doctor explained that During the excitement phase, adrenaline increases blood pressure, while dopamine is linked to euphoria. .

On another side, Testosterone and estrogen linked to desire sexual.

“Oxytocin is the heart hormone . It ensures closeness and connection. “Oxytocin levels peak during the orgasm phase,” he added.

Once orgasm is reached, prolactin comes into play .

“Among other things, It is the hormone of relaxation and satisfaction, which tells us that we no longer want sex. (…) its levels increase up to an hour after intercourse,” Siebers explained.

The latter could interfere with athletic performance because it has a calming effect.

For this reason he said that It is not advisable to have an orgasm just before starting a physical activity. .

However, as an example, he clarified that If you have sex the day before, you should not experience any problems with athletic performance. .

Although there are previous studies that have analyzed the influence of gender on athletes’ performance and concluded that it may contribute to their slowness, Siebers cited a 2022 meta-analysis on sports and sex.

Looking at this set of studies, The authors found that this activity had no negative effects on the athletes’ performance. .

From the doctor’s point of view, it can even improve performance .

“Sex is a physical activity and, therefore, can naturally increase fitness ” he told the aforementioned German media.

Actually, He investigates what he describes as “runner’s high.” .

“It’s a feeling that occurs during endurance sports and is accompanied by euphoria, less anxiety, less pain and calm (…) It is probably caused by endocannabinoids “.

As he supposes, It is possible that the cannabinoid system – which is part of the nervous system – is activated not only when an athlete runs, but also during sexual intercourse. .

However, Further research is still needed on this point. about.