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By Perry Gil
S. Mallari
Health News Magazine
YES, there are
101 things better to do than sex, but let’s face it, sex is a
valid physical need, a biological urge like craving for food or
water. And to top it all, it is among life’s most pleasurable
privileges. But there are situations where normal heterosexual sex
is not possible or advisable (even for a normal hot-blooded straight
man) due to separation from a partner whether by divorce or death.
Definition
Sexual
abstinence may have various meanings to different people but to
simplify things for the purpose of this brief treatise, we will
stick to the most common definition, which is “not having sexual
intercourse.” A number of things may drive a man to take the path
of abstinence among them are moral, religious, legal or health
factors. Whatever the underlying reason is, pursuing abstinence will
definitely affect a man’s physical and emotional well being one
way or the other.
Ejaculation
Before the
20th century, it was generally believed that frequent ejaculation or
heavy loss of semen is detrimental to a man’s health. As recent as
the 1950s, medical researchers still attributed a number of male
physical and mental disorders to nutrients loss via seminal
discharge. In his 1957 essay entitled Science Discover the
Physiological Value of Continence, Raymond W. Bernard, Ph.D. said:
“It is clear that there is an important internal physiological
relation between the secretions of the sex glands and the central
nervous system, that the loss of these secretions, voluntarily or
involuntarily, exercises a detrimental effect on the nutrition and
vitality of the nerves and brain, while the conservation of these
secretions has a vitalizing effect on the nervous system, a
regenerating effect on the endocrine glands and a rejuvenating
effect on the organism as a whole.”
This
scientific view, however, changed through the course of time. In
more recent scientific findings, indications surfaced that in fact,
frequent ejaculation can lower the incidence of prostate cancer in
men.
Abstinence
and mood
There are two
rather contradicting views on the effect of abstinence on the mood
of men. Psychologist J.M Prescott reported in 1975 a correlation
between sexual repression and aggressive behavior. This premise was
further reinforced by recent medical findings that indeed, increased
level of the hormone testosterone in male due to abstinence could be
associated to feelings of aggression. Sex was also considered by
many the best tranquilizer and stress reliever. Abstaining from
sexual intercourse therefore means a more stressful life.
On the other
hand, there are also scientific findings that suggest that sexual
abstinence can lead to a natural high. Reducing the frequency of
ejaculation will result to build up of sex hormones testosterone and
estrogen that have antidepressant effects to the brain. Although
orgasm can produce a momentary euphoria, some experts believe that
increased levels of the said hormones through prolonged abstinence
can lead to a long lasting sense of well being in men.
Other modes
of emission
Abstinent men
may often experience wet dreams or nocturnal emission, which is the
body’s natural way of disposing excess semen. Another option
available in dealing with the issue of excess storage is regulated
masturbation. There are religious and moral issues concerning this
act but then again, for men experiencing severe discomfort due to
“blue balls” phenomenon, masturbation can be deemed as the
“lesser evil’ compared to trip to a brothel that leaves one
worrying later whether he had caught a nasty bug. Wellness guru Dr.
Andrew Weil considers self-stimulation a healthy habit that a person
can keep even through the twilight years of life.
Not for the
faint of heart
It takes real
strength of character to tread on the path of abstinence. Real
abstinence goes beyond the repression of libido but aims at the
transformation of man’s carnal desires. It’s grabbing the sexual
beast within you by the horn and whipping it into submission. No
wonder abstinence is a practiced by many enlightened individuals
through the ages including ascetics and the legendary Shaolin monks
of yore. To wrap it up, abstinence, in short, is for men not boys.
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