I masturbate too much
Can You Masturbate Too Much?
Reviewed by our clinical team
Masturbation isn’t a topic that most of us talk about on a day-to-day basis – but it’s definitely something that most of us do.
Rubbing or stroking your genitals to get sexually aroused and have an orgasm is a safe and healthy way to enjoy sex and get to know your body. For men, it can be a good way to control ejaculation. For women, it can be a good way to find out what’s pleasurable during sex.
As an added bonus, it’s the only form of sex that doesn’t come with a risk of STIs or pregnancy!
Of course, for some people masturbation is a tricky subject – often because they worry they do it too much, or not enough. Feeling that masturbation might be outside the cultural or religious norms can also be an issue.
The good news is that, for the majority of people, masturbation is completely harmless. As with anything pleasurable, masturbation can become addictive and may start to have a negative impact on your social life and relationships – but this is rare.
If you’re worried about your masturbation habits, read on for some straightforward answers to commonly asked questions.
What happens if you masturbate too much?
The first thing to know is that the physical effects of masturbating frequently are pretty minor. Doing it a lot may make your genitals feel a bit sore, and if you have a penis, you might notice some swelling. If there has been a lot of friction, the skin can become sore and red and occasionally this can lead to a skin infection. Other than that, you shouldn’t feel any negative physical effects. It certainly doesn't make you go blind or give you hairy palms!
However, frequent masturbation can cause other problems. If you find it’s getting in the way of your daily life and relationships, or if it’s causing you to carry out risky behaviours, you’re probably masturbating too much.
There is currently a relatively lively debate amongst the medical community on whether there is such a thing as porn addiction, or whether it is a form of compulsive behaviour: CSB (compulsive sexual behaviour). What we do know though from looking at men's experiences on a forum or self-help groups is that men have been affected by excessive masturbation in many ways:
- Inability to concentrate
- Brain fog
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Worsening performance at school, work or college
- Aggression
- Relationship problems
- Inability to have sex with their regular partner
- General disinterest
Women's experiences are less well documented, but this doesn't mean that excessive masturbation can't affect women in similar ways.
If you’re worried about your masturbation habits, chat to your GP or visit a sex therapist. You can also read this article: What could happen to your sex life if you watch porn? Or look at some of the self-help groups online, or sites such as Reboot Nation or this video.
Does too much masturbation cause infertility?
No, masturbating too much won’t cause infertility. In fact, you might find that masturbating a lot actually increases your sex drive, making it easier for you and your partner to have regular sex. However, if you are addicted to porn, you might no longer be able to have sex with your regular partner, because the sex you used to have is no longer fulfilling.
Although frequent or excessive masturbation usually means frequent ejaculation, this doesn't mean the supply of sperm will run out or that it will reduce the quality of your sperm.
Can too much masturbation cause testicle pain?
There are lots of things that can cause pain in the testicles – but masturbation isn’t one of them. Unless you’ve injured yourself while masturbating, it’s very unlikely that this is the cause of your pain.
In fact, it’s more likely for testicle pain to be caused by the opposite problem! “Blue balls” – or epididymal hypertension – is a common, harmless condition that can happen to a man when he’s sexually aroused but unable to orgasm and ejaculate.
In this case, masturbating should actually help relieve feelings of pain and tension in your testicles.
How much does the average person masturbate?
Every person is different when it comes to masturbation. Some people might do it once or twice a day; others might do it every few weeks or months. Remember: you’re only doing it too much if it’s having a negative impact on your social life or relationships.
Is it a problem if I don’t masturbate?
Not at all! You should masturbate as much – or as little – as you want to.
However, if the reason you’re not masturbating is because it causes pain or discomfort, you should see your GP. Pain around the genitals during sex or masturbation can be a sign of conditions like vulvodynia and prostatitis.
Can masturbation help with premature ejaculation?
Yes, masturbation can help if you’re experiencing premature ejaculation (PE) i.e. you feel that you’re ejaculating too quickly during sex. There are two masturbation methods that can help “train” your body to ejaculate less quickly: the squeeze technique, and the stop-start technique.
Get help for your sex life with Online Doctor
If you’re having issues with your sex life for any reason, you could consider mentioning this to your GP. This may seem awkward at first, but GPs are a good first point of call as they can put your mind at rest and organise tests or treatments if necessary. For problems like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation you can also use Online Doctor’s online clinic.
References
https://www.elmsmedicalkent.nhs.uk/syndication/live-well/sexual-health/masturbation-faqs
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/ask-experts/does-excessive-masturbation-have-health-risks
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/testicle-pain/basics/causes/sym-20050942
What Happens if You Masturbate Too Much?
Looking back on the pandemic, when social distancing and stay-at-home orders took IRL sex off the table, you might have started masturbating more than you ever have before.
(What else was there to do?) While there are clear benefits to masturbation—you’re not going to get a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or accidentally impregnate your partner—you may now be wondering if you're in the habit of masturbating “too much.”
After all, excessive masturbation doesn’t have the best connotation. When we think of guys who masturbate every day, we think of pubescent boys hiding out in their locked rooms, attempting to break their daily “high record.” We don’t think of successful, grown men in loving relationships.
The truth, however, is there’s really no such “thing” as excessive masturbation. "Some people masturbate more than others," according to the International Society for Sexual Medicine. "There is no 'normal' frequency. Some do it daily, some weekly, and some rarely. Some never do." While 27 percent of 30-to-39-year-old men masturbate once a week to a few times a month, that number varies quite a bit by age, according to a 2009 survey of 2,500 American men.
“However often you masturbate, it’s not a problem until it starts affecting your life in negative ways,” says Dan Drake, MFT, LPCC, a certified sex addiction therapist and clinical counselor.
But that doesn't mean that it can't pose a problem, particularly if it interferes with your everyday life.
So when does a harmless masturbation habit turn into an issue? Here are the physical and psychological signs that you may need to give your boner a bit of a breather.
1) You hurt yourself.
Some guys masturbate so often that they actually hurt themselves, says Tobias Köhler, M.D., a urologist at Southern Illinois University. These injuries could be mild (e.g., skin chafing) or a more serious condition like Peyronie’s disease, or scar tissue buildup in the shaft of your penis that can result from using too much pressure while stroking, Köhler explains.
This may sound obvious, but if you’re masturbating so often that you're hurting yourself, you need to cut back, he warns.
2) Your job suffers.
If you can’t complete a work task because you can’t stop thinking about masturbating, that’s when it becomes an issue. If you’re consistently watching porn at work or are you’re late to a meeting because you were masturbating in the bathroom, then you likely have a problem.
3) Your friendships suffer.
Do you cancel on friends because you'd rather stay home and masturbate? Are they getting annoyed by your constant flakiness? Then your masturbation habits could potentially be an issue.
We want to be clear: There's nothing wrong with reserving a night to get down with yourself. That's all well and good, and in fact, feel free to mark that in the calendar now! The cause for concern is when your need to jerk off has a clear negative effect on your relationships.
4) Your sex life suffers.
Some guys who masturbate a lot use one specific type of stimuli—say, certain categories of porn coupled with specific hand movements.
When it comes time for them to actually have sex, they find that they can’t recreate the same type of excitement, Dr. Köhler explains.
Basically, if you watch the same porn or use the same hand motions every time you masturbate, it teaches your brain and body to get off that way and that way alone. If you're having sex with a real-life partner, this could cause serious problems, both in terms of keeping it up and getting erect in the first place. “If that happens, you have a problem that needs to be addressed,” says Köhler.
5) You always think about masturbation.
You wake up wanting to masturbate. At lunch, your mind wanders to your favorite porn scene. Your commute home is almost unbearable, because you just want to sit on the couch with a beer and PornHub.
If any of this sounds familiar, and you often find yourself distracted by thoughts of when or how you’re going to yank it next, that’s a strong indication you have a problem, Drake says.
Pekic//Getty Images
If you realize you have a masturbation problem, what should you do about it?
“There’s nothing unhealthy or problematic with masturbating,” Drake says. “But if it becomes detrimental to your life, then you need to treat it like you would any other harmful habit.” That means doing one of two things: a) cutting yourself off cold turkey, at least for the time being; and b) adopting more of a “harm reduction” approach by setting limits for yourself—for example, making a rule to only masturbate at night.
Considering you probably don't want to give up solo orgasms for the rest of your life—masturbation is, after all, an integral part of any healthy sex life—you'll probably want to opt for the latter approach. Set rules for yourself and see if you can adhere to them. If you can't, and you find yourself slipping back into harmful old habits, consider seeing a therapist, as there might be a deeper psychological issue at play.
Bottom line? Indulging in a little self-love every now and then is fine. It's only when it gets in the way of your actual life—or your actual sex life—that it becomes a problem. But if it’s not negatively interfering with anything, then go ahead and masturbate to your heart’s content!
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Melissa Matthews
Health Writer
Melissa Matthews is the Health Writer at Men's Health, covering the latest in food, nutrition, and health.
I masturbate too much, I'm constantly aroused, I haven't had a sexual life yet. I am 19 years old
ConsultationsSexology
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May 29, 2019
KatyaSch
Hello, I am Katya, I am 19 years old. The problem started a long time ago. It started probably at the age of 11, when I first saw porn.
And even then I was very concerned about it, even then I could not stop. But if then it was once or twice a week, now it’s 20 times every day. I always finish (for this I strain my whole body). I have not lived a sexual life yet, I have a boyfriend and we are constantly engaged in foreplay.
But I feel excited almost all the time. When I stand, I go somewhere on business - it's still normal, I don't feel arousal, I forget about it. But as soon as I lie down or sit down... No matter how hard I try, I can't distract myself - the only way out is to masturbate. Sometimes I even masturbate right behind my boyfriend when he is sitting at the computer, and I just can't help myself and do it several times and very quietly. By the way, I finish in less than a minute.
Please tell me what to do. It's terrible, I reproach myself for it. I go to a psychologist, she has already helped me cope with an eating disorder, but I would be much more ashamed to tell her about this, but I so want to get rid of it!
May 29, 2019
Olga Tikhonova Psychologist
Katya, you already go to a psychologist,
I would be much more ashamed to tell her about this, but I really want to get rid of it!
Tell us about it, there's nothing to be ashamed of - you need help.
You are at an age when the level of hormones in the blood is high, which may be why you experience such a strong sexual desire. In addition, you need to be examined by a gynecologist and an endocrinologist in order to better understand what is happening. Get help and take care of your health. I can support you online in a private consultation, if you still do not dare to talk to your psychologist, then write to me in private messages.
May 30, 2019
KatyaSch
Yes, only it will be very hard for me to look her in the eyes, I will think that she condemns me or thinks that I am generally some kind of repulsed ... Tell me, what are the psychologists in the head when they are told such stories? Do they condemn or don’t think about it or what? In our head is an analysis of the situation and ways to solve the problem. Moreover, we are talking about physiology, there is nothing unnatural in your problem, but in order to understand where the violation is, they most likely recommend a medical examination too.
If you're worried about a psychologist, go see a gynecologist - that's part of the job. Talk, this is a conversation with a doctor - and you will be told in which direction to move on. If the problem is such that it interferes with a full life, you should definitely seek help.
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The member “gets up.” To relieve tension, I masturbate. kind of joy, then shame and negative emotions. I don't like the fact that I can't get rid of this addiction/habit. Advise me something please. Thank you!
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Having discovered this relationship, the rat pressed the button until (right on it) and died. Think about the outcome of this experience)) Other answers
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