For the Victorians, it was known as self-abuse, and was deemed the cause of most physical and psychological ills. At the height of a moral and medical panic, one nineteenth century expert declared: ‘That insanity arises from masturbation is beyond a doubt’. Both scientific knowledge and cultural attitudes towards masturbation have both thankfully changed dramatically in the intervening two hundred years since then. In the present day, 38 per cent of women and 61 per cent of men masturbate, according to research.
To celebrate masturbation and in a bid to lessen continuing taboo and shame which pervades the topic, International Masturbation Month is being celebrated throughout May around the world. To mark the occasion and how far society has come since our Victorian forefathers, here are some of the reported health benefits of masturbation:
1. It can prevent depression
Research suggests orgasms increase endorphins, which in turn stave off depression.
2. It can reduce risk of cervical cancer
Research has suggested female masturbation can protect against cervical infections as orgasms regularly flex the cervix.
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3. It’s good for your self-esteem
Experts say people who are comfortable about masturbating are more comfortable with their bodies and sexuality.
4. It helps you sleep
Orgasms lower blood pressure and relax endorphins, letting you drift into a peaceful sleep afterwards.
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5. It eases menstrual cramps
Many women report period pain being lessened or stopped by masturbation.
6. It reduces risk of prostate cancer
Research presented at the most recent American Urological Annual Meeting suggested men who ejaculate at least monthly may be less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer later in life.
7. It’s STD free
Nearly half a million people in the UK are diagnosed with an STD every year ranging from HIV to syphilis. For obvious reasons, masturbation does not carry the same risks, unless you’ve recently come into contact with someone who has a condiiton which can be transfered by intimate contact.
8. Ditto unwanted pregnancies
For similarly obvious reasons.
I think it can help you sleep, and is good for other stuff. When you do that the energy goes up, and revitalizes the organs and body. The problem is that you also lose lot energy, and you need energy for your organs to function, and for you to be alive. When you have low energy, your health becomes bad and you start being sick. When a person is sick and disbalanced, it tends to lose energy. So, the more you are disbalanced, you need more to masturbate. The best for a person would be to improve his health, and release himself from the need to masturbate. I think chinese philosophy, medicine and exercises are the best for that. Some western medicines release the need from masturbation, known as Paxil and Seroxat, and they are antidepressants of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. There are some forums and chanels on youtube which talk about benefits of not masturbating. People started being aware of that.
Hey Happeh, I was deceived at a young age that masturbation was good. Now I am 21 and have been abstaining for over 9 months. I have hair loss and a crippling body. Will this all reverse in time?
I would not count on those symptoms reversing. The rate at which the effects are taking place should slow down if you have given up on or cut down on masturbation, but it would likely take a conscious effort at some type of rehabilitative exercises to correct any crippling that has taken place. And hair loss is something that usually does not come back.