Is Masturbation Healthy? (+Recommended Frequency)

Exploring the often-taboo subject of masturbation, this article seeks to unravel myths and present facts. Is masturbation detrimental or beneficial to health? What is the ideal frequency for men and women? From potential benefits to recommended practices, we provide a succinct, data-driven guide. Dive in for an enlightening journey through the world of masturbation, enriched with compelling facts and insights.

Here are the headlines covered in this post.

Is Masturbation Bad For You?
How Much Masturbation Is Too Much?
Benefits of Not Masturbating
How Often Should You Masturbate?
- How Often Men Should Masturbate
- How Often Women Should Masturbate
Masturbation Fun Facts

Top Findings

Masturbation is good for your health unless it’s done in extremes.
Benefits of masturbating: Lower stress, get better sleep, improve overall mood, improve self-esteem, help penis owners to hold longer when having sex, relief from menstrual cramps and muscle tension, and much more (see more pros below).
There is no specific number for when you’re masturbating too much.
Here are a few signs that you’re masturbating too much: It hurts, it’s more a necessity than a voluntary activity, it’s hindering your ability to manage daily responsibilities and tasks, and it’s affecting your satisfaction in partnered sexual experiences.
Benefits of NOT masturbating: Enhanced self-control, Increased self-awareness, Improved sperm quality for future ejaculations, Potentially easier to reach orgasm during partnered sex if ejaculation hasn’t occurred recently, and Some studies suggest a possible link to increased testosterone levels.
Men Masturbate on average. 14 times a month and women 7.9 times a month.
In general, there’s no optimal amount of times you should masturbate pr. month (at least no evidence shows this), but some researchers have the following opinions:
- Men should masturbate around 21 times a month, or roughly five times a week.
- Women should at least masturbate 1 time a week.

Is Masturbation Bad For You?

No, masturbation is not bad for you. Masturbation is healthy! The science behind masturbation is quite simple. Our bodies release endorphins when we have an orgasm. Endorphins are the hormones responsible for blocking pain and making you feel happy. The pleasurable feeling that comes with masturbation and orgasm is the same as when you have sex.

Research has pointed out the following notable benefits of masturbation:

Reduction of stress.
Help’s penis owners hold longer when having sex.
Better sleep.
Better mood.
Better libido.
Relief from menstrual cramps and muscle tension.
Strengthening muscle tone in pelvic and anal regions.
Improvement in self-esteem and body image.
Better Energy.

Source: Plannedparenthood.org

How Much Masturbation Is Too Much?

There is no specific number for when you’re masturbating too much. You can do it daily, weekly, monthly, or not masturbate at all. It’s in other words a personal preference. However, everyone must not masturbate often as it can lead to negative consequences. It is important to note that healthy habits can also become unhealthy when done in extremes.

Here are some signs that your current masturbation habits might be excessive:

Masturbation seems more like a necessity than a voluntary activity (e.g. you have planned the next time you should masturbate or you feel you can’t relax/sleep/etc. if you don’t masturbate).
It’s no longer enjoyable due to discomfort, numbness, or diminished pleasure.
Your masturbation habits are affecting your satisfaction in partnered sexual experiences (e.g. you don’t want to have sex with your partner due to lack of lust etc.).
Your frequent masturbation is hindering your ability to manage daily responsibilities and tasks (e.g. if you frequently masturbate at your job or when visiting friends/family (we’ve earlier found in a survey that 34% have tried to masturbate at work)).

Sources: Mindbodygreen.com

Benefits of NOT Masturbating

Some individuals decide against masturbation due to personal, spiritual, or religious beliefs. Here are some of the possible advantages of avoiding masturbation:

Enhanced self-control.
Increased self-awareness.
Improved sperm quality for future ejaculations.
Potentially easier to reach orgasm during partnered sex if ejaculation hasn’t occurred recently.
Some studies suggest a possible link to increased testosterone levels.

Semen Retention as a Spiritual Practice: Abstaining from masturbation is sometimes practiced as part of semen retention. This spiritual approach involves avoiding ejaculation, based on the belief that semen is a vital energy source.

Source: Mindbodygreen.com

How Often Should You Masturbate?

There is no evidence for the ideal number of times you should masturbate! However, a few researchers have some thoughts on what they think is the perfect number of times you should masturbate pr. month. But before we get to that we want to show some stats on how often the average man and woman masturbates:

Men masturbate on average 14 times per month.
Women masturbate on average 7.9 times per month.

Now let’s compare this to how often men and women should masturbate according to some research.

How Often Men Should Masturbate

Dr. Kanaris suggests that an optimal frequency of masturbation for men is around 21 times a month, or roughly five times a week, with a minimum of about seven times a month. This recommendation is based on a study indicating that higher frequency may reduce prostate cancer risk. However, Dr. Kanaris emphasizes not to stress over exact numbers, as what’s comfortable varies per individual. Over-masturbation, defined as when it interferes with daily life, should be avoided. Masturbation is also known to release feel-good hormones, reducing stress and potentially improving sexual endurance.

How Often Women Should Masturbate

Dr. Peter Kanaris suggests that women should aim for sexual activity, either through masturbation or with a partner, at least weekly. Dr. Yvonne Fulbright highlights the benefits of frequent masturbation around the menstrual cycle for pain relief. A 2020 University College London study indicated that masturbating once a week in your 40s may delay menopause. Over-masturbation is cautioned against, similarly to men, when it starts interfering with daily life.