There has been a long-standing myth that professional athletes should avoid sexual activity before a big game as it could hinder their performance. Well, some Italian researchers put this myth to the test. Not only did they find that sex before a game doesn’t hurt athlete performance, but the research suggests it may actually improve it.
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The researchers reviewed nine studies that looked at the impact of sexual activity on sports performance.
Lead author Laura Stefani said, “Abstaining from sexual activity before athletic competition is a controversial topic in the world of sport. We show no robust scientific evidence to indicate that sexual activity has a negative effect upon athletic results.”
Stefani concluded, “We clearly show that this topic has not been well investigated and only anecdotal stories have been reported. In fact, unless it takes place less than two hours before, the evidence actually suggests sexual activity may have a beneficial effect on sports performance.”
The researchers concluded that athletes do not need to feel guilty for giving into their temptations before the game day.
Emily Lunardo studied medical sociology at York University with a strong focus on the social determinants of health and mental illness. She is a registered Zumba instructor, as well as a Canfit Pro trainer, who teaches fitness classes on a weekly basis. Emily practices healthy habits in her own life as well as helps others with their own personal health goals. Emily joined Bel Marra Health as a health writer in 2013.
