If you're clicking on this article you're probably a little worried about masturbating and whether or not it can lower your testosterone levels.

It's no surprise. After all, there’s a lot of rumour and misconception swirling around male abstinence. With online communities and social media clout chasers encouraging each other to abstain from pornography, claiming to have better sex, more testosterone and increased confidence as a result of this self-imposed masturbation ban, a lot of men don't know where to turn (or what to pull).

But is there any research to back up these claims? Researchers from Zhejiang University set out to find out.

The scientists checked the testosterone levels of a group of abstaining men every day for a week. During most of the week, the testosterone fluctuations were minimal at best. However, on day 7, the researchers found that testosterone levels rocketed to a massive 145% of their baseline levels. That’s a lot of T.

Why are people searching for more testosterone? Because your T-levels account for much more than your sex drive.

Testosterone also increases the potential for muscle growth by forcing our body to increase protein synthesis, according to the Journal of Applied Physiology. Low testosterone is also a contributing factor in hair loss, weight gain and decreased bone density.

The research is unclear as to why it takes exactly seven days to take effect, but there are safer ways to boost your T. There is also conflicting research, with researchers from Boston University finding that frequent ejaculation is linked to a decreased prostate cancer risk.

Will Masturbating Lower My Testosterone?

No. It won't. Ok, you may hear some people say it will but it's important to listen to the science. Always listen to the science, guys. In fact, if you're to take anything away from this story it's this: if you're faced with a TikTok of an 20-year-old claiming stopping masturbating was the reason he became more focused and a millionaire as a result or a research paper published in a reputable journal, always go for the latter. Science doesn't lie whereas that kid who lives off rich daddy's credit card probably does.

And the science is pretty neutral, with very little research establishing any real link between masturbation and a reduction (or increase) in your levels of testosterone.

Is Low Testosterone a Bad Thing & What Are the Symptoms?

Well, it's not great. Low testosterone can impact your life in a number of ways, most notably:

• Low libido (sex drive)
• Difficulty achieving an erection
• Hair loss
• Tiredness
• Loss in muscle mass
• Decrease in bone mass

Will Masturbating Affect My Ability to Build Muscle?

Providing you're doing what you're supposed to be doing in the gym and consuming adequate levels of protein, then masturbating won't stop you from building muscle.

It's also important to note that there's very little evidence showing that refraining from masturbation or sexual activity before a workout can help you build muscle any quicker.