The Truth About Sex, Masturbation and Hair Loss

Posted by Kate

In this article: Hair Loss | Male Hair Loss


If sex or masturbation lead to hair loss, just about everyone on the planet would be bald. Still, there are many theories that claim there’s a link between sexual activity and hair loss so they’re worth noting just to clear the air. If we can set the record straight and no man or woman need complain about their partner’s libido any longer.

Masturbation Does Not Cause Hair Loss Despite Popular Myths, Masturbation Does Not Cause Hair Loss


One of the main theories regarding sexual activity and hair loss is that 'excessive' ejection of seminal fluid may lead to a protein deficiency in the body, and thus hair loss. Seminal fluid is composed of around 90% water and 10% protein and protein is responsible for the growth and repair of many of the body's tissues, including hair. As hair is also essentially fibrous protein, it makes sense that depleted protein levels will affect hair growth.

However, over 50% of the dry weight of your body consists of protein so even ‘excessive’ expulsion of seminal fluid will not reduce the overall protein levels of most men. Although protein has many roles to play in the body (structurally, metabolically and protection of the immune system), the hair generally gets the protein it needs to maintain a healthy condition through proper nutrition and perhaps supplements for hair growth. The average daily need for protein is estimated at around 56g per day but the average intake for men in the UK is higher than this, at 84g per day.

Hair loss affects 8 in 10 men at some point in their life and male pattern baldness is the main offender. It’s not the result of a lack of protein (although nutrition does play a part in hair growth) that causes the progressive condition, it is a little by-product of the male sex hormone, testosterone, called DHT. I hear the bells ringing in your head ‘there’s the word sex again!’

Cue another popular sex-related hair loss theory sex and masturbation increase testosterone levels which lead to the production of more dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which in turn causes hair loss. Again, this theory is very 'Confucius says’, but it is not true. High testosterone levels aren’t the root problem and are not what instigate DHT to cause hair loss. It’s all to do with your genes and I’m not referring to how tight you wear them.

The fact of the matter is that a lot of men are genetically predisposed to hair loss. It’s a common, hereditary condition passed down from either side of the family where the selected person’s hair follicles are more sensitive to the adverse effects of DHT than others. It’s the genetic sensitivity of the hair follicles toward DHT which cause their miniaturisation and lead to thinning hair, not your enlarged libido.

If you are losing your hair, your sex life does not have to suffer. It’s not what’s causing your hair to fall out and there are treatments for male hair loss that deal with the root problem.

Fill in the Belgravia Centre’s online diagnostic form to get expert advice on your condition. You can also gain access to the recommended treatment without the need to come into the centre. Or if you do wish to book and appointment or have a chat with a hair loss specialist, call 020 7730 6666 or send an email.

More Information

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The Belgravia Centre

The Belgravia Centre is a world-renowned group of a hair loss clinic in Central London, UK. If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation from anywhere in the world for home-use treatment.

View our Hair Loss Success Stories, which includes the world's largest gallery of hair growth photos and demonstrates the level of success that so many of Belgravia's patients achieve.

Posted by Kate

In this article: Hair Loss | Male Hair Loss