A period of abstinence during No Nut November may not be associated with improved or worsening sexual wellbeing, though NNN participants reported increased sexual flexibility compared to those who had never participated.
No Nut November (NNN) participants reported significantly higher sexual flexibility compared to individuals who had never participated in the trend.
Over the period of abstinence during NNN, no measures of sexual wellbeing significantly differed between NNN participants and non-participants.
This study represents the first empirical investigation of No Nut November and its effects on sexual wellbeing outcomes.
Solitary sexual desire, as measured by the Sexual Desire Inventory-Solitary subscale, did not significantly change as a result of participating in NNN.
Sexual dysfunction, as measured by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, did not significantly differ between NNN participants and non-participants over the abstinence period.
The authors note that social media challenges like NNN are playing an increasing role in shaping people's sexual behavior.
No Nut November (NNN) is a popular internet challenge where participants try to avoid masturbation or ejaculation throughout the month of November. This study is the first scientific investigation of who participates in NNN and whether the challenge actually affects sexual wellbeing. Researchers surveyed over 400 people before November and followed up with about 114 of them after the challenge ended, comparing those who participated in NNN to those who did not. This research suggests that completing a month of abstinence from masturbation does not significantly improve or worsen measures of sexual wellbeing, including sexual pleasure, sexual desire, sexual dysfunction, or sexual excitation. One notable difference was that people who had previously participated in NNN tended to score higher on 'sexual flexibility' — a measure of openness to varied sexual practices — compared to those who had never tried the challenge. The researchers interpret this as meaning that sexually flexible individuals may simply be more inclined to try different sexual trends, rather than NNN causing increased flexibility. The findings matter because millions of people participate in NNN each year, often motivated by claims circulating online that abstinence will improve sexual performance, mental clarity, or overall health. This study found no measurable benefit — but also no measurable harm — to sexual wellbeing over the course of one month of abstinence. The authors caution that more long-term research is needed, and highlight the broader issue of internet and social media challenges increasingly influencing people's sexual behaviors.
Garas M, Levang S, Pukall C. (2025). No Nut November, temporary abstinence, and sexual wellbeing: a study of the short-term abstinence-based internet trend.. The journal of sexual medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdaf165