Self-control, fun, curiosity: these are, according to fans, the reasons behind No Nut November, which kicks off again this year on November 1. It isn’t an official competition but rather an internet challenge that has spread across forums like Reddit and Twitter since around 2017, and today it attracts more followers than ever.
“No Nut November” has nothing to do with nut allergies; it means “No ejaculation in November.” For 30 days a man abstains from orgasms—just like Dry January where you skip alcohol for a month. “Nuts” is slang for the testicles in English, and as a verb, the word in US slang means to ejaculate. The challenge asks participants to refrain from masturbation and avoid orgasms for the entire month—so “no nut.”
Often the challenge is treated humorously and ironicially—as a counterpoint to hyper-sexualized online cultures. The challenge can also be an opportunity to reflect on one’s sexuality and the relationship to one’s body. A more mindful approach to sexuality or online content can indeed boost well-being, through self-control, mindfulness, and changing routines. The idea behind it: those who habitually binge on porn may soon experience it as a daily routine and want to try something different. If you know your body better, you might become more motivated, clearer-minded, and emotionally steadier.
A lot of nonsense surrounds the no-masturbation month
Yet there’s also a lot of misinformation—such as about a “dopamine reset.” In online forums you’ll often read that frequent masturbation or porn consumption floods the brain with the so-called happiness hormone dopamine. If you abstain from sex and masturbation, the dopamine system could supposedly recover. Of course, dopamine in real life cannot be “spent” or “depleted,” and it cannot be “reset.” For healthy people there is no evidence that sex or masturbation leads to a “dopamine dysregulation.”
Behind these myths is often the “NoFap” or “Anti-Porn” movement, which is frequently motivated by Christian fundamentalist ideals—and in particular portrays queer sexuality as inherently negative. The “NoFap” movement advocates abstaining from self-pleasure year-round. US researchers investigated in 2023 what this group does with men. The result: those who hang out in “NoFap” forums are more likely to suffer from depression or suicidal thoughts (TheColu.mn reported).
Some participants of No Nut November also report feeling immense pressure during their month of abstinence and being unable to think about anything else because they were so stressed. In such cases it’s clear: engaging in the challenge does not benefit one’s health; quite the opposite.
In December comes the resolution
As a challenge, No Nut November can be quite entertaining—provided you don’t slip into a mental health crisis, and you’re not compelled to revisit what Jeff Stryker or Diego Sans are up to in their films on November 2. Those who get through November free of rubbing can look forward to Destroy Dick December. This was proclaimed in online forums in response to No Nut November as well.
The idea behind it: participants are meant to masturbate as many times in December as the date—so once on December 1 and 31 times on New Year’s Eve. All told, that would amount to 496 orgasms during the Advent season and the days between. But again: please don’t take it too seriously, because toward the end of the month it can cause considerable stress. Scientifically, there’s no evidence that this challenge has any positive impact on well-being. And the worst part: because of Dry January you can’t even properly celebrate the end of Destroy Dick December.
