Can You Have Too Many Orgasms?

If you're 

fortunate enough to have sex as often as a porn star, you might have two questions: "How'd I get so awesome?" followed by, "Wait, could there be a downside to having all these orgasms?"

While we don't have an answer for the first, we turned to Jonathan Schiff, M.D., assistant clinical professor of urology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, to set the second straight: “Physiologically, there’s little risk of causing any permanent issues with very frequent orgasms,” says Dr. Schiff.

That's the good news. But for guys who masturbate morning, noon, night (and midnight), the answer becomes a little different. “Psychologically, if you’re relying on visual aids like porn it can alter your expectations to the extent that being with a real woman becomes less exciting and you could have trouble performing,” he says. “I’ve seen this several times with young, healthy guys where the real thing isn’t as great as their fantasy life.”

And although frequent orgasms may not cause lasting damage, there are some temporary issues you should know. “If you ejaculate an awful lot, you can use up the fluid stored in the seminal vesicle and prostate and cause you to have dry ejaculations,” Dr. Schiff says. “Medically, it’s not an issue, but it can be very disturbing for any guy.” Equally disturbing: Minor injuries or infections that may occur from frequent orgasms could cause blood in your urine or semen, and the skin of your shaft may become irritated and uncomfortable. Ouch.

You could also temporarily affect nerves that make subsequent orgasms less satisfying. “After you ejaculate, the nerves reach a threshold and need to rebalance themselves in an electrical and chemical way so they can fire again,” says Dr. Schiff. It’s a process known as repolarization. “When a nerve is constantly stimulated, it may not fully repolarize. So it won’t be as sensitive the next time you ejaculate,” he adds. (Maximize your pleasure and go for quality over quantity with these 8 Tricks to Make Your Orgasms Even Better.)

If you’re having rampant intercourse with your wife in an attempt to get pregnant, you may want to alter your approach. “Sperm count goes down with each ejaculation,” Dr. Schiff says. Marathon sex can actually work against your attempts to put a bun in the oven. Instead, knock boots every other day around ovulation to increase the likelihood of success, he says. 

Finally, consider the circumstances around your frequent orgasms. New relationship? Vibrant sex life? It feels freakin’ fantastic? Grab a condom (or 12) and you’re good to go.  “However, if you’re masturbating seven to 10 times per day or planning your day around masturbating, it could indicate a mental health issue like obsessive compulsive disorder,” Dr. Schiff says. If so, seek out the help of psychologist.