Competitive athletes perceive sexual activity with orgasm as beneficial for sleep and neutral regarding athletic performance, challenging conventional abstinence recommendations.
Key Findings
Results
A majority of competitive athletes reported that orgasmic partnered sexual activity improved sleep quality and sleep latency.
67.7% of athletes reported that partnered sex improved sleep quality
58.4% reported that partnered sex improved sleep latency (time to fall asleep)
Sample consisted of 164 competitive athletes (males = 115, females = 49) aged 18-40 years from Italian sport federations
Study used a structured survey assessing sexual behavior, orgasm frequency, sleep parameters, and perceived athletic impact
Results
Masturbation with orgasm was also perceived as improving sleep quality and latency, though at lower rates than partnered sex.
49.1% of athletes reported masturbation improved sleep quality
The difference between partnered sex and masturbation was not statistically significant for sleep quality (P = .810) or latency (P = .996)
Partnered sex appeared slightly more beneficial but not significantly so
Results
Significant sex differences were found in orgasm consistency during both partnered sex and masturbation.
During partnered sex, 77.8% of men reported consistent orgasm compared to 30.0% of women (P < .001)
During masturbation, 99.1% of men reported consistent orgasm compared to 83.3% of women (P < .001)
Statistical analysis included chi-square, Fisher exact, and t tests with significance set at P < .05
Results
No significant sex or sport-discipline differences were identified regarding perceived sleep benefits or athletic performance impact.
Perceived sleep benefits did not differ between male and female athletes
Perceived sleep benefits did not differ between individual and team sport athletes
Most athletes (≥50%) perceived no negative effects on training or competition from sexual activity
Sport disciplines were categorized as individual versus team sports
Background
Athletes frequently experience sleep disturbances due to training intensity, competitive pressure, and travel, making sleep and recovery needs unique compared to the general population.
The relationship between sexual activity and sleep had not been previously explored specifically in athletes prior to this study
Sexual activity, particularly achieving orgasm, is linked with improved sleep through hormonal mechanisms in general populations
The study design was cross-sectional and descriptive, limiting causal inferences
Participants were recruited from Italian sport federations
Conclusions
The authors conclude that practitioners should adopt individualized, evidence-based strategies when advising athletes on sexual behavior in relation to sleep and performance.
Findings challenge conventional abstinence recommendations sometimes given to athletes before competition
The study suggests sexual activity with orgasm is perceived as beneficial for sleep and neutral regarding athletic performance
The cross-sectional design means the study captures perceptions rather than objective measurements of sleep or performance
Authors call for individualized rather than blanket abstinence-based advice
What This Means
This research suggests that competitive athletes largely perceive sexual activity — both with a partner and through masturbation — as helpful for sleep rather than harmful to athletic performance. In a survey of 164 Italian competitive athletes aged 18–40, more than half reported that having sex with a partner improved how quickly they fell asleep and how well they slept overall. Masturbation showed similar but somewhat smaller benefits. Importantly, at least half of athletes reported no negative effects on their training or competition from sexual activity.
The study also found notable differences between male and female athletes in how reliably they reached orgasm, particularly during partnered sex (about 78% of men versus 30% of women reported consistent orgasm). Since orgasm appears to be the key mechanism behind sleep benefits — likely through the release of hormones like oxytocin and prolactin — this difference may have practical implications. However, when it came to perceived sleep benefits and performance impact, men and women reported similar experiences, and there were no meaningful differences between individual sport and team sport athletes.
This research suggests that the traditional advice sometimes given to athletes to abstain from sex before competition may not be well-supported. Instead, the findings point toward a need for personalized guidance from coaches and sports medicine professionals, taking into account individual athletes' experiences and circumstances. The study is based on self-reported perceptions rather than objective sleep measurements, so future research using devices like actigraphy or polysomnography would help confirm these findings.
Vitale J, Bizzozero S, Borghi S, Banfi G. (2026). From the Bedroom to the Arena: How Sex and Masturbation Influence Athletes' Sleep.. International journal of sports physiology and performance. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2025-0265