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How often is it ok to masturbate


Is Masturbation Healthy?

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  • Is Masturbation Healthy?

You may have heard some crazy things about masturbation being bad for you, like it makes you grow hair in weird places; it causes infertility; it shrinks your genitals; or once you start masturbating you’ll become addicted to it. None of that’s true. Masturbation isn’t unhealthy or bad for you at all. Masturbation can actually be good for your health, both mentally and physically. And it’s pretty much the safest sex out there — there’s no risk of getting pregnant or getting an STD.

When you have an orgasm, your body releases endorphins, which are hormones that block pain and make you feel good. The good feelings that come with an orgasm happen whether you’re masturbating or having sex.

Plenty of research has shown the health benefits of masturbation. Masturbation can:

  • release sexual tension

  • reduce stress

  • help you sleep better

  • improve your self-esteem and body image

  • help treat sexual problems

  • relieve menstrual cramps and muscle tension

  • strengthen muscle tone in your pelvic and anal areas

Masturbation also helps you figure out what you like sexually. Where do you want to be touched? How much pressure feels good? How fast or slow? Learning how to have orgasms on your own can make it easier to have one with a partner, because you can tell or show them what feels good. And when you’re comfortable with sex, your body, and talking to your partner, you’re more likely to feel comfortable protecting yourself against STDs and unintended pregnancy.

Some people masturbate often — every day, or even more than once a day. Some people masturbate closer to once a week, once every few weeks, or every now and then. Some people never masturbate, and that’s fine too. All of these are perfectly normal.

Masturbation only becomes “too much” if it gets in the way of your job, your responsibilities, or your social life. If that’s a problem for you, you may want to talk to a counselor or therapist.

Some people learn when they’re young that masturbating is wrong or bad, so they feel guilty about doing it. If you feel that way, try to remember that most people masturbate. It’s perfectly normal, and there’s nothing wrong with it. Talking to a counselor or therapist may help if you have trouble getting over guilty feelings.

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How Often Men Masturbate: What's Healthy vs. "Too Much"

How often men masturbate.

Some men masturbate weekly, some men masturbate daily, some masturbate a few times a month, and still others hardly masturbate at all. All of these masturbation frequencies are considered within the normal range for men.

Here's how often men between ages 25 and 29 masturbate, according to 2009 data from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, as collected by FiveThirtyEight:

  • 17% had not masturbated in the past year
  • 15% masturbate a few times per year to monthly
  • 25% masturbate a few times per month to weekly
  • 23% masturbate 2 to 3 times per week
  • 20% masturbate more than 4 times per week
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In comparison, a 2008 study1 of British people between ages 16 and 44 found 73% of men had masturbated in the past four weeks, compared to 37% of women. (Here's our guide to how often women should masturbate, for reference.)

"There is a ton of variation in how much people masturbate, and it fluctuates throughout our lives due to things like health, stress, schedule, desire, partnerships with others, and so forth," sex and relationship therapist Shadeen Francis, LMFT, tells mbg.

How often you should masturbate.

"There is no set standard for frequency of masturbation," board-certified urologist Jamin Brahmbhatt, M.D., tells mbg. "Daily, weekly, monthly...it's personal preference."

Masturbation is a common and very low-risk habit, and in fact, masturbation comes with many health benefits. In general, people should masturbate as often as it feels good for them. "You should masturbate whenever you want to and have the time and privacy to do so," Francis says. "Pleasure is healthy."

A 2016 study found men who ejaculate 21 times a month or more were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, compared to people who ejaculated four to seven times per month. That isn't to say everyone must masturbate that often; it's just a signal that regular masturbation can be beneficial to overall health.

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Can you masturbate too much?

In general, most people don't have to worry about masturbating too much. Of course, even healthy habits can become unhealthy if done in excess or in extremes, and that's as true for masturbation as it is for habits like exercise and hand-washing. How much masturbation is too much will vary from person to person.

"There is no objective measure of how much anyone should masturbate," Francis explains. "Your health is an individual consideration. If your masturbation habits are causing you mental, emotional, relational, or physical distress, that is an indicator that you may be masturbating more than is currently healthy for you."

Here are a few signs your current masturbation habits may not be serving you, according to Francis:

  • Masturbation feels like a need instead of a choice.
  • Masturbation no longer feels pleasurable due to pain, numbness, or a loss of pleasing sensations.
  • Your masturbation is interfering with your ability to have a satisfying sex life with partners.
  • You're struggling to keep up with your responsibilities or daily life because of how often you masturbate.
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In general, there's no set amount of masturbation that's considered "too much" across the board. Some people masturbate several times a day without any negative consequences. If a person is satisfied with how often they masturbate and doesn't feel like it negatively affects other parts of their life, then that's the right amount of masturbation for them.

What happens if you jerk off every day?

"There are no known downsides or major side effects to daily masturbation," Brahmbhatt says. The same goes for daily ejaculation and daily sex, he adds.

The biggest risks of frequent masturbation have more to do with how a person masturbates than how often they do it, Francis explains. For example, she notes there's a chance of tissue damage or skin irritation if a person masturbates really vigorously without enough lubrication. (Soreness, tenderness, swelling, or bruising would be signs if this were the case, she adds.)

A person can also get used to a particular type of stimulation or stroke. "If a person enjoys masturbating in a specific routinized way (e.g., always sitting in a chair, or to pornography, or with a tight fist) and only masturbates in that way, they may notice difficulty maintaining their [erection] or reaching orgasm in partnered sex if it doesn't mirror what they do when they're alone," Francis explains. "To avoid this potential risk, men can try switching things up every so often in their masturbation practice, and they also could add in some of their solo play activities to partnered sex!"

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Can you run out of sperm?

You cannot run out of sperm from frequent masturbation. Adults with penises produce new sperm every single day and will continue to do so their entire lives, barring any medical complications.

If you're currently trying to conceive and begin a pregnancy, masturbation can affect sperm count and quality. As Brahmbhatt explains, if you've recently ejaculated, your next ejaculation may have a lower volume of fluid, a lower sperm count, and a lower concentration of sperm because your body may not have had enough time to build back its sperm (and sperm fluids) just yet.

"When patients have to give us a semen sample, we ask them to refrain from ejaculation for two days prior to giving us a sample," he notes. "If you have a normal system, you should always have some sperm in your ejaculate, even if you have emptied five times in one day. You may just not have a high count of sperm."

Benefits of masturbation.

  • Stress relief
  • Improved mood
  • Increased energy
  • Higher pain tolerance
  • Reduced risk of prostate cancer
  • Relieving period cramps
  • Improved pelvic floor strength
  • Improved sleep
  • Can improve libido
  • Can help people with penises last longer during subsequent partnered sex

Benefits of not masturbating.

Some people choose not to masturbate for personal, spiritual, or religious reasons. "Some feel controlling their desire to masturbate helps their mental focus and other aspects of their life," Brahmbhatt explains.

For some people, some potential benefits of not masturbating may include:

  • More self-control
  • More self-awareness
  • Better sperm quality in your next ejaculation
  • May make it easier for people with penises to reach orgasm during partnered sex if they haven't ejaculated recently
  • May be linked to increased testosterone, according to some studies2

Abstaining from masturbation can be part of semen retention, a spiritual sexual practice wherein people avoid ejaculation because they believe semen is a source of "life force energy. " 

The bottom line.

There's a lot of variety when it comes to how often men masturbate. Some men masturbate daily or more, others masturbate rarely or never, and still many others fall somewhere in between.

In general, masturbation is a healthy, safe, and normal habit, and most people don't have to worry about masturbating "too much." If your masturbation habits are causing you any physical or emotional trouble, reach out to a professional who can help. You may also want to consider adjusting your masturbation frequency if you're trying to conceive, to last longer in bed, or to reach orgasm more easily. Otherwise, whatever feels good to you probably is good for you.

Read more stellar mbg stories:

How many times a day can you masturbate? Urologist debunked men's myths

PENIS DOES NOT GO BY YOU

Anastasia Ospanova, a urologist and andrologist, doctor of the highest category, winner of the "Altyn dariger" award, maintains a popular blog on Instagram, where she shares tips on men's health. In an interview with EK, she debunked some myths.

- In The Wolf of Wall Street, Matthew McConaughey's character advises a newcomer, the character playing Leonardo DiCaprio, to masturbate twice a day so he doesn't "get his threads off." But in the CIS there are entire "online sects" calling for refraining from masturbation. So how do you deal with this thorny issue? nine0007

– Yes, indeed, there are such myths that masturbation can lead to male infertility, blindness and other diseases, says Anastasia Ospanova. Some people think it's a big sin. As for doctors, we consider this the norm during certain periods of puberty. That is, when the boy begins to mature and hormones boil in the blood, he begins to masturbate. And this is the absolute norm. There are no specific limits on how many times you can do this, and how many you can’t. It depends on temperament and hormonal activity. Over time, masturbation should be replaced by sex, when the boy becomes a guy. In some cases, when sexually mature men do not have the opportunity to have sex, we allow and even recommend masturbation. But, of course, when a mature man lives with his wife in the same house and is fond of masturbation, then this is not normal. nine0009

In general, masturbation is the norm for a certain period of a man's life. Basically, this is a youthful period and when there is no permanent partner.

- In the latest ranking, Kazakhstan ranked 63rd in the world in terms of the size of the genitals. The average length of our penises was 13.46 cm when erect. Do urological problems depend on the size of the "little brother"?

– In 2012, the average length of Kazakhstani penises was 12.7 cm. What can I say that we have grown a little in nine years. This, of course, pleases, but Asians in general cannot boast of the large size of their genitals than, say, citizens of African republics. But I want to assure you that there is no difference whether it is very long or less long; this does not affect urological diseases in any way. Equally often or rarely, both large manhoods and small ones get sick. Therefore, whatever the size, the main thing is that the sexual organ be healthy. nine0009

- We live in Nur-Sultan and it's quite cold here. I personally spent the whole winter in two underpants. Am I doing the right thing? Because there are men who reject them, supposedly it makes them fat.

- Regarding the cold season. My main recommendation is to always dress appropriately for the weather. If it's -25 outside, and you are wearing light sneakers and thin jeans, then there is a very high risk of chilling your manhood.

View this post on Instagram
Publication from UROLOGIST-ANDROLOGIST ASTANA (@urolog_androlog_astana_)

And the majority of patients who come with complaints of prostate disease sin that hypothermia has taken place. Therefore, those who do not wear underpants in winter should understand that there is a high risk of developing prostatitis. Therefore, do not look at fashion, but look at the weather. Dress warmly.

- You blog a lot about problems with premature ejaculation. Does such a problem exist? nine0007

- Yes, indeed I write about this on my blog a lot, because this is a very popular question. The duration of sexual intercourse worries many men and young guys. This is a very important factor in the development of a guy as a man who begins to have sex. The fact is that by the duration of sexual intercourse, women judge the experience of men.

Premature ejaculation is divided into three categories. The first is when a guy is just starting to have sex, of course, there is a factor of excitement. Firstly, the head of the penis is very sensitive, plus he has little experience. I always compare this to the fact that when you are hungry, you immediately pounce on food. The same thing happens in sex - young guys very quickly reach orgasm due to an overabundance of sensitivity. In the process of regular sexual life, the duration of sexual intercourse will increase. nine0009

It also happens that the duration of sexual intercourse suits you, but suddenly at some point it becomes short. This is due to external factors. It can be stress, worries, inflammatory diseases, for example, of the thyroid gland. Therefore, it is worth considering when everything was fine with you, and suddenly it became very fast. Then you need to see a doctor.

And the third option is when, regardless of experience, sexual partner and the regularity of sexual life, sex, alas, is short-lived. This suggests that the glans penis is a very erogenous zone. One has only to touch it - and it turns out an orgasm. In such cases, urologists intervene and carry out a number of certain procedures in order to reduce the sensitivity of the head and increase the duration of sexual intercourse. nine0009

– There are very few public toilets in the capital. Isn't it bad for men and women to endure home?

- Indeed, there is one big problem in the capital - a small number of public toilets, and in some places - their complete absence. To endure sufficient time is harmful for both men and women. Urine is a waste product of the body, it must be excreted on time, so this problem must be solved. Many women start going to the toilet in advance, because they know that on the way they will not meet a public toilet anywhere, which is quite harmful for their body. People should go to the toilet on call. nine0009

- Lately it has become very fashionable to talk about prostate massage. Glamorous women's magazines write about him, some dubious massage parlors provide such a service. Is it a panacea for men's ills?

- I want to say that back in 2005, the European Association of Urology issued a resolution in which it was clearly and clearly stated that there is no evidence base for prostate massage as a medical procedure. That is, the best and most effective for a man is when the prostate gland is completely emptied during intercourse. Therefore, the doctor's task is to establish the patient's sexual life. And now modern urologists no longer do prostate massage. nine0009

View this post on Instagram
Publication from ASTANA UROLOGIST-ANDROLOGIST (@urolog_androlog_astana_)

As for the prostate massage offered by various masseuses who do not have a medical education, this is a kind of sex service. I think that this is not necessary. Yes, it may be present as some kind of sexual game, but in moderation. You don't need to abuse it. It is possible to damage the rectal mucosa or the prostate gland by improper handling and doing it without indications. Moreover, this cannot be done during an acute inflammatory process. nine0009

A man who agrees to a prostate massage, even as a sexual foreplay, must be sure that his prostate is absolutely healthy.

8 myths about masturbation that prevent her from doing

Masturbation is the easiest and safest way to satisfy yourself. It is practiced by people of all genders and ages. This is a way of knowing your body that helps in your personal life, and does not destroy it. We talk about the myths that surround masturbation and make it something shameful, although this is not at all the case. nine0009

Now the Burning Hut has a group in Odnoklassniki. The only thing missing is your classes! Subscribe yourself and send our articles to mothers and grandmothers.

Myth 1. Whoever masturbates is dissatisfied with sex in a relationship

Masturbation is not a substitute for sex with a partner, but an addition to it. With the help of self-satisfaction, you can relax quickly and without foreplay. Sometimes a person needs it, but the partner is not around or there is no mood for long-term romantic sex. Or just a person equally strongly loves to masturbate and have sex. There is nothing wrong. nine0009

Moreover, there is a possibility that masturbation helps in sexual relations. The better you know your body and what it likes, the more you can tell your partner about your preferences in sex. A 2020 survey of women in the US and Hungary showed the following statistics: women who regularly masturbate are more interested in having an orgasm from sex and pay more attention to their feelings during the process. So masturbation is more of a key to orgasm than a hindrance to it. nine0009

Myth 2. Children should not masturbate, it has a bad effect on the psyche

Masturbation in childhood is an element of the formation of the psyche, and not its destroyer. Between the ages of 2 and 5, children treat their own and other people's genitals not as a sexual object, but as a curious phenomenon.

Children under 5 years old touch their intimate places, they respond with pleasant sensations, and this causes increased interest. This is the norm.

If a child touches himself in public, parents are advised to hint that this activity is very pleasant, but intimate. And that adults also do this, but not in public, but in their room. The main thing is not to forbid and not to say that it is bad and wrong. nine0009

Research also suggests that masturbation in childhood and adolescence contributes to a positive sexual experience in the future and healthy self-esteem.

Myth 3. You can't masturbate too much, otherwise you can lose control

There are no limits to masturbation, because everyone has their own need for self-satisfaction. This is the kind of pleasure that cannot be overdone.

Don't worry if you feel like you're masturbating too much. Once a day is fine, five times a day is also fine. nine0009

Masturbation can only become a problem if it interferes with a normal life. If it's hard for you not to think about masturbation when you go to work, meet friends and family - the daily need becomes like an obsessive irresistible desire - then you should contact a psychologist for help.

Myth 4. Masturbation causes hair to grow or, on the contrary, to fall out

This is a myth. Masturbation does not affect hair growth anywhere in either women or men. nine0009

The Medical News Today website even speculates where this myth originated. There is an exotic theory that during an orgasm, a man releases seminal fluid rich in protein. These losses allegedly affect hair growth. But if you take up a calculator, the theory collapses. The ejaculate contains about 5 mg of protein per 100 ml. And only 3. 5 ml of ejaculate is released during orgasm. These protein losses are so insignificant that the body simply does not pay attention to them.

Myth 5. Masturbation can stimulate early menstruation

This is not true, masturbation does not affect the cycle and cannot shift it. But it can relieve pain during menstruation.

Endorphins are released during orgasm. They act on the body as an anesthetic, so at the peak of pleasure, pain in the lower abdomen can pass.

Myth 6. Vibrators can damage the nerve endings in the vagina

No, vibrators and other sex toys are recognized by the medical community as safe and cannot damage anything in the nervous system. They are designed to excite the receptors and bring pleasure, not discomfort. nine0009

Adverse reactions from using a vibrator do happen, but they are quite rare and not dangerous. In 2009, they published data from a large-scale survey of two thousand US women about their relationship with a vibrator. 71.5% of them stated that they had never encountered discomfort during use, and 16.5% noted that they had a slight numbness. The remaining 12% experienced pain or irritation of the mucosa after using the vibrator. Because the details are unknown, it's hard to judge if the vibrator is to blame or if the woman just put in too much force when she masturbated. nine0009

In other words, vibrators don't usually cause problems. Watch how you feel and remember to wash your sex toys before and after use to avoid catching an infection.

Myth 7. Masturbation affects testosterone levels and lowers it

In short, masturbation does not affect testosterone levels in the long term. It may grow for a short time, and then return to normal again.

Testosterone is a key muscle building hormone. It helps muscles synthesize protein and helps increase growth hormone in the blood during exercise. nine0009

It is believed that during sex and masturbation, testosterone levels fall and muscles grow less intensively because of this. Therefore, some athletes practice abstinence. The New York Times wrote that Muhammad Ali did not have sex for 6 weeks in a row before boxing matches.

During sex, the level of testosterone really changes - it increases. But it has been proven that after a few minutes it returns to normal values ​​and does not affect the strength and endurance of a person. nine0009

How quickly testosterone returns to normal after masturbation was not tested in the study. But if after sex the hormone returns to normal, it is logical that something similar happens during masturbation. Therefore, if you are not an Olympic athlete, you can not limit yourself to masturbation. If hormone levels are extremely important to you, then there is no exact data yet.

Myth 8. The more you masturbate, the less you want to have sex

There is no such relationship. It is believed that masturbation affects sexual desire only positively. When a person and his partner are well aware of each other's sensitive points, the desire to have sex and have fun only increases. nine0009

During masturbation, the hormone testosterone is activated, which increases libido.

The truth about masturbation looks like this

Masturbation is normal. Almost everyone does this. But if you don’t like to masturbate and don’t feel like it, that’s okay too.

Masturbation is good for health. It is known that it helps to fall asleep faster and more soundly, relieves emotional stress, relieves menstrual pain.

Through masturbation, you can get to know your body better. nine0007 It increases self-esteem, self-love, and also affects the quality of sex. It will become more sensual and brighter if you do not waste time looking for erogenous zones.

Sex toys are safe for masturbation. Just remember to wash them before and after use.

You can masturbate as much as you want. The main thing is that this does not interfere with your life and hobbies.

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