The Truth About Edging & Testosterone: What It Does (and Doesn't Do)

Written by Ben Bunting: BA, PGCert. (Sport & Exercise Nutrition) // British Army Physical Training Instructor // S&C Coach.

Ever wondered what edging is, and no, we're not talking about painting straight, neat lines in your house...it's time to learn more about a sexual practice that delays orgasm.

Key Takeaways

• Edging is a technique that delays orgasms by applying and removing stimulation to produce more intense climaxes.
• Experts say that edging does not affect hormones.

If you're wondering whether edging increases testosterone levels, you've come to the right place.

The answer might surprise you. It might even increase your sex drive! But what exactly is edging? What does edging do to testosterone? And is it safe?

We'll answer these questions and more throughout the article. Let's dive in.

Edging is a Sexual Practice

Edging (also known as gooning) in the practice of edging involves stopping just before an orgasm reaches its peak.

It improves the intensity of the ultimate climax due to increased blood flow and sensitivity, as well as the psychological aspect of wanting what you cannot have.

It's an excellent way to increase the intensity of sex and prevent premature ejaculation. If you're considering trying this out, be sure to consult your partner before beginning the practice.

The edging method can also be performed during masturbation, whereby you build until the point of climaxing and then stopping stimulation by pinching the tip of the penis.

This is usually done while masturbating, but women may practice it during partnered sex as well. The key to success is to communicate with your partner throughout the process to ensure that you don't overstimulate your penis.

If done properly, edging can increase your sex experience by up to three or four minutes. Edging allows you to build up arousal gradually, giving your partner time to warm up.

A more powerful orgasm is often the result of leveraging edging. When used sensually, it can result in a deeper emotional connection with your partner, as well as increased fun in the bedroom.

You can do edging with your hands, a vibrator, or with a partner. By practicing on yourself, you can learn the proper rhythm and feel what it feels like to edge.

When edging with your partner, make sure you are aware of your partner's body language, and verbal communication. Sometimes, one partner wants to edge all the time, while the other partner finds it boring.

Knowing what to expect before you initiate the edging process will make it more satisfying. Whether you're the one edging is a great way to strengthen your relationship with your partner and improve your communication skills.

What Are the Benefits of Edging?

Edging is a powerful sexual technique that is used to enhance intimacy and pleasure in bed. By learning to edge, you can improve your skills in all aspects of intimacy.

Here are three tips to help you improve your edging.

Orgasm Delay

Prolong your orgasm. Edges help couples to stay in an heightened state of arousal longer.

When you're edging, you and your partner must communicate arousal through their bodies. This allows your partner time to warm up and increase their chances of having a full orgasm.

When you're edging, your partner and you will both have more fun. You'll be more able to prolong orgasms and have a more satisfying sexual experience.

Marathon

Edging is similar to a marathon but in the bedroom. Edging is a method of intentionally delaying the finish of sex.

Edging takes the focus off of the ultimate goal, which is the orgasm. It's not a race, and it doesn't guarantee more orgasms.

But it will make you more aware of your body's reactions. Edging is the secret to ejaculating in bed without burning yourself.

Control

Edging requires an advanced level of body control.

The best positions for edging are the woman-on-top position, where the woman can access her own clit and gauge the speed and depth of the thrusts.

Some people also use rear entry positions to practice edging, where they lay back on the bed while their partner thrusts on them.

Using the tabletop position helps them to relax while your partner performs the edging technique.

Intensity

You read it right! This of course is all anecdotal, but prolonging an orgasm will make it more intense.

It is reported that many people report their orgasms feeling full-body and more all-encompassing after they practice edging.

Erotic Tension

Edging can help you concentrate on pleasure rather than a climax by removing orgasms from the equation, or at least until later.

It can also help you to enjoy the sensual experience even more. It is said that the delayed orgasm can add spice to your sex game by building anticipation and erotic excitement.

Awareness

Many people believe their orgasms happen out of the blue, but this is not true.

Have you ever noticed how your body reacts and feels when you are on the edge of a cliff?

You might notice that you breathe a bit more heavily or your legs begin to shake.

Edging gives you the chance to learn your own signals of an impending orgasm.

This is also information that you can share with your partner, both current and future, so they have a better understanding of what works for you.

Premature Ejaculation

Edging may help create containment for orgasm controls for people who experience early sexual arousal.

People who have trouble with this can find it difficult to recognize their bodies' cues when they are about to ejaculate.

By practicing edging however, they can learn their body, and their body’s cues for the ejaculation.

It can make them more comfortable in a sexual situation. But, it can also make them feel better about themselves.

Are there any Edging Techniques?

It's all about enjoying waves of sexual stimulation, rather than racing to the finish line as some people do during partnered sex or masturbation. 

Follow this simple pattern to try edging yourself:

• Start sexual stimulation
• Stop or reduce the intensity just before orgasm
• Increase the intensity of arousal when it becomes less intense.
• Repeat the cycle

You should not stop edging at a specific time. Instead, you should ask yourself or your partner when you feel the orgasm.

You can try edging, and help control your ejaculation by practising with a few techniques. Let's take a look...

The Stop-Start Method

This involves stimulating the genitals or other erogenous areas to the point where orgasm is approaching, and then stopping stimulation by pinching at the tip of penis until feeling of orgasm has faded.

Men and women can use it both while masturbating or during partnered sexual activity.

To communicate when you want to ease off during partnered sex with your partner, decide on a phrase, word or sign. 

This method was described in the Core Psychiatry (Third Ediction) which was published in 2012, but may have been recommended as early as 1956 to help treat premature ejaculation.

Squeezing

The squeeze method is another way men can prevent themselves from finishing. 

When approaching the point of non-return (PNR), men can use this method to prevent themselves from finishing.

You need grip the area where the head meets shaft of the penis and squeeze it for several seconds until they feel the sensation of going over without losing your full erection. 

The Ballooning Method‍

Men may incorporate this method. Find and massage a sweet spot on the penis that is particularly sensitive (often the frenulum) without stroking the whole penis.

Rub only this area for long enough to get the penis erected and feel close to orgasm. Then stop and pause and allow the arousal to subside.

After a break, repeat the process one or two more times. This builds the ability to last longer and intensifies the sensation during orgasm. 

Challenges Faced with Edging

Women from the study have reported that they face some difficulties when learning to edge. These are the most common issues that women reported, along with some suggestions for how to overcome them.

Passing the Point of No Return

It is important to find the right balance between provoking the orgasm and not pushing your partner over the edge.

If you back off too early, the process of edging will not be successful. If you get her too near, there is no stopping.

Orgasming your woman is not the worst thing to do. Far from it. If you and your partner are serious about nailing the edging, try to back off sooner. And if it doesn't work, then go back briefly to the clit before backing off.

If the clit needs more attention, you can give it to it. But once she's in orgasm mode, you will have to wait until the next time to begin the process.

Trying Not to Climax too Soon

It can be difficult to train yourself not to give in to an orgasm when it's approaching, especially if you partner hasn't tried edging. She's used to pushing the climax as soon as she feels that she is close.

When you are learning to edge, practice is essential. Don't let her get discouraged and tell her that you will keep trying until you get it right, no matter how many attempts it takes.

Knowing when It's Not There

No matter how hard they try, some women simply can't recreate orgasm. Some women find edging frustrating and don't enjoy the way it feels.

It's not worth trying to use a technique if it's not working. This doesn't mean that there is something wrong between you two. It's just a sign that you need to make the next step.

Why is Testosterone Important for Male Health?

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone responsible for controlling several male sexual characteristics and activities, including sperm production and libido levels.

Additionally, Testosterone helps promote secondary sexual characteristics like hair growth and deeper voices as well as being involved with pubertal changes like penis maturation as well as producing adipose tissue production.

Both men and women produce testosterone, although in different amounts.

Men's testosterone levels typically peak around age 20, then gradually decline until its end-of-life cycle when converted to estradiol - pregnant women will have higher estrogenic forms of testosterone due to gestation.

Low levels of testosterone can create numerous issues for men, low testosterone can affect everything from their libido and bone density to muscle mass and even sexual desire.

Exercise, diet and stress reduction can all be effective ways of increasing testosterone, but this process takes time.

If these methods don't work, doctors may suggest injections, gels, creams or patches, there's even the option of having a pellet inserted under your skin, or pills which dissolve in your mouth.

All of these products require a valid doctor's prescription and all may cause side effects such as itching redness or blisters at application locations.

Low T Reduces Libido

It's common knowledge that men have a lower sex drive as they get older. But what is testosterone, and what does it do for your sex drive?

Research has shown that testosterone production is a key component of sexual desire, and low levels of testosterone can lead to reduced libido.

Testosterone levels in men are affected by age, physical condition, and sex-related hormones.

In men, testosterone is responsible for increasing stamina, sexual performance, and fatigue. Some herbal supplements can increase the amount of testosterone produced by the body. 

Is there any Evidence that Edging Increases Testosterone?

There isn't any evidence to suggest that performing the act of edging will increase testosterone levels. 

Edging merely gets you to the point of ejaculation, but before that happens you stop having sex or masturbating to prevent ejaculation.

You then carry on the procedure as many times as you like to prolong act until you decide to climax.

This act doesn't affect the amount of androgenic hormones are secreted.

A misconception of edging to increase testosterone may have stemmed from a study that was conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of abstinence for men.

In a study conducted by Chinese experts and researchers, it was found that abstinence and ejaculation are linked to changes in blood levels of testosterone.

However, after the peak of the T level on the 7th day, there were no further significant changes.

Does Edging Increase Sperm Count?

If you practice edging with abstinence, your sperm count may increase. This means that you should not ejaculate every day, regardless if they are edging.

The sperm reserves will be depleted if ejaculation is a daily occurance. When abstinence from orgasm is practiced for a few weeks, sperm levels will be higher.

There isn't any provenevidence demonstrating that men increase their testosterone by edging.

What Happens to Sperm when you Edge?

The body absorbs sperm that is not ejaculated. It has no effect on sexual drive or fertility.

There may be side effects for people who avoid or delay ejaculating after being sexually aroused.

What Happens if a Man Goes a Year Without Ejaculating?

The unreleased sperm will break down and be absorbed back into the body if a person doesn't ejaculate. The health risks of not releasing sperm are minimal.

How often should a Man Release Sperm?

When it comes to the frequency of ejaculation, there is no magic number. Regular ejaculation has a variety of health benefits.

These include lowering blood-pressure, reducing stress and increasing immunity. You can ejaculate however much or little you want.

At what Age do Men Stop Ejaculating?

Each person will have a different age when a man stops ejaculating. As a person ages, they may notice that their ejaculations are less powerful and have a smaller volume.

If a person is concerned about the changes in their ejaculation, they should contact their doctor.

Does Abstinence Increase Testosterone?

Does abstinence increase testosterone? This is a question that's frequently asked online.

In one study, 28 participants were asked to abstain from ejaculation in 2 phases. 

The researchers found that testosterone levels fluctuated very little up until a peak of testosterone on the seventh day. However, after the seventh day there were no further fluctuations. 

Therefore, based on these results abstinence has its benefits for testosterone levels, but only up to and on that seventh day. 

A 2001 study looked at the effects of abstinence over a 3 week period. It was found that there were higher concentration of testosterone in the period following abstinence.

Therefore, it may be a practice a person would wish to follow if they want to raise their testosterone.

However, it must be noted that both of these studies only examined testosterone fluctuation during a short period of time, and does not mean that a period of abstinence will provide a long term increase of testosterone. 

Isn't Edging the Same as Abstinence?

Abstinence and edging aren't quite the same, although they share a theme...

What Is Abstinence?

The most common misconception about abstinence is that it is impossible to have sexual intercourse. But it can be done. Most people define abstinence as not having sexual intercourse with anyone.

That includes oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Some people even choose to stay abstinent until a certain age or until they get married. In some cases religion may require followers to remain abstinent.

Abstinence is generally perceived as a period of time whereby a person doesn't have intercourse, masturbate, ejaculate or orgasm.

As we have seen there's a couple of studies that have demonstrated a period of abstinence may increase testosterone levels. As such, it is not uncommon to hear about athletes abstaining until their fight, game or competition is over. 

Edging is different because the person partakes in the act of sexual intercourse of masturbation but keeps delaying the orgasm.

However, the orgasm is usually reached during that period. Whereas abstinence can last a period of days, months or even years.  

Other Ways to Increase Testosterone

Military Muscle Testosterone Booster was specifically created with soldiers and athletes in mind to address any nutritional deficiencies that lead to low testosterone.

Featuring 14 science-backed ingredients linked to libido, muscle growth, strength and energy - as well as being vegan friendly without banned substances found in certain steroids - military muscle testosterone booster is an ideal supplement to increase hormone levels safely.

Ingredients include, but are not limited to:

Boron (10mg): Boron is an essential mineral that regulates testosterone and estrogen by impacting how our bodies use these two hormones. As such, it has become one of the more popular ingredients found in testosterone booster supplements due to its positive impacts on libido and performance in men who may be deficient.

Zinc (25mg): Zinc is an essential nutrient known to significantly impact testosterone production by improving libido, increasing strength, and decreasing stress. As it can be difficult to meet daily requirements through food alone, supplementation may provide much-needed support.

Vitamin K2 (45mcg): This powerful compound plays an essential role in body processes, from increasing levels of luteinizing hormone in the pituitary gland to Leydig cells in the testes, where it's transformed into testosterone.

If you are looking for a natural way to increase testosterone levels, be sure to try Military Muscle.

Conclusion - Does Edging Increase Testosterone?

So, is edging good for testosterone production? No, there is no reliable evidence to suggest edging will increase your testosterone levels. 

Be sure to try it for pleasure, but do not think it will benefit your hormonal profile. 

On the other hand, there is evidence to suggest that abstinence will provide a short term boost to your testosterone levels, and as such may be a useful way to prepare for competition or an event.