Why Masturbation Is Good For You

By Matty Silver, Sex Therapist on May 29, 2014 in Other

Having a conversation about masturbation is still very much taboo. Unlike real estate, we won’t discuss the subject at work or at dinner parties.

Masturbation, or touching one’s own genitals for pleasure, is a natural part of human sexual development. It is easy to explain why, over the ages, religious groups have condemned masturbation, claiming it inhibits self-control and promotes sexual promiscuity. Given these negative messages some of us receive while growing up, it is not surprising that there are still feelings of shame and embarrassment about this very natural and healthy activity.

Several studies have shown that the percentage of men who masturbate is close to 100 percent, while for women it’s about 82 percent, depending on age. The television series ‘Sex and the City’ certainly made it much easier for women to discuss self-pleasure, and also managed to make the rabbit vibrator famous at the same time!

Masturbation is important for helping you to discover your body and find out what you like. You are responsible for your own orgasm, so if you know your body and know what excites you, you should then be able to communicate that to your partner.

However, the best thing about masturbation is its many unexpected health benefits, some of which I’ve listed below:

• It promotes the release of endorphins, the neurotransmitters associated with happy feelings that can improve overall mood and fight off depression.
• It produces a chemical called oxytocin, which works as a natural pain reliever that can help reduce headaches and muscle aches and can relieve stress and tension.
• It helps to induce sleep and improves the immune system, which contributes to overall better heath.
• It strengthens muscle tone in the genital and pelvic floor area, which can lead to better sex.
• It can be a sexual outlet for people who are on their own. People often masturbate into old age!
• It keeps us free from sexual transmitted infections, as it’s the safest kind of sex.

There are also a number of gender-specific benefits of masturbation. For women, it can relieve painful menstruation by increasing blood flow to the pelvic region, which will also reduce pelvic cramping and related backaches. It also helps build resistance to yeast infections and allows women to explore and understand their bodies better, so they know what they like when they have sex with a partner.

For men, masturbation may help combat premature ejaculation by training the participant to last longer – it’s easier to practice control when on your own. Regular flushing of the system also keeps semen healthy, and frequent masturbation helps in preventing the development of prostate cancer, as cancer-causing chemicals can build up in the prostate if men do not ejaculate regularly.

Simply talking about masturbation also has its benefits; it promotes sex positive views to our children at home and in our schools and allows us to teach our young people healthy behaviours and attitudes without stigma and shame.

So maybe it’s a good idea to make masturbation part of your health routine. It’s certainly more fun than eating vegetables and going to the gym!