Two-time world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury recently announced his retirement following a win against Dillian Whyte at London's Wembley Stadium. While this move will likely see him taking a different approach to training, we wonder if the boxer will be cutting back on his seven-times-a-day masturbation habit he claims was crucial to his success in the ring. 

The boxer talked candidly about his self-pleasure habits, likening it to part of his health and training routine, much like one would embrace a clean diet or leg day. In previous interviews, he mentioned he's willing to try anything that would give him an edge and credits his unique approach for keeping his testosterone pumping.

But does masturbating seven times a day actually give you an edge against your opponents? The number alone might prove to be challenging for some- not everyone has the luxury to devote this much time to pleasure-seeking in one day. We dig deeper and speak to three sexual health experts to determine if masturbation and ejaculation will help make you a better athlete. 

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According to a 2021 study on male masturbation habits by male sex toy maker Arcwave, 57 per cent of 14,000 males across 17 countries revealed they masturbate at least once a week. This ranges depending on region, with Hongkongers reporting an average of 3.19 times a week while Australian men surveyed do it four times a week. 

Finding a balance and masturbating the 'right amount', according to clinical psychologist and sex therapist Dr Christopher Ryan Jones, varies from man to man. "If they are able to keep up with work or school, manage their relationships and responsibilities, [they can] masturbate as much as they like."

Frequency should align with your lifestyle, and it comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. "For some people that may be masturbating seven times a day, for others, it may be less, for others, it may be more, and for some, they may not masturbate every day. And all of those are okay amounts," says Jones. 

There's no doubt a link between sex and testosterone level in men. According to Australian male sex expert Cam Fraser, how much one affects the other, and their correlation is still blurry. "While there is a link between masturbation frequency and testosterone, it is as yet unclear in which direction this correlation occurs. It may not necessarily be that frequent masturbation increases testosterone but that someone with already high levels of testosterone has a higher libido and thus masturbates more frequently."

This testosterone boost post-self pleasure, however, is likely short-lived. "Masturbation increases testosterone at the moment of sexual stimulation. So does the mere act of becoming aroused, but it drops back down to average levels immediately after ejaculation." says sexologist and sex coach Sergio Fosela. 

Myriad factors such as a healthy diet, foods rich in zinc, weight loss, strength and high-intensity training, and active sexual life, he says, also contribute to testosterone levels. 

While he notes no hard scientific evidence points to masturbation's impact on athletic performance, Fosela says it plays a vital role for athletes, and frequency depends on the type of sports you do.

Fosela says one should adapt their masturbation approach to the type of sports they engage in. High impact sports like boxing require a spike in testosterone, while athletes who rely more heavily on their mental strength should focus on boosting endorphins and serotonin.

He suggests those who engage in high impact sports increase the frequency of masturbation a week prior and abstain until game day to take advantage of a testosterone peak. 

"But in other sports where concentration is essential, masturbating a few hours before can provide a more immediate release of endorphins and serotonin essential to keep the mind relaxed."

However, Fraser says it's a personal choice when it comes down to it. "Some athletes report that they don't masturbate or have sex before a match because they believe it makes them tired or sluggish. Other athletes report that they do have sex or masturbate before a match because it makes them feel relaxed and refreshed."

It sounds simple enough, however taxing it might seem, but is frequent masturbation really the answer to overall enhanced physical performance? Jones echoes Fosela's sentiments on its questionable effects and warns against getting your hopes up. "If someone hears this and thinks, 'wow, if I masturbate seven times a day, I can fight like Tyson Fury' – sorry, but it's just not going to happen. However, if we think about masturbation as part of an overall wellness routine, masturbation is definitely very beneficial and is something that I often recommend to clients."

Also see: Do you need a mindfulness coach? We ask one to find out