Hey besties, November is here, which means pull-out sweaters and light diyas and somewhere, from a corner, let an intriguing challenge, No Nut November, creep in.

The rules are fairly simple; it’s actually right there in the title : no ‘nut’ (read: ejaculation) for the entirety of the month of November. Watching porn and touching yourself might be fair game; the catch is not reaching the climax. While I am all for the fun bits of wordplay we can do with the name of this challenge and all the jokes and memes, we cannot forget that a fair share also *actually* participate in this trend.

This global, month-long movement is said to have taken its roots from the NoFap community over at Reddit, even though it’s not proven. Fast forward to November 2020, and this phenomenon has amassed a whopping 74,000 subscribers.

So, at the start, NNN claimed, 'Hey, I’m good for your health!' But soon after, multiple experts and doctors came up to say that there is absolutely no proven physical health benefit to refraining from masturbation for a month. There is no secret stash of semen for better use later or any new superpowers. In fact, surprise, surprise, quite the opposite has been proven! For starters, having a good ol' self-love routine actually plays a defense against prostate cancer.

On the surface, it looks like a harmless trend that people might indulge in for the fun of it. A way to jizz up their daily grind, a fun communal deviation from the usual routine But year after year, it's become this weird tradition where some people think holding back on orgasms is the ultimate test of manliness. Enter the NoFap crew and the No Nut November squad, cheering each other on with tips and tricks, and wait for it—virtual badges! It’s like a superhero league (read : some sort of cult).

As an outsider peeking into this whole ritual, I can't help but scratch my head : What's the deal with this seemingly innocent internet challenge? What implications does this challenge have for the bigger conversation of self-pleasure? Is it all just a barrel of laughs? Do people actually, sincerely participate? Does it serve any purpose, or does it just end up being a bit of a misfire? 

To seek answers, I spoke to 4 penis-havers to get some inside scoop on this ‘trend’.

“It was a wakeup call I definitely don't want to repeat."
Aditya I 23

"Yeah, I know this might make me sound nut-so-great, but here's the raw truth. I pushed past that 10-day mark. Kept telling myself, 'hey, I've come this far, a little more won't hurt.' I mean, come on, sex isn’t disappearing anytime soon, right? Just a few more days, I thought. But come December 1st, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was on a mission to find some action. I remember getting super annoyed with my girlfriend because she was on her period and didn’t feel like having sex. Yeah, not my finest moment. And you know what? I ended up having a solo session not just once, but four times that day. It was a wakeup call I definitely don't want to repeat." 

“For those with porn addiction, it’s believed that the movement might actually do good. In my case, eh, nut so much.”
Manan I 27 

"Yeah, I knew from the start that No Nut November  does not have any scientific advantages. I jumped in just for the fun of it, you know? Supposedly, it's all about boosting self-control. I managed to hold back from 'nutting,' but man, the frustration led me down a rabbit hole of more adult content and a lot of hands-on action, just without the grand finale to keep within the rules. For those with porn addictions, it’s believed that the movement might actually do good. In my case, eh, nut so much. Now, this might be subjective for me, but I consumed a lot more porn than usual, which is to say that even the claims like self-control did not actually hit home for me.” 

“Many a night, I crashed at a buddy's place, cause I knew that was my only shot at steering clear.”
Krishabh I 29 

“You know, I believed I could totally pull off a month without masturbation. But doing it just because it’s a trend, because the world says so, and because somehow it’s a measure of my manliness to hold off for that specific month? Man, it drove me nuts! I was irked and cranky right from the get-go till the very end. Sleep? Ha! That became a whole ordeal. Many a night, I crashed at a buddy's place because I knew that was my only shot at steering clear. And you know what? Once that month ended, I swore I’d never put myself through that again. I still think I can go without touching myself for a month, but definitely never in November. " 

“For me, sex and self-pleasure aren’t just about reaching the finish line; it's about relishing the whole experience, appreciating the beauty of your body and your partner's.”
Abhishek I 25

"I've never joined the NNN brigade, and I've got a pretty solid reason for steering clear of it. For me, sex and self-pleasure aren’t just about reaching the finish line; it's about relishing the whole experience and appreciating the beauty of your body and your partner's. But man, the buzz around NNN? It's like stepping into a parallel universe. You’ve got posts and comments dissing anyone who gives in as weak, branding them as huge losers with no self-control. The whole conversation around this challenge? It’s like wandering into a strange and degrading zone, to say the least." 

If you're still curious about this whole NNN vibe, no judgment—go ahead and see how it rolls for you! It’s just about getting your scoop straight before you take this jump. Even with the lack of sex education, a quick Google search will show how it might not be a cool idea after all. Plus, let's talk real here: your orgasms are not just for you; they're like a high-five for you and your partner! So, why not celebrate a healthy balance? Enjoy your 'me time' and explore how you’d like to go about it, but also keep the doors wide open for  your 'we time’. 

Let's raise a toast to November, have a blast regardless of your choices, and cherish all the orgasms you do decide to go in for!

----

About the Author 

Hemali (she/her) is an explorer of the realms of sexuality, intimacy, and dating. She talks endlessly about the evolving landscape of feminist narratives on the big screen and makes you reanalyze the portrayal of women in mainstream culture. If you're looking for alternative conversation starters, take your pick from: Biryani, Art Fairs, or Spoken Word Poetry.