No Sex for the Win?!

Summary

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The Dr. Laura Podcast

Episode: "No Sex for the Win?!"

Date: June 23, 2026

Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Source: SiriusXM/DrLaura.com

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Overview

This episode centers on the enduring rumor that abstaining from sex boosts athletes’ performance, especially in high-stakes scenarios like sports championships. Dr. Laura unpacks a recent real-world example—the New York Knicks owner suggesting a sex ban before playoffs. She blends science, cultural history, and her trademark wit to address whether "no sex before big games" holds any water, and reflects on what such sacrifices actually achieve for teams, marriages, and personal discipline.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Knicks Sex Ban: A Modern Take on an Old Myth

[00:51–03:11]

• Dr. Laura shares an article recounting New York Knicks owner James Dolan’s pep talk before the playoffs. He lists typical calls for sacrifice—diet, sleep, and unexpectedly, sex.
• Dolan jokes:

  “I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for 10 weeks… don't tell your wives and girlfriends you're not going to have sex, and don't tell them it was my idea.” (Dr. Laura reading Dolan, 03:15)

• Dr. Laura notes the team’s snickers and the advice for partners to “sacrifice, too.”

2. Historical Roots: Energy, Aggression, & Focus

[03:20–05:05]

• Origin traced to Spartans and early Olympians: “Their notion was that with every ejaculation, energy and power was lost from the male body.”
• Beliefs: Abstaining conserves energy, may “increase aggression, sharpen focus” (citing a marriage and family therapist).
• Dr. Laura summarizes:

  “Increased aggression, sharpen focus, preserve energy. Sounds like fight and fit. It goes into the sport. Hmm.” (Dr. Laura, 04:32)

3. What Does the Science Say?

[05:15–07:15]

• Modern research finds little evidence that sexual activity (if done at least 10 hours before competition) negatively affects strength, endurance, or reaction time.

• “Modern research has found... little evidence that consensual sexual activity negatively affects strength, endurance, reaction time, or athletic performance when it occurs at least 10 hours before competition. So for 10 hours, not 10 weeks, they recommend.” (Dr. Laura, 05:55)

• The real benefit may be psychological:

  “Choosing to abstain reinforces discipline and total commitment to a larger goal. In those cases, the advantage may come from the mindset and the focus more than the not getting any.” (Dr. Laura, 06:45)

4. Mindset & The Power of Sacrifice

[06:50–07:48]

• Dr. Laura compares abstaining from sex to other sacrifices (alcohol, social life, favorite foods) as ritual acts declaring “I am all in.”
• She reiterates the symbolic aspect of discipline and how a team’s focus may be sharpened not by a lack of sex, but by the shared commitment to sacrifice.

5. The Other Side: Relationships & Health

[08:18–10:10]

• Dr. Laura references further research:

  “It has not demonstrated that normal sexual activity causes a meaningful decline in athletic performance and concerns about testosterone depletion [are] not supported by the evidence. Unless you’re already so low in testosterone.” (Dr. Laura, 08:23)

• She wryly warns of the relationship impact if a married man abstains for 10 weeks:

  “If you’re not having sex with your wife for 10 weeks… sexual activity for women benefits stress reduction. She’ll be more stressed. Emotional regulation, she’ll be more emotional. And relationship satisfaction—she’s going to be pissy.” (Dr. Laura, 09:10)

• Her practical conclusion:

  “You have to balance your performance versus your wife exploding. OK, that’s enough of that. Let’s get back to sanity here.” (Dr. Laura, 09:32)

6. Final Word: The Real Edge

[10:10–11:20]

• Dr. Laura emphasizes the psychological component of sacrifice and discipline in athletic (or personal) achievement.
• She light-heartedly notes:

  “You don’t want to have a massive orgasm just before you have to run on the field because you’ll want to roll over and go to sleep… but you should abstain from cigarettes.” (Dr. Laura, 10:40)

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Notable Quotes

• On the myth’s origins:

  “That’s been around for centuries, dating back to the ancient Spartans and early Olympic competitors.”

• On science versus myth:

  “10 weeks is silly. 10 hours probably makes sense.” (06:00)

• On relationship realities:

  “You have to balance your performance versus your wife exploding.” (09:31)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Knicks “No Sex” Rule Story: 00:51–03:30
• Historical/Cultural Background: 03:20–05:05
• What Research Shows: 05:15–07:15
• Symbolic Sacrifice & Team Focus: 06:50–07:48
• Relationship Impact: 08:18–10:10
• Final Practical Advice: 10:10–11:20

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Tone & Style

• Direct, witty, lightly irreverent.
• Mixes serious advice with humor (“your wife exploding”, “don’t tell her it was my idea”).
• Pragmatic: science, practical marriage talk, and a focus on emotional health.

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Summary

Dr. Laura debunks the enduring myth that sex before competition impairs athletic performance, showing that both science and real-world experience point to little risk—unless sex occurs within mere hours before exertion. She highlights that the real value of such sacrifices is psychological—a team’s shared discipline and focus. Finally, she points out the pitfalls of extreme abstention for relationships, urging balance and a dose of sanity in both sports and marriages.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Ah.

[A]

The owner said, I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for 10 weeks. You don't have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks. But like the Spartans, they denied themselves so they can have an edge. Get the edge. This received a few snickers from the team, and Dolan responded, don't tell your wives and girlfriends you're not going to have sex, and don't tell them it was my idea. But let them know what this is going to be like, and they're going to have to sacrifice, too. Now, this belief that a guy will do better at a sport if he's not getting some is that's been around for centuries, dating back to the ancient Spartans and early Olympic competitors. Their notion was that with every ejaculation, energy and power was lost from the male body. Now, if you avoid sex, yeah, it'll preserve some energy. If intercourse tires you, avoiding sex can preserve. According to women, one licensed marriage and family therapist can preserve energy, increase aggression, but sharpen focus. So increased aggression, sharpen focus, preserve energy. Sounds like fight and fit. It goes into the sport. Hmm. Modern research has found, and I like the way this is worded, they found little evidence that consensual sexual activity. Consensual, wow. Negatively affects strength, endurance, reaction time, or athletic performance when it occurs at least 10 hours before competition. So for 10 hours, not 10 weeks, they recommend. Well, think about it. In every movie you see, when a man and woman have sex, he rolls over and goes to sleep. If you've got to go out and do field goals, I guess that's the level of energy you don't want. That makes sense. 10 weeks is silly. 10 hours probably makes sense. Sexual activity very close to competition may. May. May affect recovery measures. Meaning rolling over, going to sleep, and then getting up and going to a fight, going to your teamwork. Choosing to abstain reinforces discipline and total commitment to a larger goal. In those cases, the advantage may come from the mindset and the focus more than the not getting any. Whether the sacrifice is alcohol, social activities, favorite foods, or sex, the message is often the same. I am all in. As people age, it's normal to ask what more they could be doing to take care of their health. It's important to be proactive, especially when it comes to your brain health. Don't wait for something to feel off before taking action. Make your next checkup count. Ask your doctor about your risk factors for dementia and a cognitive assessment. Visit brainhealthmatters.com for more information and resources provided by Lilly Life doesn't have to be so complicated. Walmart helps you simplify. They're your one stop shop for daily essentials like groceries, snacks, school supplies, and thanks to Walmart Pharmacy, you can count on them for your prescription needs too. Use the Walmart app to easily manage your family's medications and save time by getting prescriptions delivered right to your door. Switch your prescriptions to Walmart Pharmacy Delivery not available for all prescriptions and exclusions apply.

[B]

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[C]

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[A]

Ladies, if you're in that phase where your body's just doing new things, sleep's weird, energy's weird, cravings also weird, you're not alone. It's totally normal. Menopause and perimenopause just means your body needs a little support and and sprouts makes that support easier so you can start feeling more like you. Tons of fresh organic produce for fiber, sprouts, protein and creatine to keep your muscles and bones strong and your energy up, and supplements that can help you manage mood shifts. So whether it's perimenopause, menopause or any other health journey, it's easier at sprouts Farmer's Market Listen up. I haven't stuck around for over 50 years without earning some trust. Neither has AZO. For three decades they've been helping women manage real health issues from the number one doctor recommended brand for otc, urinary pain relief and vaginal health. AZO focuses on facts, not fluff, providing proven science based relief for things like itching, burning odor. Reach for Azo, the brand that's been there and will keep being there for women. Visit azoproducts.com for product details and usage instructions and safety information. So getting to the research, it has not demonstrated that normal sexual activity causes a meaningful decline in athletic performance and concerns about testosterone depletion not supported by the evidence. Unless you're already so low in testosterone now, if you're not having sex with your wife for 10 weeks, this is what's going to happen. Because sexual activity for women benefits stress reduction. She'll be more stressed. Emotional regulation, she'll be more emotional and relationship satisfaction, she's going to be pissy. So you have to balance your performance versus your wife exploding. Okay, that's enough of that. Let's get back to sanity here. But it made a good point in the sacrifices you make for Focus that it's more psychological. However, you don't want to have a massive orgasm just before you have to run on the field because you'll want to roll over and go to sleep, or have a cigarette and roll over. But you should abstain from cigarettes. 1-800-375-2872 if you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

[C]

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[A]

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[C]

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[A]

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[C]

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[A]

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[D]

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