“It’s a fun, not widely known fact that, while occurring simultaneously most of the time, orgasm and ejaculation are separate biological phenomena, and one can occur without the other,” says sexologist Jill McDevitt, M.Ed., Ph.D. Some people also believe that ejaculation releases emotions, and by not releasing them this way, you can get more in touch with them. Some also claim not masturbating improves their health in other ways, including more confidence, motivation, and cognitive skills, but there’s no science to back these claims up. To date, there doesn’t appear to be any research on the effects of dry orgasms specifically. But both Carrubba and Giuseppe Aragona, a family medicine doctor at Prescription Doctor, are skeptical about the idea that semen retention could meaningfully affect testosterone levels. “They’re small studies, so it always makes you question the validity,” says Carrubba. “There’s a small amount of evidence suggesting that it could help testosterone levels—and nothing saying that it doesn’t. If you’re interested in it and think it could help, then go for it. Just make sure that you’re still practicing safe sex.” Testosterone levels are also associated with some physical qualities like muscle mass and having a deeper voice, but no known research links the practice of semen retention with these effects. You can also better control your ejaculatory response by gaining awareness of your PC muscles, says Nantz. One way to do this is to practice stopping and starting the flow of urine when you’re peeing. Then, you can squeeze these same muscles when you feel ejaculation coming on to prevent it. Once you’re good at it, you can use edging to reach the point where you’re about to ejaculate, halt ejaculation, but continue to have the experience of the orgasm without ejaculating. You may benefit from combining your edging practice with practicing with energy orgasms. Some people attempt to use semen retention as a form of birth control or STI prevention, but sexual health experts advise against this usage. Ejaculation is hard to control, and pre-ejaculate can still lead to pregnancy and STIs, Aragona says. “It would not be wise to practice sex without additional forms of contraception, as it can be difficult to predict for certain a male will have a dry orgasm, and while there is no visible seminal fluid, there still may be traces,” he says. There are also many well-researched benefits of masturbation and benefits of orgasms. (Here’s more on how often men should masturbate, if you’re wondering.) However, some people swear by the practice. The key is just not to take it too seriously. “When learning to orgasm without ejaculating, it’s important to lead with curiosity,” says Nantz. “It’s a process of exploration to see what works with your body, and it’s a skill that takes time to cultivate, so have fun while trying.” RELATED: Sex Toys For Men Suzannah provides private coaching and courses in the areas of sex and relationships, as well as doula services.
