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What is NoFap & how does it work?
What is the NoFap movement?
Is NoFap addictive?
What is 'NoFap' on Reddit?
Mar 23, 2018 · Millions of people (mostly, but not only, men) around the world are joining “NoFap” – a movement that encourages people to give up porn and masturbation. I first started thinking...
- Overview
- What exactly is NoFap?
- Where did NoFap originate?
- What about the scandals and litigation surrounding NoFap?
- Are there any sites or organizations similar to NoFap?
- What are the purported benefits of NoFap?
- Are any of the purported benefits backed by research?
- Is NoFap the same thing as semen retention?
- Are there any risks to NoFap?
- When to see a healthcare professional
Some people report benefits from abstaining from masturbation, but research does not back up these claims. There’s nothing wrong with masturbation unless it interferes with your life.
NoFap.com is a website and organization that calls itself a “comprehensive community-based porn recovery site.”
The organization challenges users to abstain from pornography, masturbation, or sex altogether in order to “reboot” the brain to heal so-called “porn addiction“ and associated sexual dysfunction. This is supposed to lead to numerous benefits, including improved relationships and fulfillment.
NoFap started on Reddit in 2011 during an online convo between folks who’d given up masturbation.
The term “NoFap“ (now a trademarked name and business) came from the word “fap,” which is internet lingo for the sound of masturbating. You know — fapfapfapfap.
What started as a casual discussion is now a website and organization that promotes quitting not just masturbation, but also quitting engaging with porn and other sexual behaviors.
The target audience appears to predominantly be straight cisgender men, with smaller pockets of cisgender women and LGBTQIA+ folks.
With no hard science to back the supposed benefits of abstaining from masturbation and porn, and not being recognized clinically as addictive, it’s not surprising that NoFap has seen its share of controversy.
Some experts have called the organization out for sex-shaming and the potential harm it can inflict, including attempting to treat an addiction when there is none.
According to a 2019 article from Vice, “sex educators, adult industry groups and therapists told Motherboard that they are scared of legal action from NoFap, and some of them weren’t willing to speak openly about masturbation and the stigma of watching porn.”
Also, though NoFap says it’s not homogenous, anti-pornography, or anti-masturbation, some research into the community internet posts shows that many NoFap practitioners are. Many posts point to a strong far-right, anti-feminist, and misogynistic narrative on many of the NoFap (and similar) community forums and Twitter.
Along with several NoFap subreddits focusing on specific audiences, like teens and Christians, there are other similar but lesser-known (Read: less controversial) sites and organizations. The ideology is pretty much the same, in that abstaining from masturbation and porn use can result in various, not-backed-by science benefits.
Some of the popular sites include:
•Your Brain on Porn. This website is named after the e-book of the same name, which was written by the founder, Gary Wilson. Currently maintained by a group of men who’ve recovered from internet porn-related problems, the site was created for those looking to understand and reverse compulsive porn use.
•Reboot Nation. The website says it’s a porn addiction and porn-induced sexual dysfunction recovery website that provides encouragement and education to help people reboot their brains — reboot being rest from artificial sexual stimulation, like pornography. Founder Gabe Deem says he has recovered from porn addiction and a porn-induced sexual dysfunction.
•Your Brain Rebalanced. This is a forum with over 22,000 members that centers on self-perceived porn addiction and discussions similar to those on NoFap boards.
•#NoNutNovember. This is an online challenge and meme that many associate with NoFap even though it’s a separate thing. It went viral, mostly thanks to NoFap members who shared or participated in the challenge, and the challenge is to not orgasm for the entire month of November.
Most of the purported benefits are attributed to a supposed increase in testosterone levels, a concept that fueled the original Reddit discussion back in the day.
One of the forum users shared a small 2003 study that found that not ejaculating for 7 days raised testosterone levels, leading others to go a week without masturbating.
Testosterone does have an effect on:
•mood
•energy levels
•physical performance
•muscle growth
But there’s no evidence linking the effect of masturbation on testosterone levels to any of the benefits listed on the NoFap website or the subreddits.
First, let’s make it clear that semen retention and NoFap aren’t the same thing, even though you’ll often see the terms used in the same context on online forums.
Semen retention is the practice of avoiding ejaculation. It’s also called “coitus reservatus“ and “seminal conservation.“ It’s a technique people often use in tantric sex.
The key difference between semen retention and NoFap is that with semen retention, you can avoid ejaculation while still enjoying sexual activity and orgasm. That’s right: You can indeed have one without the other, though it may take some practice.
People believe it offers many of the same spiritual, mental, and physical benefits as NoFap.
Semen retention requires some serious muscle control and learning to flex your pelvic muscles just before ejaculation.
You can practice semen retention on your own or with a partner. Kegel exercises and other pelvic floor exercises can help you master it.
Participating in NoFap is unlikely to cause any harm, but depending on your level of participation, it does mean you’ll miss out on the many proven benefits of masturbation, sex, orgasms, and ejaculation.
Also, NoFap isn‘t a substitute for medical care. Trying it instead of seeking professional help could prevent you from getting the treatment you need.
If you’re concerned that you’re experiencing any kind of sexual dysfunction, including difficulty with erections, ejaculation, and libido, consult with a healthcare professional.
If you’re concerned about your sexual behavior, or you feel sad, hopeless, or unmotivated, consider reaching out to a mental health professional.
The Big List of Tips & Tricks. Work out (squats seem popular with many nofappers). Do yoga or stretching. Groom yourself (shower, trim fingernails, shave, floss, brush teeth, use tongue scraper, wash your clothes, etc.). Get squeeze balls for your hands (squeeze the squeeze ball and not your genitals). Go for a walk.
r/NoFap. A porn addiction and compulsive sexual behavior recovery peer support forum. Masturbation in moderation is healthy, but porn addiction and compulsivity aren't healthy. We host challenges in which participants ("Fapstronauts") avoid porn & sometimes masturbation for a period of time, generally 7-30 days.
- What Is Nofap? Nofap is a period during which you stop masturbating. Fapping means “masturbating”, coming from the word “fap” which sounds like the noise one makes when masturbating (“fap fap fap”).
- Why Do People Do Nofap and What Are the Nofap Benefits? The main reasons why people (mostly men) engage in nofap are: Getting rid of porn addiction and its consequences (difficulty to finish, difficulty to get an erection, etc).
- Why Is Porn Addiction a Problem? Porn addiction changes the structure of the brain and negatively impacts the rest of your life, from your relationships to your sleep to your self-esteem.
- Is Nofap Only For Men? Can Women Practice Nofap? Women can also practice nofap. In fact, about 5% of the people who do nofap are women and they experience the same benefits as men do.
Nov 25, 2022 · NoFap challenges people, especially porn addicts, to stop using porn and masturbating for a period of time in order to acquire the life they have always wanted. The NoFap Challenge helps porn users and addicts and chronic masturbators “reset their brains” or “refocus” on healthier endeavors.
Sep 29, 2020 · NoFap is an anti-masturbation movement. Supporters say avoiding masturbation for prolonged periods has many benefits, including enhanced focus and concentration and decreased pornography use.
