- Masturbation is a normal activity, which involves touching the genitals or other sensitive parts of the body for sexual arousal or pleasure.
- Masturbation is a natural way to explore your body, feel pleasure, and release built-up sexual tension.
- In fact, one study in older adults calculated that between 27 to 40 percent of women and 41 to 65 per cent of men reported regular masturbation on average.
- Despite the myths, there are actually no damaging physically harmful side effects of masturbation.
- Sometimes, excessive masturbation may be considered harmful or lead to other mental health concerns.
Introduction
Masturbation is an activity that takes place when an individual uses their genitals for sexual satisfaction, which leads to orgasm. There are many myths when it comes to the side effects of excessive masturbation, but majority of these are wrong.
Although the effect of masturbation on the body is not harmful, if you’re ejaculating sperm daily or masturbating then you may experience sensitive skin or slight swelling, which is also known as Edema. However, these side effects may vanish in a few days. But there are other possible harmful side effects of excessive masturbation that you may experience.
A study showed that if you’re masturbating more than five times a week and you are in your twenties, then you’re less likely to experience prostate cancer. So, it was explained that if you ejaculate then it will prevent the cancer cells from accumulating.
10 Side Effects of Excessive Masturbation Daily in Men and Women
There is no damage caused when you masturbate. At the most, you might feel chafing or tender skin. But such things recover in a few days. However, you might still be worried about the side effects of over-masturbation.
Symptoms of excessive masturbation in men
1] Disrupts daily life
In some situations, men may find themselves wanting to masturbate often. When they masturbate more than necessary, it may result in:
- Avoiding career, school, or family occasions
- Disrupting their everyday life
- This affects their other relationships and duties
- Serving as a getaway from life issues or relationship problems
Such effects of daily masturbation can lead to loneliness and negligence of responsibilities. Managing the addiction through professional support and concentrating on effective activities is important for a balanced lifestyle.
2] Guilt and Shame
Many people are often misinformed that masturbation is sinful according to religion or culture, which might lead to feelings of guilt. However, you must understand there is nothing evil or wrong about masturbation. There is nothing fundamentally immoral about self-pleasure, so masturbation need not be a disgraceful act.
Cultural and religious beliefs often tag masturbation as bad, leading to extreme guilt. This guilt can affect mental health, causing anxiety and depression, which is one of the noteworthy effects of masturbation. So, it is better to seek help from a therapist who can help you address these emotions.
3] Prostate cancer
There still is a discussion about whether masturbation raises or lowers the risk of prostate cancer. Excessive masturbation is not a preventive action and should not be done in excess as a means of lessening the risk of cancer.
A study found a connection between regular ejaculation and a decreased risk of prostate cancer. Contrarily, another study discovered that too much sexual action or masturbation in a man’s might increase his chance of prostate cancer.
Researchers believe that the lowered risk was due to the precluding of a build-up of cancer-causing means in the prostate gland.
4] Low Sperm Count
Masturbating can be a beneficial approach. However, it is only healthy if you do not do it in excess. No matter how good something is, we must still do it in restraint. When men masturbate excessively, it might negatively affect their ability to produce testosterone in the body which can result in a low sperm count. For those who want to start a family, this can be destructive.
5] Lesser Sexual Sensitivity
One of the side effects of excessive masturbation includes reduced sexual sensitivity. A tight grip on the penis may lead you to feel lowered sensations in the long run. However, this can be fixed by changing your masturbation methods.
Masturbation side effects are difficult, especially to gain pleasure during partnered sex, but by using various techniques and moderating frequency, you can retain sensitivity.
Symptoms of excessive masturbation in women
1] Lack of Focus:
Excessive masturbation may result in addiction which leads to disruptions in daily activities, such as in your job, socializing, or relationships. It can act as a mechanism to avoid facing problems in a relationship or act as a substitute for authentic real-life experiences. This can lead to problems in keeping a balanced lifestyle and achieving responsibilities.
If you masturbate more than you want, an addiction will make you want to miss work, school, and significant social events. It interrupts the daily cycle of a person, which will impact responsibility and relationships.
2] Lesser libido
Libido is a term that is generally used to describe a person’s prevalent sexual drive or desire. The effect of masturbation on body regularly can lead to a reduction in libido or sexual desire. Regular self-stimulation may spoil the natural sexual reaction cycle, resulting in lowered interest in sexual activities with a partner.
3] Back pain
Excessive masturbation leads to back pain as you experience pain and cramps in the pelvic area. It is one of the side effects of excessive masturbation in females. Contraction of the pelvic muscle happens and engaging in excessive masturbation may require repetitive movements or sustained positions that can weaken the muscles in the pelvic region and lower back. Over time, this can cause muscular discomfort, including back pain.
4] Emotionally stressful
Can make one feel guilty as per culture, religion and spiritual ideas. Some consider it to be sinful or wrong and dirty. They believe that it is not a spiritual or cultural practice and may encounter a feeling of shame. But masturbation is not immoral. Self-pleasure is normal and everyone has a right to it. In case one is feeling embarrassed it is better to confess to a closed one or speak to a sex therapist.
Suggested Read: Is masturbation a sin?
5] Harmful during pregnancy
Hormonal changes usually occur during pregnancy. Some women have intense sexual desire and they turn to masturbation. During pregnancy, extreme masturbation can potentially have associated risks. Intense or rough stimulation of the cervix can lead to contractions, which may increase the chance of premature labour. It is generally recommended to avoid strong sexual activities, including masturbation, especially if there are any difficulties or concerns. Masturbation is not safe for those women who are inclined to a high-risk pregnancy. Orgasm can lead to differences in labour.
Is Masturbation Bad or Good for Health?
Some references may emphasise the possible disadvantages of masturbation. There are definitely bad effects of masturbation on body. These include tiredness, lower back pain, hair loss, and reduced sexual stamina. But, it’s important to note that the side effects of excessive masturbation differ among individuals. What may be extreme for one person may not be the same for another. It is necessary to approach the issue with a balanced perspective.
There are too many myths, such as it makes hair grow in weird places, makes you infertile, and shrinks your genitals. None of these is based on truth.
Masturbation is not a harmful activity. In fact, it can help your mental and physical health if done in moderation.
Some benefits of masturbation are –
- Release tension
- Stress relief
- Better sleep quality
- Growth in concentration
- Elevate mood
- Relieve pain
- Improve sex with a partner
- Relieve menstrual cramps
How to Stop Excessive Masturbation?
Overcoming a porn and masturbation addiction requires a personalised strategy, which calls for dedication to self-care. Here are some techniques that can help overcome the addiction.
- Acknowledge and understand the addiction, and comprehend its impact on your life and well-being.
- Define achievable and clear goals for eliminating the urge to masturbate. It may take time to get over the addiction.
- Identify triggers that cause the urge to masturbate. Usually, porn and masturbation addiction are associated, so it is helpful to stop watching porn. If you are addicted to porn and want to stop, you can install the BlockP porn blocker which comes with various features such as AI blocking, customizable filtering, keyword detection, password protection and many more.
- Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist. You can gain help and guidance in your journey to get over your masturbation addiction.
- Engage in activities that improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
- To take care of yourself, it’s important to get enough sleep, keep a balanced diet, and practice relaxation strategies like meditation or deep breathing exercises.
- Build a structured daily routine including productive and fulfilling activities, and it will lower sedentary time and cut chances for masturbation.
- Track your improvement and hold yourself responsible for your actions. Consider using a journal to help monitor your journey.
- Develop the will and discipline to withstand temptation, reminding yourself of the harmful effects associated with excessive masturbation.
When to Seek for Medical Help?
While masturbation is a regular part of human sexuality, specific side effects of excessive masturbation show that you may need medical guidance. If you experience constant physical discomfort such as soreness, irritation, or swelling after masturbation, it could indicate an underlying issue that requires care. Changes in sexual activity, such as difficulty reaching orgasm or maintaining an erection, might also need medical attention. Moreover, if masturbation side effects begin to hinder significantly daily life, work, or relationships, or if you feel guilt, shame, or anxiety, seeking guidance from a professional or therapist is advisable.
FAQs on 10 Side Effects of Excessive Masturbation
1. What are the side effects of masturbation in males daily on the skin
Ans. Despite the myths, there are no physically damaging side effects of masturbation. Sometimes, excessive masturbation may be considered harmful or occur because of some underlying mental health concerns. Typically, masturbation is a natural, and healthy act.
2. Can I recover from the harmful effects of masturbation
Ans. With a proper healing and maintenance process, it’s possible to stop excessive masturbation and recover from the side effects of masturbation. Though there is no cure, you must remain consistent and the rewards of recovery may lead toward a healthy and successful life without the constant associated urges and behaviors.
3. Is masturbation bad?
Ans. Masturbation is a normal activity among men and women in which they stimulate their genitals for sexual arousal. It is a safe way to explore your body, feel pleasure, and develop sexual tension. It also plays a significant role in developing sexual health. However, if you’re doing it regularly, it could lead to negative consequences.
4. What happens if you masturbate too much
Ans. Masturbation in excess may make your genitals feel a bit sore, and you might notice some swelling in your genitals. If there has been a lot of friction, the skin can become sore and occasionally this can lead to an infection.
