Why Masturbation Is Good For Your Health

Medically reviewed by Dr. Megan Fleming.

Is Masturbation Good for You?

No matter what anyone else has told you or what you’ve read on a questionable internet forum while spiraling on Google… The answer is a big fat YES!

In the video below, Sexpert Annabelle Knight gives you all the best tips for masturbation and why it's beneficial for your sex life, as well as which sex toys can enhance your solo sessions.

There are plenty of reasons to masturbate. But don’t just take our word for it. Scientists have proven that masturbation - and climaxing in particular - causes your brain to release lots of different hormones that have a range of positive effects.

There are plenty of reasons to masturbate. But don’t just take our word for it. Scientists have proven that masturbation - and climaxing in particular - causes your brain to release lots of different hormones that have a range of positive effects.

“Masturbation is a cocktail of neurotransmitters/endorphins, all of the feel good ones, including dopamine and serotonin plus the attachment/cuddle hormone of oxytocin. This is self-love on steroids, not only does it feel good in the moment, the physiological changes of arousal and orgasm are just plain good for your body, health and overall wellbeing.” - Dr. Megan Fleming

We’ll dive into the specifics below, so keep reading to discover more magic reasons for frequent self-satisfaction.

What are the Benefits of Masturbation?

1. It's a stress-reliever

If you've found that life's getting a little too hectic and you need to 'blow off steam’ as it were, then rubbing one out could be the solution.

By their very nature, orgasms are a release of tension. You feel a build-up and then a release; your muscles relax and that overpowering pleasurable feeling takes over.

As well as a profound physical release, your mind also benefits from the hormones released during climax. Dopamine and oxytocin (the happiness and love hormones) help to elevate your mood, making you feel calmer and happier. If this isn’t a great reason to masturbate, we don’t know what is.

2. It Can Help You Last Longer

This practical side effect of masturbation is particularly relevant for men who have issues with finishing too quickly.

According to sex therapists, people who struggle with premature ejaculation helped improve their stamina by masturbating around two hours before they had sex.

Masturbating regularly and trying techniques such as edging has also been proven to aid with climax control and improve stamina over time.

So the next time you’re thinking of rocking chairs and baseball during sex to stave off the inevitable, you may find that a tactical tug can help.

3. It Can Boost Your Immune System

Another epic side effect of masturbation is its immune-boosting power. Once again, you've got hormones to thank for this one. During climax, levels of immunity-boosting cortisol in the body are elevated, making it easier for you to fight infection and illness.

Having regular orgasms can help to increase the number of microbe-killing leukocytes in your blood, which help reduce your vulnerability to germs and decrease your recovery time during sickness.

You’re giving your body a helping hand, in every sense of the word.

4. It Improves Your Sex Life

Much like training for any big event, there are many, many ways that masturbation can help prepare you for more satisfactory sex.

Not only does it teach you what you enjoy (which you can then share with your partner), but it can also help strengthen your pelvic muscles. This can lead to harder, longer-lasting erections in men, and more powerful orgasms for both men and women.

Interested to know more about pelvic floor muscle training for women? See our guide on How to Use Kegel Balls for some tips on getting started.

5. It Helps You Sleep

Everyone's experienced that blissful post-sex snooze, and post-solo-playtime isn't any different.

As we've mentioned, one of the side effects of masturbation is the release of oxytocin and the relaxation of the muscles after orgasm. This helps to prepare the mind and body for a restful night’s sleep.

So if you’re ever experiencing insomnia or you just can't switch off after a busy day, you know what to do…

6. It Can Reduce the Risk of Prostate Cancer

A 2016 study revealed that ejaculating at least 21 times a month lowered the risk of prostate cancer by around 20%.

The reason for this is that over time, cancer-causing toxins can build up in your bladder, urethra, and testicles.

Regular ejaculation helps to flush them out, reducing the chance of a tumour forming.

As excuses for beating your meat go, we think that's pretty…unbeatable.

7. It Can Relieve Pain

Of all the reasons to masturbate, this is one of the most badass. Did you know that the endorphins released during climax can actually act as natural pain relievers?

Many people who have periods find that indulging in a solo session while on their period helps to ease the symptoms of menstrual cramping as well as boosting their mood.

There are also studies exploring the potential of orgasms to reduce headaches and migraines. Who would’ve thought that showing yourself some self-love is sometimes the best medicine?

How often should you masturbate?

There’s no right or wrong answer to how often you need to jerk off; some people do it daily, and others can go weeks without. But as we’ve already explored, masturbation is perfectly natural and can help us be happier and healthier in our everyday lives.

Our recent survey for ‘Masturbation May’ revealed that 70% of our 2,000 participants masturbate at least once a month. When it comes to weekly wanking, 50% of single people said they enjoy self-love sessions multiple times a week, compared to ⅓ of those in new and long-term relationships.

This may not come as much of a surprise, since people in relationships tend to choose sex with their partner over solo sexual activity.

However, renowned ‘sexfluencer’ Ashley Cobb still emphasizes the importance of masturbation for everyone. She says:

“Single or coupled, masturbation should still be a regular part of one’s self-care routine as solo sex can help us with more than just sexual satisfaction.”

How much masturbation is too much?

While there’s no limit to how many times we can enjoy our bodies, just as with all things enjoyable (such as fast food, lie-ins, and binge-watching Netflix), you can definitely have too much of a good thing.

Excessive or rough masturbation can irritate the skin, and in some extreme cases can even cause tearing of the frenulum (a.k.a. snapping your banjo string) or the flinchingly-titled 'penile fracture'. Ouch.

So make sure that you listen to your body, and, if you experience any unusual side effects of masturbation including redness, soreness, or discomfort, don't power on through it.

Stop. Have a break. And, if it continues, go and see your doctor.

Using a good squeeze of lube can help reduce friction and add extra pleasurable extra slip and slide to your self-stimulation sessions, helping you masturbate for longer and more frequent periods.

If you struggle to experience self-pleasure without shame or guilt or if you have concerns that your masturbation practice is out of control or having a negative impact on your sexual experiences with a partner, know that there are qualified sex therapists and counselors that can help. The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT.org) is an excellent resource that provides the names of qualified professionals in each state and internationally.