Sex, Does it Really Affect Athletic Performance?
You may have heard it from your high school coach, or some of your teachers, even the great Mohammed Ali swears by it. The prevailing myth that sex hurts athletic performance is as old as sports itself. Some athletes believe that it relaxes them to a point that they would not want to compete, others swear it drains vital fluids necessary for a top athlete, but is there really scientific proof to all this?
There is not. Having sex before an event should not physically hinder your athletic output or performance . In actuality it may even help athletes before an important game. The usual scenario the night before a game or competition is one filled with anxiety and insomnia. One of the most inexpensive, easiest, and beneficial ways to have a good night's rest and relax is sex, even if it is masturbation. Only persons with severe heart conditions may have a problem with sexual activity, and those people would hardly be medically fit to undertake serious athletic competition.
However this is not
an invitation to have limitless sex the night before a major competition.
As with everything in life, abusing sex can blind your athletic
goals and output. Having sexual intercourse the whole night before
a competition, and not sleeping defeats the whole purpose of resting
and focusing for the upcoming competition. If you find that sex
deviates from your athletics goals, or it does not motivate you
in a positive way, then you should stick to what works. Many athletes
swear by their own personal training methods whether it is physically
or healthily sound. The outcome is that the athlete believes in
it so much that it influences him or her to perform better.
One should also be aware
of having safe sex when engaged in any sexual activity. It is true
that sex can relax and calm the nerves of an anxious athlete, but
unprotected sex can lead
to more troubles than benefits. STD's or even pregnancy can result
and your whole athletic career can be sidelined or compromised.
The bottom line is that physiologically, sex is well within the boundaries of athletes as well as the normal person. Here is some food for thought. The Minnesota Viking's last four trips to the Super Bowl ended in defeat, 0-4. Might that be due to the fact that the coaches enforced abstinence the night before?2 U.S track star Lynn Jennings claims that having sex with her husband helped her win a national title.3 Just remember if you decide to engage in sexual activity, be safe and smart about it.
1 Thornton, James S. "Sexual Activity and Athletic Performance:
Is There a Relationship?"
Physician and Sports Medicine V18, N3 (March, 1990):148
"Birds do it, Bees do it, (but not before a marathon)."
UC Berkeley Wellness Letter
February 2001: 6
2 Thornton, James S. "Sexual Activity and Athletic Performance:
Is There a Relationship?"
Physician and Sports Medicine V18, N3 (March, 1990):148
3 Chidley, Joe. "Sex and the Modern Athlete."
Maclean's V109 N30 (July 22, 1996)