Masturbation is one of the most normal human functions. But, thanks to many myths and taboos surrounding it, people often get confused about the link between masturbation and health.
One such common question is – Does masturbation cause back pain?
In order to answer this question definitively, you should understand the various factors associated with both back pain and masturbation.
Only when you know all the facts, can you draw your own conclusion as to can masturbation cause back pain. Separating the myths and facts about the link between masturbation and back pain will also help you develop healthy sexual habits without developing unnecessary fear or guilt.
Can masturbation cause back pain?
This is not a very unreasonable question. Think about the most common myths about the effects of masturbation – hairy palms! Blindness! In comparison, the question is, can masturbation cause back pain? Seems almost reasonable. But, there is no research or scientific evidence to confirm the link between masturbation and back pain.
So, what could be the reason behind this mythical connection between masturbation and back pain?
Masturbation is a perfectly natural and healthy activity. But, many myths surround it. Back pain is also a common health condition that might affect people of any age. Many factors cause back pain – injury, muscle strain, or an underlying health condition.
As there are so many myths associating masturbation with health conditions, many people end up confusing correlation and causation. So, they make the mistake of linking masturbation with back pain without any scientific evidence.
In most cases, masturbation might cause temporary fatigue or straining of muscles due to poor posture during the act. But, no evidence links masturbation with any kind of back pain. But, as with other myths, the non-existing link between masturbation and back pain continues to persist.
Masturbation and Back Pain: What is the Connection?
There is no evidence to suggest that masturbation causes back pain. The connection between masturbation and back pain is another one of those popular myths – that masturbation causes hairy palms or masturbation shrinks your genitals.
However, excessive masturbation done in an awkward position might cause cramps and muscle pain. Another coincidental cause of back pain after masturbation could be kidney stones. If you are already dealing with kidney health issues such as kidney stones, you might notice it after masturbating as lower back pain.
Another major risk factor for lower back pain is UTIs or Urinary Tract Infections. These UTIs usually cause a burning sensation while peeing, abdominal pain, and foul-smelling or cloudy urine. If you do not address these infections, they can spread to your kidneys and result in a kidney infection. This is a serious medical condition that can cause lower back pain along with other symptoms like fever and chills.
Does Masturbation Cause Back Pain in Male and Female?
There is no direct link between masturbation and back pain in males and females. In the case of normal masturbation, there is definitely no correlation between back pain and masturbation.
But, excessive masturbation with poor posture can result in discomfort and back pain. Some theories also suggest that a compulsive and frequent masturbation habit might impact your hormone levels and cause back pain. However, these theories do not have solid backing from research.
What are the Scientific Causes of Your Back Pain?
Mechanical factors such as muscle strain and ligament sprain are responsible for 90% of back pain issues. Research says that the following factors might be the scientific causes of your back pain –
- Trauma – resulting from direct/indirect contact with force
- Aging, overuse, infections, and degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal structure
- Chronic inflammatory conditions such as spondylitis and sacroiliitis. Inflammation of the visceral organs
- Calcium and bone metabolic conditions such as osteoporosis and osteosclerosis
- Congenital conditions of the spinal cord
- Psychiatric causes
How to Treat Your Back Pain?
Minor back pain issues can be treated with simple home remedies –
- Rest and modification of daily activities
- Gentle stretching and core exercises
- Over-the-counter pain relievers
- Heat packs to relieve muscle pain and tension
- Ice packs to treat inflammation and injuries
But, sometimes, the back pain will persist. Home remedies will not be able to completely heal you and get you back in action. So, you should immediately seek professional help to treat your back pain if –
- Your back pain is the result of an injury
- Back pain prevents you from getting back to your daily activities
- You are feeling radiating pain, numbness, a tingling sensation, or weakness along your legs.
- You have a fever along with back pain.
- Your back pain does not show improvement after a week of home remedies.
Depending on the underlying cause and severity of your back pain, the healthcare professional might suggest – physical therapy, medication, chiropractic care, injections, or surgery.
Does Ejaculating Make You Weaker?
Ejaculating in itself does not make you weaker. But, if you masturbate too frequently, it might result in temporary fatigue and weakness post-ejaculation.
The origin of this mistaken belief lies in the fact that when you ejaculate, you lose nutrients such as zinc and proteins. But, the amount of nutrient loss is so minimal during ejaculation that you can easily restore them with a healthy snack.
When you ejaculate, hormone prolactin is released. The relaxing effort of the hormone can make you feel temporarily sluggish. But, it does not deplete your energy and you should be able to recover fully with a few moments of rest.
When Does Masturbation Become a Problem?
Masturbation becomes a problem when it disrupts your daily activities, work/studies, and relationships. When your masturbation habits cross the line of compulsion, it can become a full-blown addiction that affects your overall well-being.
Here are 5 behavioral signs that will tell you when masturbation is becoming a problem for you –
- Neglecting responsibilities and missing classes or work due to excessive masturbation habits.
- Intrusive and obsessive thinking about masturbation to the point where you can not focus on other things.
- Preoccupation with masturbating affects your sexual and romantic relationships with a partner.
- Masturbation causes intense guilt and shame, which affects your mental health.
- You engage in masturbation when you are not aroused (stressed or bored) or in inappropriate places (ex. public restrooms).
Is It Good to Masturbate?
This is a nuanced question – without a black-and-white answer.
On the positive side, masturbation has documented health benefits. It can provide you with stress relief and menstrual pain relief. Masturbation may improve your mood and sleep quality. It is an option to manage your sexual desires without the risk of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). Masturbation can also help to improve your sexual satisfaction.
On the flip side, masturbation can become a compulsive behavior and put you at risk of becoming a sex addict. Frequent masturbation can also lower sexual sensitivity, which can affect the quality of your romantic relationships. If you are not careful, aggressive masturbation can cause chafing, tenderness, and swelling of your genitals.
Psychologically, masturbation still remains a taboo and causes shame. Specifically, women are more likely to experience guilt and shame associated with masturbation. Masturbation is also linked to a higher risk of depression.
How BlockP Helps Overcome Masturbation Addiction
BlockP, the content blocker for explicit content, can be the most powerful ally in overcoming your masturbation addiction. It gives you power over your digital consumption and helps you fight against intrusive or triggering thoughts.
We are living in a digitally pervasive world that ensures constant access to triggers and titillations. The digital environment that we rely on for work or leisure is designed for distraction. So, you can not rely only on your willpower to protect you from the temptations and intrusive thoughts of the digital world.
BlockP supports your recovery from masturbation addiction by enabling healthy technology interaction. It protects you from exposure to explicit content that might trigger the urge to masturbate. BlockP takes the pressure off constant vigilance in your mind and frees up your mental energies for more constructive pursuits.
The content blocker also acts as your accountability partner. It tracks your online behavior and keeps you informed about the frequency of your access to restricted content. Knowing the patterns of your slip-ups helps you identify your vulnerability to masturbation triggers.
FAQs on Does Masturbation Cause Back Pain?
1. Can masturbation cause stomach pain?
Yes. The pelvic floor muscle contractions during masturbation can cause stomach pain.
Particularly during orgasm, your pelvic muscles contract quickly, which can result in cramping and pain in the lower abdomen. The stomach pain post masturbation can be a sharp, stabbing one or a dull ache that persists. Some people experience cramping and discomfort immediately after masturbation/orgasm. Whereas, in some cases the pain might occur after several hours or even days.
2. Does masturbation cause lower back pain?
Yes. Masturbation, especially over-masturbation, can cause lower back pain.
If you masturbate in an awkward position, then poor posture can result in lower back pain. Over-masturbation might deplete the production of neurochemicals such as oxytocin, testosterone, DHEA, and DHT. The release of prostaglandin E2 (an inflammatory hormone) triggered by neurochemical depletion can cause back pain. If you have an Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), you might experience pain in your pelvis and lower back after masturbation.
3. Does ejaculating relieve back pain?
No. There is no scientific consensus on whether ejaculating, especially during masturbation, can relieve back pain.
However, there is anecdotal evidence of people experiencing temporary relief from back pain after ejaculation. When you orgasm, your body releases endorphins. These hormones can naturally alleviate your pain perception and provide a brief respite from back pain. The muscle contraction and stress relief achieved with masturbation may also help to ease the tension in your back.
4. Can Masturbation Cause Headaches?
Yes. Masturbation can cause what is known as a sexual headache or orgasm headache.
In fact, masturbation is the second leading cause of sexual headaches. Particularly if you have a history of migraines or cough headaches, then your risk of sexual headaches is also high. The headache might start as a dull headache and build in intensity as the act of masturbation progresses. Or, it can also come upon with a sudden intensity as you climax or orgasm.
5. Can too much ejaculation cause pain?
Yes. Research says that excessively frequent ejaculation can put you at risk of prostatitis – the condition associated with inflammation in the prostate gland.
When your pelvic muscles contract during ejaculation, it can result in the build up of lactic acid and free radicals. Frequent masturbation will result in a build-up of these byproducts, which can trigger a series of cellular or tissue damage and inflammation, resulting in pain.
6. Does Masturbation Cause Weakness?
No. Masturbation does not cause physical weakness.
There is no research supporting the belief that masturbation will make you physically weak. Some people might definitely experience temporary fatigue immediately after masturbation. But, this is most likely the result of physical exertion involved in the act and not due to depletion of nutrients or energy from your body.