Hair loss is a considerable problem for men of all ages. 40% of men will notice some level of hair loss by the time they are 35 years old and 65% of men will experience the problem by the time they are 60. British men are more affected by hair loss than any other European nation. Because hair loss is a condition that is so prevalent, theories and old wives tales (some logical and some downright ridiculous) abound about what you can do at home to encourage hair growth. Many of these theories revolve around sex.
The fact is that if sex or masturbation caused hair loss then every man on the planet would be bald! That doesn’t mean that every man with thinning hair in the country hasn’t been warned about this theory though: it is a myth that has been popular for decades. Here we assess the science behind the theory, and assess whether there is any truth behind it:
The Power of Protein
Semen is comprised of 90% water and 10% protein: because protein is an essential component for hair growth and strength, this forms the basis of the theory that ejaculation (either through intercourse or masterbation) can help contribute to hair loss. Hair is essentially fibrous protein, and we know that protein is essential for the continued growth of strong and healthy hair. However, the amount of protein that you lose when you ejaculate is so small, that they are considered to be just trace amounts (making up just 5-7 calories were they to be consumed) and will have a negligible impact on your hair.
To put this into context, just over 50% of the dry weight within the average human body is comprised of protein. That means that it would be virtually impossible for the very small amount you lose when you ejaculate (which you almost immediately replenish) would be able to contribute to hair loss at all. This is a theory that has been almost completely debunked, and scientists have been unable to find any relationship between the frequency of ejaculations and hair loss.
In reality eating a healthy diet full of vitamins and minerals and, if you don’t have a particularly nutrient-filled diet, taking a daily vitamin supplement, will give your hair the protein it needs for strong growth, and will have a much bigger impact on the quality of your hair growth than anything else. Some great examples of nutritional changes you can make to your diet to minimise your risk of experiencing hair loss include:
- Red meats that contain high levels of ferritin, such as beef steak, veal and lamb.
- Increased protein consumption should be combined with iron-rich foods such as green leafy veggies, chickpeas, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, nuts and whole grains.
- Finally, if you plan on increasing your iron consumption, you should also increase your vitamin C consumption. Vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron, and can be found in citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit.
If protein consumption is a concern (and you feel you need to counterbalance any loss as the result of sex, just to be on the safe side) then you may also be interested to know that the average amount of protein an adult male needs to ingest each day is 56 grams. However the average amount of protein the average British male consumes each day is 84 grams. We are a nation of protein eaters, and yet we are also the second-baldest nation in Europe, helping to demonstrate that there is no measurable correlation between the two factors.
Too Much Testosterone?
Another popular theory linking sex and hair loss is that ejaculation increases testosterone levels, and that this can increase the likelihood that you will succumb to male pattern baldness (especially if you are beginning to show signs of the condition or have a strong family history).
There is some small logic to this theory, as male pattern baldness is in part caused as a by-product of the male sex hormone, testosterone, called DHT. DHT levels certainly do increase slightly when you enjoy significantly increased levels of sexual activity, but not enough to have any impact if you are already experiencing hair loss. In reality, this kind of hair loss is the result of genetics.
It’s a not very glamorous (or very sexy) fact that male pattern baldness is hereditary and you will either have a genetic predisposition to the condition or you won’t. The amount of testosterone in your body doesn’t cause your hair loss: the genetic sensitivity of those hair follicles towards any exposure to DHT is what causes the follicles to shrink, and ultimately leads to hair thinning and loss. To this end, the size of your libido is irrelevant: it is the genetic size of your hair follicles that really counts.
Finally the Good News…
Were you hoping their might be some link between increased sexual activity and hair loss? Wanting to hear that sex was good for hair growth? There is some good news! Any form of physical activity will increase the blood flow to your whole body including to your scalp, which is known to stimulate hair growth and will help nutrients to migrate down your hair follicles. This in turn will help your hair grow faster and will also leave it looking healthier and glossier at the same time. And there is no better form of fun physical activity than having sex!
Increasing your scalp circulation can be achieved in many other ways: brushing your hair, indulging in a head massage, enjoying regular yoga classes and even practicing deep mindful breathing will all help to improve the circulation to your scalp. And this technique has been proven to help minimise hair shedding and prolong the gap between the onset of premature hair loss and completely losing your hair. The best thing about this list is that these are all simple techniques which are easy for anyone to achieve. But let’s face it, if the same effect can be achieved by having sex, why not give it a go and have a little fun?
And in Conclusion….
Losing your hair doesn’t have to mean that your sex life will suffer. In reality, whether you have the sex life or a monk or you’re at it like rabbits will not have any real effect on your hair.
So why not go ahead and enjoy your sex life! It is highly unlikely that having a healthy sex life will contribute to your hair loss in any way, and life is far too short to give up something that you enjoy for fear that it may lead to the loss of an additional hair or two!