Men only have 6,000 sexual intercourses in their lifetime? Should we abstain from sex?

As a urologist, I often receive inquiries like this when I am seeing patients: "What is the appropriate frequency of ejaculation?" Some people will also share a rumor they have heard: "A man can only ejaculate 6,000 times in his lifetime"... Is this rumor true?

Let me give you the answer first: From a scientific point of view, a man will ejaculate more than 6,000 times in his lifetime, but the frequency should still be appropriate.

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Sperm production is fast, sudden death is less likely

First, let’s do a simple calculation to see how long it will last if we ejaculate 6,000 times?

If you ejaculate once a day, it will take about 16 years, and if you ejaculate twice a week, it will take about 57 years. So, generally speaking, if a man ejaculates twice a week, 6,000 times in his lifetime is enough.

Even if some energetic and healthy people have sex more than this number, they will not die suddenly as described in some literary works or rumors (most sudden deaths during sex are mainly due to underlying diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases). This is because semen is produced very quickly.
The male reproductive system can produce 100 to 200 million sperms every day. Sperms account for less than 5% of the semen discharged each time, and the remaining 95% is seminal plasma, which is secreted by the seminal vesicles, prostate and urethral glands. It is mainly a large amount of water, and a small amount of protein, enzyme, fructose and other ingredients.

Although the sperm maturation cycle is about three months, the sperm will be replenished soon after it is discharged, and the cycle repeats. Therefore, if you are healthy and well-maintained, it is generally no problem to ejaculate more than 6,000 times in your lifetime.

The frequency should be appropriate

Since ejaculation frequency exceeding 6,000 is generally not a problem, is it okay to be unrestrained? What is the appropriate ejaculation frequency?
There are various opinions on the Internet about the appropriate frequency of ejaculation, but many of them are actually unfounded. After all, everyone has many influencing factors. In addition to the number of ejaculations, age, physical condition, work and life pressure, and chronic diseases (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.) can all affect the quality of sexual life.

It should be emphasized that although there is no authoritative statement indicating what is the appropriate frequency of ejaculation, doctors generally recommend ejaculating within one's ability, mainly as long as it does not affect one's mental and physical state. Two or three times a week is mostly fine for young men, but it should not be too frequent in a short period of time, and it is not recommended to ejaculate multiple times a day or every day.

Many men in their 20s have multiple or continuous ejaculations a day, but after a few months or a year or two, they will find themselves experiencing erectile dysfunction, abnormal urination, and mental depression. This is just like when you need to rest after running. Adjust your mentality and reduce the frequency. Exercise is the solution to the main problem. Only in a few cases do you need to use other drugs or other treatments.

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In addition, our body has its own protection mechanism, and there will be an erection refractory period after ejaculation (normal time is 20~30 minutes). The refractory period is shorter when you are young, and it may become longer later.

Of course, ensuring a certain frequency is also beneficial to the health of semen. Appropriate ejaculation has many benefits, one of which is that it is conducive to the renewal of sperm. Abstinence for too long will also affect the quality of semen, so when checking sperm quality, the hospital will require abstinence for 2 to 7 days before checking to avoid affecting sperm quality for too long.

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Improving sperm quality depends on persistence

When it comes to the frequency of ejaculation, many people will worry about fertility issues. At present, with the general decline in semen quality worldwide, the improvement of sperm quality still depends on daily persistence and accumulation. Here are some suggestions for improving sperm for your reference.

1

Quit smoking, drinking, and drug abuse

Multiple studies have found that excessive smoking, drinking and drug abuse are the main causes of male infertility and sperm decline, with smoking having a greater impact. Nicotine and alcohol affect hormones and semen motility, density and morphology. Quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding drug abuse can clearly improve semen quality. Be prepared for pregnancy in advance.

2

Lose weight appropriately and keep your BMI reasonable

BMI stands for body mass index or BMI. Like smoking, it has also been found in multiple studies to be negatively correlated with sperm quality. The higher the BMI index, the greater the impact on sperm quality. In simple terms, the fatter the body, the worse it is for sperm quality. Therefore, proper weight loss and maintaining a normal BMI index (18-24) are not only good for physical health, but also significantly improve sperm quality.

3

Keep exercising and improve bad living habits

Keep exercising twice a week, such as running, playing ball, swimming, etc. You can choose the method that suits you. Avoiding long periods of sitting, staying up late, eating a healthy and balanced diet, and avoiding hot springs and saunas are also good for improving sperm, but the key lies in execution and persistence. Including increasing the intake of foods rich in zinc, selenium, and vitamin E, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains.

4

Relax your mind and avoid excessive anxiety

Emotional influence is very important. Many couples become overly anxious and nervous if they fail to conceive for a few months, which in turn affects hormone levels and is not conducive to pregnancy preparation. In addition, pressure from work and life can also affect semen production.

Planning and production

This article is a work of Science Popularization China-Starry Sky Project

Produced by: Science Popularization Department of China Association for Science and Technology

Producer｜China Science and Technology Press Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongke Xinghe Culture Media Co., Ltd.

Author: Zhuo Yangjia, attending physician of the Department of Urology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital

Review丨Wu Zhigang, deputy chief physician, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University

Planning丨Zhong Yanping

Editors: Zhong Yanping, Yinuo