Masturbation. Most people do it — yet so many people worry about doing it! That’s because there are a lot of myths out there that masturbation is dirty, dangerous, or something to be embarrassed about doing. But the truth is, masturbation is safe and healthy, and it’s here to stay. People of all ages do it. Guys do it, and girls do it too. Single people and people in relationships do it. Some people do it a few times a day, and some do it a few times a year. Let’s get to the bottom of some of the masturbation myths that make people so anxious about being caught red-handed.
Myth #1: Masturbation is unhealthy.
Maybe you’ve heard that masturbation makes you blind or damages your sex organs. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Masturbation is not physically harmful in any way. In fact, it has a number of physical and mental health benefits — here are just a few:
- Masturbation releases stress and physical tension. Many people masturbate to relax, and it can help some people fall asleep.
- Orgasms — whether they’re from masturbation or sex play with a partner — can act as a natural painkiller. One study from 2001 found that orgasm can ease migraines faster than medication. Some women masturbate to relieve menstrual cramps. Research has also shown that orgasms may even prevent endometriosis, a disease of the uterine lining.
- One recent study found that frequent ejaculation from masturbating may reduce a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer.
Plus, masturbation is the ultimate form of safer sex — there is no risk of pregnancy or infection.
Myth #2: Only people who can’t “get any” masturbate.
Here’s an interesting fact — people who have regular sex partners actually masturbate more often than those who don’t. Some people are concerned when they find out their partners masturbate — they wonder, “Why would someone masturbate when they could just have sex? Does this mean that my partner isn’t attracted to me?” But many people — both in relationships and single — masturbate when their partners are unavailable. Some use masturbation as a kind of “dress rehearsal,” to learn more about what they find pleasurable. People can learn about their bodies through masturbating, and this can help them communicate better with their partners about what they enjoy sexually.
Myth #3: Girls don’t masturbate.
Some people think that it’s OK for guys to masturbate and have sex, but that girls shouldn’t. Unfortunately, our society is often more comfortable with men expressing their sexuality than with women, so many girls are taught not to masturbate — or not to admit to doing it. But the truth is, girls and women do masturbate, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t. In fact, one study showed that women who masturbate have higher self-esteem than those who don’t.
Myth #4: It’s bad to masturbate every day.
Some people masturbate every day — or even more than once a day. That’s fine. So is there such a thing as “too much” masturbation? According to counselors, it’s only when masturbation gets in the way of daily activities — like going to school or work, or meeting friends — that it would be considered “too much.” And not many people have that problem. Also, some people worry that masturbating frequently will affect a girl’s fertility or a guy’s ability to produce sperm. It doesn’t. A guy may find that he has less volume of semen if he ejaculates frequently, and his semen may contain less sperm. But that doesn’t mean that his sperm count will be reduced in the future. The testicles produce and store sperm beginning at puberty, and sperm production continues through most of adult life.
So forget those rumors of hairy palms and shrinking penises. Masturbation is a safe and healthy way to relieve sexual tension, explore our sexuality, and discover what feels good. Let’s give ourselves a hand — or two!
Does masturbation affect how long it takes a guy to ejaculate during sex play?
I used to masturbate when I was really young, like before puberty. Is that normal?