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Is Masturbation Healthy?

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  • 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.

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Is Masturbation Good For You?

In This Section

  • Masturbation
  • Is it good for you?

Masturbation is normal, and can be a healthy way to learn about your body. In fact, it’s the safest way to have sexual pleasure there is — there’s no risk of pregnancy or STDs.

Masturbation Facts with Planned Parenthood's Ask The Experts! | Planned Parenthood Video

Masturbation Facts with Planned Parenthood's Ask The Experts! | Planned Parenthood Video

Is masturbating healthy?

Masturbating is totally healthy, and totally normal. There are tons of myths out there meant to scare you into thinking masturbation is wrong or bad. But the truth is masturbation is perfectly safe. Masturbating won't make you blind, crazy, or stupid. It won’t damage your genitals, cause pimples, or stunt your growth. It doesn’t use up all your orgasms or ruin other kinds of sex.

In fact, masturbation can actually be good for you. Here are some benefits of masturbation:

  • Masturbation is safer than any other type of sex. You can’t get pregnant or get any sexually transmitted infections from masturbating.

  • Masturbation can help you learn what you like and don’t like sexually. And if you decide to have sex with someone, you can know what you do/don’t want to do. BONUS: getting comfortable talking about sex and your body with your partner makes it easier to talk about protecting yourself against STDs and pregnancy, too.

  • Exploring your body and learning how to give yourself sexual pleasure can be empowering and help improve your body image.

  • Masturbation can lower stress and help you relax. It even helps some people fall asleep.

  • Having an orgasm releases endorphins — feel good chemicals in your brain. Orgasms can be a natural painkiller and can even help with period cramps.

  • Mutual masturbation (masturbating with a partner) is a really safe way to have sex and let the other person know what feels good to you. If you share a sex toy, use condoms on the toy and clean it before swapping. And if you touch each other’s genitals, wash your hands before touching your own.

Can I get an STD from masturbating?

Nope. Masturbating is the safest sexual activity out there. There is virtually NO chance of getting an STD or any other infection from touching your own genitals (and there’s also no chance of pregnancy). STDs have to be passed from one person to another, so you can’t give yourself an STD. The one exception to this is herpes - so if you have any cold sores on your mouth and touch them, make sure to wash your hands before masturbating.

But it IS possible to get an STD if you’re masturbating with another person and touching each other’s genitals. Anytime semen (cum) or vaginal fluids are spread to someone else’s body, or your genitals rub against each other, there’s a risk of STDs. So if you touch each other’s genitals, wash your hands before touching your own.

STDs can also be spread by sharing sex toys with another person. You can help protect yourself by using condoms on any toys that you share (even if they’re not shaped like a penis). Put a new condom on anytime a different person uses it. If you’re the only one using your sex toys, you don’t have to worry about STDs. But if you use them with other people, protect those sex toys just like you’d protect your own genitals — put a condom on ‘em!

It’s possible for masturbation to cause irritation or infections if your body is sensitive to the way you masturbate or the things you masturbate with — but this isn’t the same thing as an STD. Lotions, Vaseline, oils, and scented or flavored stuff may irritate your vulva and vagina. Masturbating roughly and not using lubrication can also lead to irritation because of friction. And germs from the anus can cause vaginal infections — so never put something in your vagina that’s been in your butt without washing it or covering it with a condom.

If you’re worried that you have an STD because of pain, itching, or discomfort in your genitals, go to your doctor or your local Planned Parenthood health center.  

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Five Health Benefits of Masturbation You Didn't Know About

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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

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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.

Benefits and harms of masturbation - Afisha Daily

18+

Nika Golikova

February 14, 2019 17:54

Afisha Daily talked to the doctor-sexologist of the Mental Health Center and Amina Nazaralieva 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.


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