Sexual Activity the Night Before Exercise Does Not Affect Various Measures of Physical Exercise Performance

Abstract

Introduction The idea that sexual activity can affect athletic performance has been a matter of conjecture for the past several decades. Aim To provide preliminary data on whether sexual activity the evening before several physical exercise performance tests affects performance the next day. Methods Eight participants (mean age, 28 ± 5 years) underwent several physical exercise performance tests on 3 different mornings, under 3 conditions: (i) no sexual intercourse the night before the tests (control), (ii) sexual intercourse the night before the tests, and (iii) yoga the night before the tests (randomized, single-blinded). Main Outcome Measures Physical work capacity, lower body muscular power (standing vertical jump), upper body strength (handgrip strength), reaction time, and upper body musculoskeletal endurance (number of push-ups completed). Results All participants experienced orgasm through intercourse. The more pleasurable the orgasm, the lower the systolic blood pressure (SBP) on the day after intercourse (Spearman’s rho = -0.86; P = .007). For every 2% increase in the total orgasm score, SBP decreased by 1 mmHg. Intercourse lasted 13 minutes; mean heart rate (HR) and caloric expenditure ranged from 88 to 145 beats/minute and from 53 to 190 kcal, respectively. There were no significant differences in the physical working capacity that elicited an HR of 170 beats/minute, number of push-ups completed, vertical jump height, grip strength, or reaction time across the 3 conditions. Conclusion Orgasm through sexual activity on the night before physical exercise may reduce SBP; however, we were unable to demonstrate a statistically significant difference in physical exercise performance in any of the 3 conditions. Zavorsky GS, Vouyoukas E, Pfaus JG. Sexual Activity the Night Before Exercise Does Not Affect Various Measures of Physical Exercise Performance. Sex Med 2019;7:235–240.

What Are the Physical Demands of Sexual Intercourse? A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…In terms of energy expenditure by healthy participants, the studies reported results variously as kcal, METs, and VO 2 reached during the activity. For example, one study found that sexual intercourse expended an average of ~ 130 kcal (Zavorsky et al, 2019 ). Another study found that this energy expenditure was greater in men (~ 101 kcal or ~ 6 METs) than in women (~ 69.10 kcal or ~ 5.60 METs) (Frappier et al, 2013 ).…”

“…When it came to healthy participants, the peak heart rates during sexual intercourse ranged from ~ 145 bpm (Zavorsky et al, 2019 ) to ~ 170 bpm (Bartlett, 1956 ). There were two studies that analyzed the heart rate pattern during the activity and both agreed that the heart rate increases progressively from foreplay to orgasm, with an average in men of between ~ 96 bpm (Xue-Rui et al, 2008 ) and ~ 127 bpm (Bohlen et al, 1984 ).…”

“…A total of 8 studies reported the average duration of sexual intercourse in their participants (Bohlen et al, 1984 ; Fox & Fox, 1969 ; Frappier et al, 2013 ; Hellerstein, 1970 ; Johnston & Fletcher, 1979 ; Littler et al, 1974 ; Palmeri et al, 2007 ; Zavorsky et al, 2019 ). While many variables account for the sexual intercourse duration (e.g., the data collection protocol, positions, psychological artifacts, etc.…”

“…Nonetheless, these data also have their own limitations—many studies did not mention or control what type of sexual activity the participants engaged in, requiring only that it culminated in intercourse and male orgasm (Palmeri et al, 2007 ). Moreover, some participants got paid (Bohlen et al, 1984 )—a recent study considered that paying participants to have sex as part of a scientific study might be controversial (Zavorsky et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Two studies reported that sexual intercourse elicited an energy expenditure of between 100 and 130 kcal in healthy adults (Frappier et al, 2013 ; Zavorsky et al, 2019 ). In addition, the mean intensity was ~ 6 METs (Frappier et al, 2013 ), which can be categorized as moderate intensity physical activity (Garber et al, 2011 ; Haskell et al, 2007 ).…”