Sexuality Stack Exchange Archive

Medical detriments/benefits of masturbation

• posted by: Kurtis Nusbaum on 2012-01-11
• tagged: masturbation, health
• score: 7

We’ve all heard the old wives tale that if you masturbate too much, you’ll go blind. But in all seriousness, are there any medical detriments to masturbation (either short term or long term)? On the flip side, are there any medical benefits? When I say medical, I mean both from a physical and psychological perspective.

Answer 29

• posted by: ThePiachu on 2012-01-11
• score: 9

Benefits of masturbation:

• Stress and sexual tension relief
• Is an enjoyable activity, so it produces dopamine in the brain
• Lowering testosterone level
• Helps boost the immune system
• Might help prevent prostate cancer
• Can help with insomnia

Detriments of masturbation:

• Temporary lower sperm count (as it needs to be replenished with time)
• Possible consequences depending on what the act of masturbation involves (for example, autoerotic asphyxiation and the possibility of choking)

Answer 35

• posted by: Hobblin on 2012-01-11
• score: 5

There seems to be some connection between frequent masturbation in males between 20-30 and prostate cancer (Source). But from my reading of the articles about it, the connection could as well be that high sex-drive and a high risk for prostate cancer is the more relevant connection.

As for the positive effects you have a lot of “feel-good hormones” going through your body during orgasm which can help with stress and tensions. For men using “edging” (that is stimulating until close to orgasm, backing off and then repeating) is also said to help increase sexual stamina and endurance during sex, I do not know if this could also help females with premature-orgasms.

Also for both male and females, masturbation can help a lot when it comes to knowing ones own body and being comfortable with it.

Answer 32

• posted by: Tom Squires on 2012-01-11
• score: 1

Long term medical disadvantages of masturbation : None (unless you're using a dangerous toy or practice)

Long term medical advantages of masturbation :

• Reduced prostate cancer risk
• Relieves stress (releases hormones)
• Physical exercise

Answer 131

• posted by: beth on 2012-01-16
• score: 1

Add to that list of benefits that it can relieve symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome.

Marin LF, Felicio AC, Prado GF. Sexual intercourse and masturbation: potential relief factors for restless legs syndrome? Sleep Med. 2011 Apr;12(4):422. Epub 2011 Mar 4. PubMed PMID: 21377419.

Answer 138

• posted by: Coyote21 on 2012-01-17
• score: 0

From a psychological view, this depends whether or not it becomes frequent or something you can control or not.

If you can not control it, then it becomes a sexual addition, and as such the detriments are:

• Lower self-esteem;
• Isolation;
• ...

Also, this article, this one and this one have a lot more of detriments...

If it is not a addition, then by being a sexual activity, the brain releases dopamine, which causes a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure, associated with sex and as such it may make one more happy, but just because it is a sexual activity (this is a very powerful but, because any kind of sexual activity causes the same thing)This link has more info.

And that's the view on the psychological side of it.

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