The Truth About Sex Before Sports

How Does Sexual Activity Impact Physical Performance?

The sexercise concept is all about exploring the fascinating relationship between physical activity and sexual performance.

We spend a great deal of time here at love2lose.com looking at sex as a physical activity, as well as looking at how physical activity can contribute to sexual activity.

But what happens when we look at the issue from a different perspective?

What happens when we look at the effect that sex has on physical performance, specifically in sport?

When I stumbled upon a 2016 scientific research article that specifically addresses this topic, I could barely contain my excitement because I know this is an area that will have many of you curious.

4 things you need to know about having sex before playing sports

1. It probably won’t compromise your performance on the field: I’m quite sure that some of you have heard the long-standing belief that it’s beneficial to abstain from sex the night before a major sporting event. The good news for all you athletes and weekend warriors out there is that the majority of scientific evidence does NOT support this notion. Although there are some small exceptions to keep in mind, as you will see in the points discussed below.
2. Behaviours associated with sex may have negative effects: I’m sure you breathed a sigh of relief after point #1, but there is more to the story. Behaviours that may commonly be associated with sexual activity for some people including the consumption of drugs, cigarettes and alcohol, as well as a lack of sleep can certainly be detrimental to sport performance. Keep in mind that the sex itself may not hurt, but if other factors are involved, you may not perform the way you’re used to do.
3. Timing may matter: The one thing to keep in mind when combining sexual and intense physical activity is that there is some evidence to suggest that when sexual activity takes place within two hours of physical competition, there may be some negative effect on performance. Make sure you space the two out appropriately and you will be just fine.
4. We still have a lot to learn: The amount of available high-quality studies on this topic is not yet huge, so you should question anyone who makes general sweeping statements about the association between sexual activity and physical/sport performance. Different types of sports require different energy systems in the body, and it is impossible to generalize the effect of sex before activity has on these systems.

The Sexercise lifestyle is all about learning how to best combine sexual and physical activity to make sure you perform your best: both inside and outside the bedroom.

The insights gained from today’s article are another step towards understanding what it takes to reach that goal.

Source

Stefani L, Galanti G, Padulo J, Bragazzi NL, Maffulli N. Sexual Activity before Sports Competition: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Physiology. 2016; 7:246. doi:10.3389/fphys.2016.00246.