Here’s why you shouldn’t masturbate frequently

Masturbation is a common sexual activity when an individual stimulates their genitals for sexual pleasure. It may or may not lead to orgasm. Masturbation is common among men and women of all ages and plays a key role in healthy sexual development. Have you ever wondered if masturbation could be harmful and it can come with a lot of side effects?

Also check out-Biology of orgasm: All You Need To Know – My Biology Dictionary

Research has found that among adolescents aged 14-17 years in the United States, around 74 per cent of males and 48 per cent of females masturbate. Among older adults, roughly 63 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women between 57 and 64 years of age. This article explores the important role of informing young people about masturbation. Although researchers agree that masturbation can be a positive part of healthy sexual development, most people received very little information regarding this. Their information on this topic is largely ambivalent. In this context, the media also plays a vital role in informing people about masturbation through books and magazines for females and television comedies for males

ARE YOU MASTURBATING A LOT?

How will you know that you’re overdoing it? You will witness several behavioural changes that can affect your surroundings. Here are some signs which indicate that you are masturbating a lot.

1. You hurt yourself Some guys masturbate so often that they actually hurt themselves. These injuries can be mild eg., skin chafing, or a more serious condition like Peyronie’s disease, or a scar tissue buildup in the shaft of penis that can result from using too much pressure while stroking.

2. You began to skip school, work, and other social gatherings to masturbate.

3. You always think about masturbation. 

4. Some people experience negative feelings related to social or spiritual expectations. 

NOTE: Masturbation is a common sexual activity. People of different age groups masturbate but what you have to keep in mind is that you do not overdo it.

MASTURBATION SIDE EFFECTS

As we know, masturbation is a common sexual activity. It’s a natural, healthy way through which many people explore their bodies and find pleasure. There can be mental health issues as a result of masturbation, such as feelings of anxiety or guilt, or other mood disorders.

Here are some of the major side effects of masturbation if done excessively:

LOW SPERM COUNT 

Masturbating can be a healthy habit if it is done for a small time in a month. When men or boys are in an excessive habit of doing it, the body’s capacity to build testosterone gets hampered, and this can be a possible reason for low sperm count. Azoospermia can be one of the side effects of masturbation.

DHAT SYNDROME 

This is one of the main sexual problems for men in India. A research was published in Jan 2015 by the International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, “Dhat syndrome can be a possible side effect of masturbation. This syndrome can finally become the main cause for premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction and other ejaculation problems like retrograde ejaculation in men”.

NIGHTFALL PROBLEM 

It happens when men ejaculate in their sleep, they suffer from nightfall problems. Men who have too much exposure to sexual substances or indulge in masturbation too much more time can also face nightfall problems which is a major side effect of masturbation.

RASH AND REDNESS

Holding the genitals too hard or yanking them too hard at the climax can create rashes and redness which may require medical assistance. These rashes often occur because of dryness in the skin or skin infection and cause side effects of masturbation.

SOCIAL DISTANCING 

According to a study, masturbation addiction can be one of the reasons for men for avoiding social gatherings. A person suffering from this addiction loves to spend time alone rather than go out.

LOW SELF-ESTEEM

Men who are in the habit of masturbating more than the optimum times are dealing with their anxiety and depression in their way. These people lose their confidence and are always nervous around people. Masturbating relaxes them for a while but creates a negative stigma toward themselves.

UNFOCUSED MINDSET 

Men who masturbate more than once a day are usually addicted to it and look out for reasons to skip their work or studies. These men cannot focus on their work and eventually suffer from failure in their jobs or studies. At the same time, too much masturbation also causes weakness in men which can forbid them to concentrate on their work.

GUILT 

Cultural, personal, or religious observations or doctrines may impact how you view masturbation. In some philosophies, masturbation is bad or immoral. This can lead to feelings of guilt.

ADDICTION 

People who masturbate frequently report that they find it difficult to quit or reduce their rate. Excessive masturbation can begin to impact your day-to-day sexual functioning as well as your mood.

HOW TO STOP MASTURBATING?

Socialise a Lot

A person socializes because he/she feels lonely. An ideal mind can do a lot more harm than you can ever think of. If you socialize, your mind remains focused and diverted. So make it a point to socialize with family, and friends or hit the gym to keep your body more productive.

Consult a Doctor

You need to understand that you cannot fight it alone. You need to talk your problem out. Consult a healthcare specialist. He/She will provide you with a set of guidelines that will help you go about the problem. This can affect you mentally and leave you suffering from an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that can make things worse for you. Make it a point to talk to a therapist or a psychologist.

Do Something New

Indulging yourself in doing something else is one way that will help you. Pick yourself a new hobby and this can replace the time spent on masturbating. Start working on your personal goals and remind yourself daily. Tell yourself that you will achieve it and it does keep you motivated. This will help you place your energy on some other things and never leave you thinking of masturbating.

Say ‘NO’ to Pornography

Pornography affects a person mentally such that it shapes the way they think and act in society as a whole. It is a mental driving agent for people who masturbate a lot. Avoid pornographic images, and videos and searching for websites that can get you back in that thinking.

Regular Exercise

Simple exercises such as running, swimming, walking, and jogging can increase positivity and keep your focus straight. Regular exercise can keep you mentally strong. It beats stress levels and keeps your head calm. Simple exercises for 30 minutes every day will do you good.

SOME UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT MASTURBATION

Although masturbation has little to no effect on testosterone levels, it may still benefit a person’s workout performance. However, there is not enough scientific research to support a direct link between masturbation and better physical performance. Current scientific research does suggest, however, that sexual activity may enhance people’s overall health.

A recent study on adults who had experienced a heart attack suggests that those who frequently engaged in sexual activity had better long-term survival rates. Hormones, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and oxytocin, increase during and following sexual climax. These hormones positively affect mood and could influence the mental aspect of exercise by improving a person’s frame of mind and motivation during a workout.

Research and anecdotal reports suggest that sexual stimulation, including stimulation through masturbation, may help you:

• relieve built-up stress
• sleep better
• boost mood
• prevent trusted source anxiety and depression
• relax
• feel pleasure and enjoyment
• relieve cramps
• release sexual tension
• improve self-esteem
• have better sex
• better understand your wants and need

KEY FACT:

Masturbation is a common sexual activity. It ultimately depends on your individual needs and desires. Not everyone enjoys masturbation and it is perfectly reasonable not to do it if you don’t want to. However, don’t be convinced that not masturbating will bring health benefits. These have not been confirmed by science and are purely based on anecdotes. It does bring benefits but doing it frequently may cause you harm. At the end of the day, what you do with your body is your choice alone.

Reference:

1. Zimmer, F., & Imhoff, R. (2020). Abstinence from masturbation and hypersexuality. Archives of sexual behavior, 49(4), 1333-1343. (Read more- Abstinence from Masturbation and Hypersexuality | SpringerLink)