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Is Masturbation Healthy?

Dr. Lisa Lawless

Dr. Lisa Lawless, CEO of Holistic Wisdom
Clinical Psychotherapist: Relationship & Sexual Health Expert

Worried finger puppet, Is Masturbation Healthy?

Masturbation can be a very healthy way of expressing your sexuality. It has proven health benefits as well as psychological perks and can provide a variety of pleasures. Some people worry whether they are within the norm when it comes to masturbation. There is nothing wrong with masturbating as long as you feel it is healthy for you and not interfering with your relationships and life responsibilities.

A common concern is the frequency of masturbation. Healthy masturbation ranges from several times per day, week, or month to never masturbating at all. The frequency of masturbation isn't a problem unless linked with an obsessive-compulsive disorder, where a person feels the need to think about sexual behavior or repeatedly masturbate, to the extent that it impairs general functioning and generates emotional distress.

When Masturbation Is Unhealthy

  • Masturbating, instead of taking care of your day-to-day responsibilities, such as missing work, school, and important social events.

  • Masturbating compulsively and obsessing over the next time, you can do it.

  • Masturbating to the point of causing physical damage to your genitals from constant stimulation.

  • Masturbation affects your relationships and may even serve as an escape from relationship issues or substitute real-life experiences.

If you feel that masturbation is disruptive to your life, you may wish to consult with a sex therapist who can help. To locate a local sex therapist, a helpful resource is the website for the American Association of Sexuality, Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT.org).

Is Masturbation Normal in a Relationship?

There's nothing wrong with masturbation in a relationship. The primary source of conflict is when masturbation begins to take away from the intimacy of the relationship. The vast majority of couples continue to masturbate, perhaps not as frequently as they did when they were single, but many couples still do it. Masturbation and couples' sex are both a sexual release, but they fill different needs. Masturbation is about communing with yourself, and couples' sex is about connecting with someone else. Both are healthy. In addition, using sexual stimulus tools such as adult entertainment, vibrators, etc. can also enhance masturbation and be beneficial.

Male Masturbation

Ejaculatory Control

You might be interested to know that to learn ejaculatory control; sex therapists typically recommend masturbation. Men can masturbate to practice their control and identify what it feels like to approach orgasm when ejaculation feels inevitable.

Concerns About Too Much Friction

Men who masturbate often or with a lot of friction may experience chafing, tenderness, or slight swelling of the penis (edema) if they are too rough, but this typically heals in a few days.

Reduction In Prostate Cancer

Two studies, one done in 2003 and the other in 2016, found that men who ejaculated more than 5 times each week or 21 times per month were one-third less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer than those who ejaculated less often. However, keep in mind that masturbating while stimulating the prostate may encourage cancer spread if a man already has prostate cancer. See our Prostate Massage Guide for more information.

Male Masturbation Tips

For more helpful sex tips on male masturbation, please see our Male Masturbation Tips and our guide on Premature Ejaculation.

Female Masturbation

Health Benefits Of Masturbation For Women

Masturbation can help increase sex drive as it provides blood flow to the genitals and thus allows for a healthier vagina. Anxiety and stress significantly reduce the sex drive; using masturbation to relax and release, the body will undoubtedly crave more of the same rather than less. It can also help women learn how to orgasm faster. Furthermore, masturbation can help to ease menstrual cramps. For more information about this, see our Menstrual Relief Guide.

Better Understanding Sexual Needs

In addition, women often find it more difficult to orgasm, and masturbating allows women to learn what pleasures them. This can be communicated to a partner during sex play, thus making their sex lives richer. Often women say that masturbation helps create longer, more intense orgasms than they can experience during lovemaking.

Masturbation Using A Vibrator

Using a vibrator can also be a beneficial aspect of masturbation for women. In two 2009 studies, vibrator use among women was linked to increased desire, increased lubrication, arousal, and overall sexual function. A study done in 2015, published through the Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, found that women who masturbated had happier marriages than those who did not masturbate.

For women who use vibrators, there can be some slight temporary numbness in a small fraction of women. This is not uncommon when using a vibrator for an extended period and will typically resolve itself in a day.

See our Vibrator Myths Guide as well as How To Use A Vibrator and How To Choose A Vibrator for more information.

Benefits Of Masturbation For Both Sexes

Stress Release & Health

Masturbation gives you pleasure both physically and mentally while lowering blood pressure and releasing endorphins in the body. It also reduces cortisol levels, increases your immune system, allows for better sleep, relieves pain, decreases headache frequency, decreases depression, and lowers your risk of heart disease, stroke, prostate, and breast cancer.

Rich & Creative Imagination

Masturbation allows you to explore sides of your sexuality that may be taboo to your partner or embarrassing to you.

Freedom

There is no risk of disease, pregnancy, or emotional trauma from masturbation.

Better Sex

Masturbation sessions allow you to be less inhibited than you would with a partner, be more creative, and know your own body better so that you can better communicate your desires with them.

Myths about Masturbation

Masturbation is, generally speaking, a healthy sexual activity and has been erroneously blamed for a host of untrue and even bizarre claims, including:

  • Blindness
  • Hairy Palms
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Mental Illness
  • Madness
  • Physical Weakness
  • Sexual Perversion
  • Reduced Sexual Function
  • Neurotic Disorders
  • Penis Shrinkage
  • Penis Curvature
  • Low Sperm Count
  • Infertility

Guilt About Masturbation

Some people have masturbation conflicts with religious, spiritual, or cultural beliefs, which may elicit feelings of guilt. However, masturbation and sexual pleasure is not wrong, immoral, or shameful. It is usually helpful to discuss such feelings with a healthcare professional or therapist specializing in sexual health to overcome feelings of guilt or shame.

The Bottom Line

Masturbation provides health benefits for your mind and body. It is healthy and not something that one should feel guilty about doing when alone or even while in a relationship. Rather it is an exquisite pleasure that we all can celebrate.

There is nothing wrong or dirty about our sexuality; it can be the most wonderful and loving experience we give ourselves and share with others. It is why we believe so passionately in the sexual education and resources we provide. It is also why we specialize in only the best sexual products that are body-safe, non-toxic, ecofriendly, and phthalate-free because we care deeply about your happiness and health.

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