Masturbation

Fortunately, doctors no longer tell people that masturbation causes insanity, fits, blindness and impotence. These warnings were quite untrue – masturbation does none of these harms. Although people often feel guilty about masturbation, it has many good aspects.

It is a safe sex activity much better than sexual activities that could give you a sexually transmitted infection.
It helps you become familiar with your body and your sexual responses.
It can help you fulfil your sexual needs if you are having difficulty finding a new sexual partner that you are happy with.
It can help you release tension and relax, and some people find it helps them get to sleep.
It may be good for your health; a survey of more than 29,000 US men found that those with the highest number of ejaculations (including ejaculations produced by masturbating) possibly had a lower risk of prostate cancer (Journal of the American Medical Association 2004;291:1578–86).
Some people worry that they are masturbating too much. It is difficult to know what the average is.
A survey of Australian teenagers between 15 and 18 years of age reported that both boys and girls masturbated, but boys did it more frequently; 38.2% of boys but only 8.7% of girls masturbated three or more times a week (Psychological Reports 1996;79:499–509).
A UK survey of men and women between 16 and 25 years of age found that 73% of men and 36.8% of women had masturbated in the previous month (Archives of Sexual Behaviour 2008;37:266–78).

Of course, people may not tell the truth on questionnaires about intimate subjects such as masturbation; the females in these surveys might have felt embarrassed about admitting how often they masturbated.

The only serious risk is that very vigorous masturbation can break the spongy tissue within the penis (that has filled with blood during the erection). This causes a sharp pain and often a cracking sound, like breaking a corn stalk, and the erection wilts. Afterwards, the penis might be swollen and bruised and appear bent. If you think this might have happened, you need to contact your doctor. Fortunately, it is very rare.

Dr Phil Hammond talks openly and honestly about masturbation in his Expert guide

Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated: Thursday, June 10th 2010

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Comments on this article

Posted by Heyredin on 25/07/2010 at 04:20:00 am

Websit is good for many peaple. I have question i'm feeling to sex but i don't get girl fird?

Posted by bob on 16/07/2010 at 11:55:54 am

im 16 years old and i first masturbated when i was 13 now i beleive my penis is bent or tilts to one side.

Posted by Optional on 13/07/2010 at 05:35:20 am

I feel a throbbing pain in the anal region after masturbation or sex..which subsides only if i press the anal region with my thumb or sit on a hard cold surface pressing down on the anal region...i find it embarassing to discuss with my doctor..

Posted by ltd lover on 27/06/2010 at 02:26:57 pm

I need help please, when i have an intercourse with my husband i feel excited only when the penis touch my vagina clitorous why can you tell me as i know when penis is in the vagina i should feel the excitement can you explain how to get the feeling when penis is in vagina and when we do a dog style i want to feel the excitement. please advise very urgent. thanks

Posted by OptionalRichard on 24/06/2010 at 09:12:37 am

Wonderful series of articles! Congratulations to UK for offering them. I am 91 and still sexually active. Recommended!

Posted by karen on 14/06/2010 at 05:23:29 pm

to optional 10 6 2010,hello reading your posting to me it seems like you do not like having sex because you are frightened of causing a pregnancy,stds.yes masturbation is just fine.but do not let masturbation stand in the way of a sex life.to me you are a very caring man who at one time had a very good sex life.how ever you seem to have become frightened of sexual intercourse recently,why i do not know.but there are things called condoms that will protect you from stds and fartherhood i think you have a greater fear of somthing else,may be women or somthing rooted in childhood.how ever your posting is of a very caring and loving man you should talk to a professional about this,but if you like and enjoy masturbation then enjoy what you do,if it seems just right for you so be it good luck and enjoy....karen xxxx

Posted by karen on 14/06/2010 at 04:50:14 am

to anonymous who whats to give up masturbating.hello so you want to stop masturbating well this will be ninetynine point ninetynine per cent impossible.you will only end up sexually frustrated and stressed out you would then start having erotic dreams that would lead to you getting nocturnal erections and then wet dreams.this will make your penis more sensitive to movement and touch and if by then you have still not masturbated you will be urinating sticky seminal fluid and sperm out all day.also what are you going to do with all those erections that will start comming one every five to ten minutes....and are you going to sit crossed legged whatching the sexy pop videos that are produced today.and how are you going to deal with photographs of girls in skimppy bikinis that are in todays news papers and then you will have us girls showing off our sexy figures and sexy legs in the summer.and if you by this time you still have not emptied your self you will have another wet dream and all this sexual frustration will just carry on and on.so take my advice when you go to bed tonight think of some deep erotic thoughts touch up your penis and let your sperm flow....enjoy your orgasm....karen.

Posted by karen on 11/06/2010 at 07:25:34 am

to sam hello .do not be daft masturbating when stood up will not cause a stroke when masturbating try as many positions as is possible just like sex.this should enhance your pleasure try stimulating your g spot as well and do not worry about having a stroke....enjoy....karen.

Posted by karenl on 11/06/2010 at 07:10:42 am

tooptional who masturbates five times a day hiya you ask that is masturbating five times a day natual yes it is natual it is not dirty or any thing to be ashamed of.i would say that you have a very healthy sex drive and ahealthy surge of male sex hornmones.you are only doing what comes natually.both boys and girls masturbate imyself masturbate in the bath twice a week after i have shaved my pubic hair or should isay my pubic stubble off imastubate with babyoil .so keep up your five times aday and enjoy yourself....stay healthy ....karen

Posted by Optional on 10/06/2010 at 06:19:33 pm

I masturbate whenever I get the chance, though, unfortunately, that's not very often. As far as I'm concerned if it keeps me happy & keeps me from having sex (& therefore keeps me from risking pregnancy and STD's) I think it's just fine.

Posted by Optional on 05/06/2010 at 11:14:12 am

i don't think it is a good idea.i heard it makes your behind bigger,and decease your desire of woman if addicted.i think it's better to go with woman instead of masturbating yourself and vice versa.

Posted by Optional on 28/05/2010 at 09:01:44 am

I MASTURBATE UP TO 5 TIMES A DAY IS THIS NORMAL

Posted by Sam on 25/05/2010 at 12:03:59 pm

Can i get stroke when i stand and masturbate

Posted by Optional on 05/05/2010 at 02:13:56 pm

I LOVE MASTURBATING AS IT KEEPS ME HAPPY IF GIRLFRIEND IS AWAY FROM ME.

Posted by Optional on 28/04/2010 at 02:10:59 pm

I am 65 and have been masturbating since I was about 12 - I used to do it almost every day ( several times a day when I was young) until a few years ago but it has now slowed down to about 4 or 5 times a week. I hope I can keep doing it into my eighties as I find it thoroughly enjoyable (my only sexual relief since wife went off sex)

Posted by Betty on 15/03/2010 at 02:39:37 am

I am a mature woman. I know sex well, but I jill off several times a day. It is not only fun, but helpful to cope with stressy situations.

Posted by a teen again on 08/03/2010 at 12:56:39 am

I am single now. I enjoy all the benefits of solo sex. Feel like 13 often (frequency and happiness).

Posted by Optional on 19/02/2010 at 04:32:07 pm

I mastrubate every day sometime twice a day when I'm not having sex, Is this bad? Thank you Doc

Posted by Optional on 17/02/2010 at 01:19:40 pm

I still masturbate at least 4 times a week, it feels good to me, i just love the feeling i get in my penis stroking it.

Posted by Oh My Gawd on 31/01/2010 at 09:10:00 am

"This causes a sharp pain and often a cracking sound, like breaking a corn stalk, and the erection wilts. Afterwards, the penis might be swollen and bruised and appear bent. If you think this might have happened, you need to contact your doctor." I'm gonna take a break from masturbating now. :O Scary shit.

Posted by Anonymous on 30/01/2010 at 07:51:00 pm

i masturbate at least three times weekly, have been doing it from the age of seven, in early teens did it at least twice daily, it still is fun and i love the feeling it gives me.

Posted by Anonymous on 23/01/2010 at 06:16:00 am

I have been doing it for 59 years, hope to do it another 20, it feels good and relieves a lot of tension

Posted by Andy on 23/01/2010 at 06:14:00 am

I've married for 15 years and still love masturbating, even I sometimes masturbated in front of my wife, and she enjoyed looking at my act, and she helped me reach orgasm faster. I think, it's a kind of variation in my sexual life, and I think it is normal for us all.

Posted by Anonymous on 05/01/2010 at 12:35:00 pm

I love masturbating - it helps me deal with stress, helps me to sleep and is very enjoyable.

Posted by Anonymous on 28/12/2009 at 02:56:00 pm

I have always loved this and will continue to do it even when in a relationship. It's normal...and lovely! ;)

Posted by Sumit Khera on 26/07/2009 at 01:59:00 pm

Dr. I am suffering from Night Discharge from last 4-5 years. I am trying so much medicine. But I can't solve diesese. Kindly help me. I would be very greatful to you.

Posted by Johnson on 21/07/2009 at 09:54:00 pm

At age 60, and in a committed relationship, I still masturbate regulary--often twice a week or more. Both my girlfriend (she masturbates, too) and I consider it a very healthy and fun activity.

Posted by Anonymous on 29/06/2009 at 11:53:00 pm

- I'm desperately trying to stop masturbating altogether. - Admittedly, it used to be every day. - And its something like every 3 days now. - I just totaly want to give it up. - I really, really want to stop forever (it's a waste of time and not very constructive).

Posted by question on 25/06/2009 at 08:13:00 pm

whilst masturbating quite regularly, my penis has slightly moved to one direction (bent), what does this mean?

Posted by Rohit on 02/05/2009 at 08:37:00 am

I often feel less energetic after masturbating.