Masturbation: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Myths, FAQs - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Sexual Health

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process

Masturbation — How Does It Affect Your Health?

Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Henigsman, DO — Written by Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD — Updated on May 1, 2025

Benefits
Prostate cancer
During pregnancy
Side effects
Myths
Sexual sensitivity
FAQ
Takeaway

In addition to providing pleasure, masturbation can benefit your health and well-being by improving your sleep, mood, and stress levels, among other benefits.

Masturbation is a common activity that involves touching the genitals or other sensitive areas of the body for sexual arousal or pleasure.

Masturbation is a natural and safe way to explore your body, feel pleasure, and release built-up sexual tension. It occurs among people of all backgrounds, genders, and races.

One study in older adults estimated that between 27% and 40% of women and 41% and 65% of men reported masturbating within the past month.

Despite the myths, there are actually no physically harmful side effects of masturbation. Sometimes, excessive or compulsive masturbation may be considered harmful or lead to other mental health concerns.

Benefits of masturbation

Masturbation is a healthy sexual activity. It can benefit your physical and mental health.

There are limited studies on the benefits of masturbation, but there are studies on sexual intercourse and stimulation.

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

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

According to a 2015 study of married women, those who masturbated reported experiencing more orgasms, higher self-esteem, increased sexual desire, and greater satisfaction with their marriage and sex life.

Couples may also mutually masturbate to explore different desires, as well as avoid pregnancy. Self-pleasuring, when compared with partnered sex, also helps you prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Masturbation and prostate cancer

Some research suggests that regular ejaculation may lower the risk of prostate cancer, though doctors aren’t exactly sure why.

A 2016 cohort study of 31,925 participants and 18 years of follow-up found that a lower risk of prostate cancer was associated with a higher frequency of ejaculation. A survey of current literature from 2016 noted that 44 percent of studies analyzed reported a similar link between frequent ejaculation and lower prostate cancer risk.

There’s no evidence, though, that ejaculating regularly protects against advanced prostate cancer, so more research is needed.

Masturbation during pregnancy

Hormone changes during pregnancy cause some pregnant people to feel heightened sexual desire. Masturbation is a safe way to release sexual tension during pregnancy.

Self-pleasure may also help ease pregnancy symptoms, such as lower back pain. You may feel mild, irregular cramping or Braxton-Hicks contractions during and after orgasm.

They should fade away. If the contractions don’t disappear and become more painful and frequent, contact a doctor right away.

Some people with high risk pregnancies are sometimes advised to avoid sexual activity, as orgasm could potentially increase the risk of early labor. However, research is conflicting.

LetsGetChecked

Side effects of masturbation

Masturbation doesn’t have harmful side effects. However, some people may feel guilty about masturbating or have issues with chronic masturbation.

Masturbation and guilt

Some people may feel guilty about masturbating because of cultural, spiritual, or religious beliefs.

Masturbation is neither wrong nor immoral, but you may still hear messages that self-pleasure is “dirty” and “shameful.”

If you feel guilty about masturbating, you can speak with someone you trust about why you feel this way and how you can move past your feelings of guilt, if you would like to do so.

Therapists who specialize in sexual health may be a good resource to help you overcome feelings of shame or guilt associated with masturbation.

Compulsive masturbation

You may be spending too much time masturbating if masturbation causes you to:

skip chores or daily activities
miss work or school
cancel plans with friends or family
miss important social events

Masturbating may be considered excessive if it harms relationships and other parts of one’s life or interrupts one’s work or studies.

It may also hurt your romantic relationships and friendships because you don’t spend as much time with your loved ones as you used to, or you don’t pay attention to their needs.

If you’re worried you may be masturbating too much, consider speaking with a doctor or a counselor about ways to cut down.

If you would like to masturbate less, consider talk therapy. You could also try cutting down by replacing masturbation with other activities. Next time you have an urge to masturbate, you can try:

going for a run
writing in a journal
spending time with friends
going for a walk

Myths about masturbation

There are several common myths about masturbation that have not been proven by scientific research.

For example, masturbation does not cause:

infertility
dehydration
hormonal imbalances
changes in the size or shape of the penis
decreased sperm count
vision loss
acne
hairy palms
erectile dysfunction
low libido

Some people may also believe that masturbation can negatively impact romantic relationships or may indicate that one partner is experiencing sexual dissatisfaction.

However, though excessive masturbation can have negative effects, many people find that masturbating alone or with their partner can actually enhance their sex life.

Furthermore, masturbation may be associated with several health benefits and is considered one of the safest forms of sexual activity as it does not have a risk of pregnancy or STIs.

Does masturbation cause a decrease in sexual sensitivity?

For those who have sexual dysfunction, enhanced stimulation — including masturbation — can help increase sexual desire and sensitivity.

A 2018 review published in the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy reported that vibrator use may be beneficial for the treatment of erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction and anorgasmia, or difficulty reaching orgasm.

According to the review, vibrator use may also be associated with improvements in sexual desire and sexual function.

Masturbation may affect sensitivity during sex for people with a penis because of their technique. Research from 2022 has shown that too much stimulation on a penis during masturbation can decrease sensation.

Sometimes referred to as death grip syndrome, this can make it more difficult to reach orgasm during sexual intercourse.

If you use a tight grip, try changing your technique during masturbation to restore sensitivity levels during sex.

The bottom line

Masturbating may have many benefits for your mind and body. There are typically no harmful side effects.

Feel free to enjoy self-pleasure without guilt or shame. Speak with a therapist or someone you trust about any negative feelings you may have.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Aboul-Enein BH, et al. (2016). Evidence for masturbation and prostate cancer risk: Do we have a verdict?https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2050052116000780?via%3Dihub
Derbyshire KL, et al. (2015). Compulsive sexual behavior: A review of the literature.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4500883/
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed. (DSM-5). (2013).https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Fischer N, et al. (2022). Prevalence of masturbation and associated factors among older adults in four European countries.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8917107/
Goodfellow L, et al. (2020). Controversies in the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic women: An evidence summary and expert opinion.https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1471-0528.16544
Huang S, et al. (2022). Masturbation frequency and sexual function in individuals with and without sexual partners.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5118/3/2/18/htm
Hurlbert DF, et. al. (2015). The role of masturbation in marital and sexual satisfaction: A comparative study of female masturbators and nonmasturbators.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01614576.1991.11074029
Is masturbation good for you? (n.d.).https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/sex/masturbation/masturbation-good-you
Is masturbation healthy? (n.d.).https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sex-pleasure-and-sexual-dysfunction/masturbation/masturbation-healthy
Magon N, et al. (2011). The orgasmic history of oxytocin: Love, lust, and labor.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3183515/
Mollaioli D, et al. (2021). Benefits of sexual activity on psychological, relational, and sexual health during the COVID-19 breakout.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743609520309814
Regnerus M, et al. (2017). Masturbation and partnered sex: Substitutes or complements?https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-017-0975-8
Rider JR, et al. (2016). Ejaculation frequency and risk of prostate cancer: Updated results with an additional decade of follow-up.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0302283816003778?via%3Dihub
Rullo JE, et al. (2018). Genital vibration for sexual function and enhancement: A review of evidence.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7678782/
Sayin HÜ. (2019). Getting high on dopamine: Neuroscientific aspects of pleasure.https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Umit-Sayin/publication/333617480_Sayin_HU_Pleasure-High-on-Dopamine_A_Multidisciplinary_Academic_Journal_Published_Quarterly_by_CISEATED-ASEHERT_www_SAYIN_HU_Getting_High_on_Dopamine_Pleasure_SexuS_Journal_4_11_883-906_MARCH_Part-1_G/links/5cf732ef299bf1fb18597e6c/Sayin-HUe-Pleasure-High-on-Dopamine-A-Multidisciplinary-Academic-Journal-Published-Quarterly-by-CISEATED-ASEHERT-www-SAYIN-HUe-Getting-High-on-Dopamine-Pleasure-SexuS-Journal-4-11-883-906-MARCH-Pa.pdf
Skałacka K, et al. (2018). Sexual activity and life satisfaction in older adults.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/psyg.12381
Smith L et al. (2019). Sexual activity is associated with greater enjoyment of life in older adults.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2050116118301119
What is the “normal” frequency of masturbation? (n.d.).https://www.issm.info/sexual-health-qa/what-is-the-normal-frequency-of-masturbation?

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Henigsman, DO — Written by Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD — Updated on May 1, 2025

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Sexual Health

Benefits of masturbation

Masturbation and prostate cancer

Masturbation during pregnancy

Side effects of masturbation

Masturbation and guilt

Compulsive masturbation

Myths about masturbation

Does masturbation cause a decrease in sexual sensitivity?

Other frequently asked questions

What are the effects of masturbation?

Are there any reasons for abstaining from masturbation?

What's a healthy level of masturbation?

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Contact