Is masturbutation good for health


Is Masturbation Healthy?

In This Section

  • Masturbation
  • 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.

Was this page helpful?
  • Yes
  • No

Help us improve. How could this information be more helpful? (optional)

How did this information help you? (optional)

Please answer below.

Are you human? (Sorry, we have to ask!)

Please don't check this box if you are a human.

You’re the best! Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks for your feedback.

We couldn't access your location, please search for a location.

Zip, City, or State

Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code or city or state.

Please fill out this field.

Service All Services Abortion Abortion Referrals Birth Control COVID-19 Vaccine HIV Services Men's Health Care Mental Health Morning-After Pill (Emergency Contraception) Pregnancy Testing & Services Primary Care STD Testing, Treatment & Vaccines Transgender Hormone Therapy Women's Health Care

Filter By All Telehealth In-person

Please enter your age and the first day of your last period for more accurate abortion options. Your information is private and anonymous.

I'm not sure This field is required.

AGE This field is required.

Or call 1-800-230-7526

10 Benefits of Masturbation - How Masturbating Boosts Your Health

There’s a good chance you became obsessed with masturbation after you discovered it in your teenage years. The moment after your first orgasm, it's basically all you want to do, ever. And who can blame us? The whole routine feels good, from the moment you touch your penis. And when you finally have that orgasm? Chef’s kiss.

In addition to feeling really freakin’ pleasurable, masturbation also has several health benefits, from lowering your risk for certain diseases to boosting your satisfaction during sex with a partner. (In other words, masturbation is great for your physical and emotional health.) That’s why masturbating, even when you’re having partner sex regularly, is still something you should do.

Gloria Brame, Ph.D., a clinical sexologist, believes masturbation should become a regular part of your personal care routine, kind of like brushing your teeth. “Masturbation is part of a healthy sex life,” Brame says. “It’s totally safe and harmless.”

Here are ten incredible health benefits to masturbation, and why you should take matters into your own hands right now. (I mean, provided you're not in public or at work or something.)

1) It can help lower your prostate cancer risk.

A 2004 study found that men who ejaculated more than 21 times a month reduced their risk of prostate cancer by roughly 33 percent, compared to guys who only did the deed four to seven times a month. In 2016, researchers followed up with that same group of guys from 2004 and found that those who ejaculated 8 to 12 times per month reduced their prostate cancer risk by 10 percent.

2) It makes you harder.

As you age, you naturally lose muscle tone—yup, even down there. Regular sex or masturbation works out your pelvic floor muscles to prevent erectile dysfunction and incontinence.

Masturbation "keeps the angle of your dangle perky,” said Brame. That's because the smooth muscle of your penis needs to be enriched with oxygen, which is delivered whenever there's a rush of blood to your member (i.e., when you get an erection). Aim for three to five times a week for rock-solid results.

3) It helps you last longer during sex.

Sometimes, guys don't last long in bed simply because they haven't had enough practice, either with a partner or solo. Regularly taking yourself to palm prom may help extend your sack sessions. “[Masturbating] an hour before a date will give you more control,” said Brame.

Train yourself by timing how long it takes you to orgasm, Ava Cadell, Ph.D., founder of the love coaching program Loveology University, told Men's Health. If it usually takes two minutes for you to finish solo, shoot for three next time, or count how many strokes you need to get to your happy place. “Most men can double the number of strokes and the time within one month,” Cadell said.

Practice makes perfect, right?

4) It boosts immunity.

Ejaculation increases levels of the hormone cortisol, according to Jennifer Landa, M.D., a specialist in hormone therapy. Cortisol, which usually gets a bad rap as a havoc-wrecking stress hormone, actually helps regulate and maintain your immune system in small doses.

“Masturbation can produce the right environment for a strengthened immune system,” she said.

Plus, a very small study from 2004 showed that guys had more white blood cells 45 minutes after they had a solo orgasm.

5) It boosts your mood.

Masturbating releases a slew of feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine and oxytocin that lift your spirits, boost your satisfaction, and activate the reward circuits in your brain.

“An orgasm is the biggest non-drug blast of dopamine available,” said Brame.

6) It can help you fall asleep.

There are many things you can do to improve the quality of your sleep, from losing weight to eating certain kinds of food (hello, turkey and cheddar cheese). Masturbation can also help: having an orgasm releases chemicals like prolactin, serotonin, and oxytocin into the brain, all of which have been linked to feelings of happiness and relaxation. So if you find that you're tossing and turning at night, paying a lil' visit to Pornhub might be worth a shot.

7) It can increase your lifespan.

Yup, really: according to a Welsh study of 1000 men over the course of 20 years, the men who had two or more orgasms per week died at half the rate of men who had less than that number of orgasm per month.

8) It can improve your skin.

Orgasm causes increased blood flow to the skin, which makes your blood vessels open up; for some people, this can result in slightly rosy cheeks, or what's better known as the post-sex glow. What's even better? The oxytocin that's released with orgasm can reduce inflammation, making zits and rashes less noticeable.

9) It helps you get to know your own body better.

Sure, you might think that you're pretty well-acquainted with your body, particularly if you started masturbating at a younger age. But it's always helpful to try new things and give yourself a refresher course in what your penis likes — and what it doesn't. (If you want tips, check out these male masturbation techniques.)

10) It improves heart health.

Contrary to popular belief that rigorous sex can up your risk of a heart attack or stroke, regular orgasms can actually help protect you against cardiovascular disease. A report from the Massachusetts Aging Study found that men who had sex once a month or less were 45% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than men who had two or more orgasms per week. So if you cancel plans with friends to stay home and M-bate, just tell them it's for your own health. Hey, you won't be lying.

Melissa MatthewsHealth Writer

Melissa Matthews is the Health Writer at Men's Health, covering the latest in food, nutrition, and health.

Five Health Benefits of Masturbation You Didn't Know About

Sign up for our 'Context' newsletter to help you sort things out.

Image caption,

Masturbation is an integral part of a healthy sex life

Masturbation is defined by the Royal Academy of Spain as the stimulation of one's genitals and erogenous zones with the hands or other means for the purpose of obtaining sexual pleasure.

For a long time, masturbation was considered shameful and even harmful in society, but these views have nothing to do with reality.

  • What is a normal sexual life?
  • Will there be sex robots soon?

According to experts, masturbation is not only pleasant, but also beneficial for health.

BBC Latin American Service in Spanish BBC Mundo spoke with andrologist and sexologist Mariano Rosello Gaia, who spoke about five benefits of masturbation that you may not have known about.

1. Help with menstrual pain

Masturbation can reduce or even completely relieve pain, especially associated with the menstrual cycle, as well as other gynecological symptoms.

If you masturbate during your period, it has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect and generally reduces discomfort throughout the period.

Image caption,

Masturbation acts as an analgesic

"All substances that enter the blood at the time of orgasm act as analgesics for premenstrual pain," says Rosello.

"In addition, there is a release of tension in the genital area, which usually causes discomfort and provokes pain," he adds.

2. Strengthening the immune system

Skip the Podcast and continue reading.

Podcast

What was that?

We quickly, simply and clearly explain what happened, why it's important and what's next.

episodes

End of Story Podcast

According to a study published in the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy, men who masturbate have better immune systems.

"In men, ejaculatory ejaculation activates the vas deferens, which prevents infections. Studies show that people who have more orgasms have higher levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), which is an antibody and provides local immunity," says doctor.

What's more, a study by the Melbourne Cancer Epidemic Center shows that men aged 20 to 50 who masturbate more than five times a week have a lower risk of cancer.

In women, in turn, masturbation prevents the development of endometriosis, a disease of the urogenital area, which can lead to infertility

It also helps prevent various infections, as masturbation opens the cervix, helping to release phlegm and other secretions.

3. Improving sleep

There are many ways to fight insomnia, but perhaps the safest, most enjoyable and natural of them is masturbation - especially for men.

Image caption,

The release of endorphins that occurs during orgasm contributes to good sleep

According to the expert, after an orgasm, a large amount of hormones, endorphins and catecholamines, as well as cytokines, are released into the blood, which help to sleep.

"A report on this effect was presented last year by the French Medical Research Council, and there are other scientific papers in this area," he added.

Ejaculation can help you fall asleep, because after it, prolactin levels rise sharply and dopamine levels fall, which explains the state of drowsiness after orgasm.

4. Improvement of general well-being

Masturbation improves health in general - both on the biological and psychological levels.

"The release of endorphins and catecholamines reduces stress levels and improves mood," says Rosello.

5. Help in relationships with a partner

There is a widespread myth that masturbation destroys sexual relationships in a couple.

According to experts, this is absolute nonsense. In fact, it has exactly the opposite effect.

Image caption,

Masturbation - whether shared or mutual, or alone - strengthens relationships in couples. can provoke or intensify it, and thus sex becomes more enjoyable and varied.

But that's not all.

"In general, partners should constantly work on their sexual relationships and intimate life. A good orgasm strengthens the relationship and the family as a whole," says sexologist Mariano Roseglio Gaia.

With one left: why masturbation is useful

18+

With one left: why masturbation is useful

Nika Golikova

Nazaraliyeva about the dangers and benefits of masturbation, as well as about the myths that make us ashamed of it.

Masturbation is not so simple: today we do not have enough research to say anything with certainty. Everything is complicated by the fact that even with the complete anonymity of the surveys, people do not reveal themselves to the end and do not tell the whole truth.

First of all, it is connected with stigma. Almost all religions condemn masturbation. We remember very well the horror stories that the hair on your arms will grow, that you can go crazy, become a pervert, and so on. There is a lot of shame and guilt associated with masturbation, it is embarrassing to talk about it in our society - even in many advanced sex education programs, the topic of masturbation is not addressed. And among progressive parents who talk about sex with children, only one in twenty touches on this topic.

However, masturbation is very common. Almost all men masturbate: at least, studies have about 70%. And about half of the women, and maybe more.

Scientists have found a lot of good things in masturbation. That is, either it does not affect anything, or it has a positive effect.

8 reasons to masturbate

Of the obvious advantages: when masturbating, the risk of an unplanned pregnancy or genital infections tends to zero.

According to my personal observations, people who practice masturbation are much more satisfied with their sex life and their own body than others.

Women who masturbated in childhood or adolescence are more likely to have positive sexual experiences in adulthood. In addition, they have healthier ideas about themselves.

Masturbation debunks the myth that vaginal orgasms are "correct" and clitoral orgasms are not. The fact is that women prefer clitoral masturbation to vaginal masturbation, and many of them use vibrators. By the way, men also sometimes use selectors during masturbation.

According to some studies, men who masturbate are more likely to use condoms.

The lion's dose of techniques in sex therapy is in one way or another connected with masturbation - whether it is working with a couple or individually. Such techniques are used, for example, if we want to help a woman experience an orgasm for the first time in her life or return a lost one; for a man - to control the time of the onset of his ejaculation; couple - not to experience pain or discomfort during sex.

Masturbation is always part of the healing process. Except when a person's religion and beliefs forbid him to masturbate.

Sometimes masturbation is better than sex, especially if the sex is bad or violent. Masturbation is something understandable and predictable, you always know what you need. Many women reach orgasm only with clitoral stimulation and often the partner cannot do it better.

If a person has an attraction to an object that he cannot approach for various reasons, masturbation is an excellent way out.

If you don't feel like masturbating, it's okay

Some people are not interested. The absence of masturbation in a person's life can only become a problem if he himself suffers from this.


Learn more