Will masturbation shrink the penis?

[hniyer]

I thought it is time the storehouse of human knowledge upgraded his knowledge on this subject, since this article dated circa 2001 was published, undoubtedly at the cutting edge of medical knowledge at that time.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...rink-the-penis

Here is a summary of facts currently known about the evils of (excessive) male wanking:

Seminal matrix is a treasurehouse of neurotrophic chemicals. The seminal fluid is extremely rich in DHA, EPA, other Omega-3 and Omega-6/9 oils, Choline, neurotrophins, nerve growth factor (NGF) and Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). The seminal fluid is the richest bodily source of nerve growth factors outside the human brain.

Symptoms of excessive masturbation develop only many years and sometimes after decades, but when they do show up, significant damage is already done.

Neurotrophins and fatty acids like DHA are critically important for normal brain and eye functioning. A deficiency of these have been implicated in a range of disorders like depression, bipolar disorders, a whole bunch of other mental and psychiatric conditions, retinal degeneration, macular degeneration, and incurable neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Another common manifestation is the loss of memory - especially short-term, working memory.

A common cause for these syndromes is the long-term loss of neurotrophins, minerals and fatty acids that live in the seminal fluid. These are NOT useless overstock that the body is happy to jerk off because it has an endless reserve of these. In particular, NGF and BDNF are incredibly difficult to restore when depleted.

In some Eastern traditions - especially in Hindu and Buddhist traditions - semen is considered veerya, which roughly translates to "life" or "vitality". It was specifically claimed that sexual abstinence resulted in the conserved semen translating to "ojas sakti", which means the conserved seminal constituents somehow made their way to the brain, where they became good stuff like intelligence, memory etc.

I am inclined to believe them.

Masturbation is a good way to lose steam when dealing with a powerful bout of lust. It lets you throw away pent-up feelings that might otherwise overpower you, leading you to commit a crime you would regret later. But, while useful in moderation, it does come with costly implications when overdone.

My beef with the straight dope column referred to above is that it paints masturbation as a harmless innocent indulgence that has no consequences at all. That is so clearly wrong, and medical science is now slowly rediscovering what the ancients said long ago.

[Guinastasia]

Yes, but only after you've finished.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by hniyer

It lets you throw away pent-up feelings that might otherwise overpower you, leading you to commit a crime you would regret later.

Bolding mine.

REALLY? So you are saying that if you don't jerk off at least once in a while you will rape and or pillage?

Either you have some serious self control issues or my sex drive was way lower than I thought, because I never had those kinds of feelings.

[outlierrn]

So, where do women get these righteous brain growth factors, and are they or aren't they at risk for the perils of overwanking?

[Princhester]

Your post seems kind of blurry and I can't really understand it, if I could be bothered reading it or could remember what it was about, anyhow.

[Malacandra]

It's probably just as well I spent so much of my adolescence thumping my dill, then, or else I'd never have got trousers to fit me as an adult and the women I had sex with later would have needed surgery when I was done.

Admittedly my eyesight's not what it used to be, but from what my optician says or, more accurately, doesn't say, they must allow for the autoerotic habits of the entire population when they're defining expectations.

[dogbutler]

Originally Posted by Princhester

Your post seems kind of blurry and I can't really understand it, if I could be bothered reading it or could remember what it was about, anyhow.

I was too busy shaving my palms to read.

[Rachellelogram]

In the interests of fighting ignorance, you're very, very, VERY wrong. Unless you're using sandpaper to masturbate, you will not shrink your junk by rubbing it. Even if one believed in the anti-masturbatory rhetoric you're preaching here, what's the use of having a slightly-larger penis if you can't jack off? Regardless of religious efforts to discourage masturbation, polls continually show that at least 90% of men do it (and the true answer is probably closer to 100%). So, even if masturbation did shrink the size of your penis, it wouldn't matter at all from a comparative standpoint--because everyone else is masturbating anyway.

And think about it this way: if you don't masturbate, then your body will spontaneously emit seminal fluids while you sleep. So why not have some fun doing it yourself?

[gamerunknown]

Do you have any cites? I'd be particularly interested in how seminal fluid lost through masturbation differs in any way from seminal fluid lost through regular sex or nocturnal emissions.

You may believe in centuries old Hindu and Buddhist traditions, but I'm afraid they don't pass muster around here.

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by hniyer

A common cause for these syndromes is the long-term loss of neurotrophins, minerals and fatty acids that live in the seminal fluid.

Who told you this?

[Jack Batty]

Originally Posted by Foggy

So you are saying that if you don't jerk off at least once in a while you will rape and or pillage?

Rape and pillage free, lo these past 47 years.



Just sayin'.

[Freakenstein]

?? How does it know who's doing the ride?

Originally Posted by hniyer

In some Eastern traditions - especially in Hindu and Buddhist traditions - semen is considered veerya, which roughly translates to "life" or "vitality". It was specifically claimed that sexual abstinence resulted in the conserved semen translating to "ojas sakti", which means the conserved seminal constituents somehow made their way to the brain, where they became good stuff like intelligence, memory etc.

Don't they also believe that a guy has a pre-programmed amount of that, and when it's all used up, the production stops no matter what Your age is.
My understanding is that those tadpoles grow old just like everything else and their DNA starts to deteriorate. And since it's not always the fastest that wins the race, one of these geezers may do the job with its inadequate data - not good for the kid to be. So it makes sense to keep the fresh supply ( Not that it isn't recycling anyways, but at least the chances for using outdated stuff is cut down ).

[Michael63129]

Masturbation is more likely to enlarge your penis than shrink it (no, I have no idea if this is true, but it makes more sense that erections could increase your penis size than vice-versa by stretching it, just as too much frowning can cause frown lines and so on), and of course, sex isn't any different, not to mention usually takes longer.

Also, as far as sperm go, the only side effect of frequent masturbation is a decrease in sperm count, but only because your body produces sperm at a constant rate - regardless of whether they are ejaculated or not (I have seen several days to reach maximum sperm count, but you also don't want to go too long if you want them to be as fresh as possible).

[Mangetout]

Also. Who cares? You won't live longer - it'll just feel like it.

[typoink]

Originally Posted by Rachellelogram

In the interests of fighting ignorance, you're very, very, VERY wrong. Unless you're using sandpaper to masturbate, you will not shrink your junk by rubbing it. Even if one believed in the anti-masturbatory rhetoric you're preaching here, what's the use of having a slightly-larger penis if you can't jack off?

The OP doesn't mention penis size except in reference to the original SD article. He is stating that carelessly losing semen causes psychological and other physiological damage.

I'm pretty sure he's wrong, but, if you're going to call him "very, very, VERY" wrong, it's probably best to refute something he said. It's hard to fight ignorance by guessing.

[Rachellelogram]

Originally Posted by typoink

The OP doesn't mention penis size except in reference to the original SD article. He is stating that carelessly losing semen causes psychological and other physiological damage.

I'm pretty sure he's wrong, but, if you're going to call him "very, very, VERY" wrong, it's probably best to refute something he said. It's hard to fight ignorance by guessing.

Apologies! I'll stick to one "very" next time, Captain Pedantic.

[typoink]

Originally Posted by Rachellelogram

Apologies! I'll stick to one "very" next time, Captain Pedantic.

I didn't spend years slowly rising through the ranks of the Royal Navy Pedantic to take lip from the likes o' you.

[naita]

I'm not going to publish my masturbation habits here, but they're frequent enough for me to anecdotally refute this. Despite my frequent loss of seminal fluid I'm among the smatest, I mean, among the smarest... What was the question again?

[Fiendish Astronaut]

It's true, after I finish masturbating my penis does indeed shrink.

[hniyer]

Nope, I did not mention penis size as my area of concern. I have bigger fish to fry, such as dealing with senile dementia, blindness etc.

Originally Posted by Foggy

REALLY? So you are saying that if you don't jerk off at least once in a while you will rape and or pillage?

Either you have some serious self control issues or my sex drive was way lower than I thought, because I never had those kinds of feelings.

Ah I never meant the teeming millions. I meant a small subset of folks in whom the sex urge is so strong that an outlet is absolutely necessary. That it does not do much good - looking at the rape stats - is another matter.

Originally Posted by outlierrn

So, where do women get these righteous brain growth factors, and are they or aren't they at risk for the perils of overwanking?

Can't handle this one, am a male and have no idea where these goodies are stored in the female anatomy.

Originally Posted by Princhester

Your post seems kind of blurry and I can't really understand it, if I could be bothered reading it or could remember what it was about, anyhow.

Stop doing it, man, just stop.

Originally Posted by gamerunknown

Do you have any cites? I'd be particularly interested in how seminal fluid lost through masturbation differs in any way from seminal fluid lost through regular sex or nocturnal emissions.

I did not say nocturnal emissions and masturbation produce a different kind of fluid. The difference is in the regularity and intensity of sex / masturbation. Extreme activity - some do it multiple times daily for years - is definitely harmful. Note how often the body produces a natural nocturnal emission - does it do so multiple times daily, or even once a day, for years? The body obviously knows when to stop. But when this becomes a chemical addiction, that's when the depletion of vitals starts taking place, and over many years, leads to all kinds of problems.

Originally Posted by gamerunknown

You may believe in centuries old Hindu and Buddhist traditions, but I'm afraid they don't pass muster around here.

Spoken like a true scientist. One might expect to hear, "I dont know what the hell you are referring to, so I'll reserve judgement", but no, science has progressed so much that we get the authoritative "I dont believe your crap because I believe in my own." But maybe thats par for the course.


Sex and Masturbation Addiction
http://cure-erectile-dysfunction.org...tion-addiction

NGF is abundant in human seminal plasma
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0820152100.htm

DHA is abundant in sperm and the retina
http://www.iovs.org/content/38/12/2619.full.pdf

BDNF is present in human spermatozoa. A deficiency of BDNF in spermatozoa is linked to (some types of) male infertility.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20849839

The role of BDNF in depression and other disease states
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain-d...tor#Depression
http://h2sampk.com/category/bdnf-2/

Fatty acid (FA) composition of the spermatozoa may be an important determinant of fertility.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19666200

Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on semen profile
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21219381

Overmasturbation and its effects
http://www.raysahelian.com/masturbation.html

[Jenaroph]

I'm seeing nothing in any of your cites (and yes, I looked at them ALL) that says

These are NOT useless overstock that the body is happy to jerk off because it has an endless reserve of these. In particular, NGF and BDNF are incredibly difficult to restore when depleted.

In fact, more than one of your cites says exercise appears to increase BDNF levels.

This cite: http://cure-erectile-dysfunction.org...tion-addiction indicates that, rather than depleting BDNF, over-masturbating causes an "over-release" of BDNF, which supposedly leads to addictive behaviors. I'm going to take that site with a grain of salt anyway, because they're big on penis-related supplements, and I'm getting a real woo-woo vibe from it.

This one: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0820152100.htm Lots of info on how a hot beef injection may affect female biology, none on how the loss of semen affects the male.

This link: http://www.iovs.org/content/38/12/2619.full.pdf demonstrates that male patients with retinitis pigmentosa also usually have abnormalities in their sperm. Studies in monkeys indicate that DHA supplements offer promise. The only mention of masturbation is, that's how they collected the sperm to test it.

This one: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21219381 says nothing about masturbation at all; it's about the effects of dietary omega-3 supplements on sperm count and motility. Effects seem to be positive, indicating that gee, if you've somehow become depleted in omega-3s, take some supplements, they seem to help.

I'm not buying it.

[astro]

None of your cites support your hypothesis in any way, shape or form.

Your hypothesis is basically an arm waving contention that the presence of seminal fluid in a man's testicles is (somehow) critically necessary for the support and health of other systems in the body, and that ridding your body of seminal fluid and it's yummy basket of these chemicals depletes these systems.

You offer zero proof for this contention in your cites other than the fact that some processes and organs in the body use the same chemicals components present in seminal fluid, so (somehow) these systems must be dependent on this storehouse of seminal fluid in the testicles for their function and health.

This hypothesis is just stupid. I mean really, really stupid.

[TonySinclair]

Originally Posted by hniyer

My beef with the straight dope column referred to above is that it paints masturbation as a harmless innocent indulgence that has no consequences at all. That is so clearly wrong, and medical science is now slowly rediscovering what the ancients said long ago.

Whew. I was getting worried, before you revealed this bit of lunacy.

"The ancients said long ago" that disease was caused by evil spirits, and they didn't even know enough to wash their hands, or boil water, to prevent all kinds of diseases. I'm not going to put a lot of stock in their opinion of internet porn.

If you want to post something useful about excessive masturbation, tell me what the ancients had to say about tennis elbow.

[putrid]

If one is really worried about the amount of other guys' wanking, I'd suggest more contributing to as entertaining threads as this one and arranging more two-week visits by our relatives. Thanks, all.

[gamerunknown]

Originally Posted by hniyer

That it does not do much good - looking at the rape stats - is another matter.

Your contention is not supported here (your other claims have already been debunked). In order to demonstrate that excessive masturbation has no effect on rape, one would have to demonstrate that rapists masturbate excessively.

[outlierrn]

Originally Posted by hniyer

Can't handle this one, am a male and have no idea where these goodies are stored in the female anatomy.

Maybe your research is flawed, then. Plenty of women wank, and plenty have more orgasms per session than I do. If these chemicals are so important, where are they getting them from and how are they not losing them. If your research has ignored 50% of the species, I have little respect for it.

[The Great Sun Jester]

Originally Posted by outlierrn

So, where do women get these righteous brain growth factors, and are they or aren't they at risk for the perils of overwanking?

Bwa ha ha ha ha! Silly! Girls don't masturbate.

[StusBlues]

Originally Posted by hniyer

Can't handle this one, am a male and have no idea where these goodies are stored in the female anatomy.

Assuming you are an adult male, that could be your problem right there.

Overmasturbation and its effects
http://www.raysahelian.com/masturbation.html

Read your own cite, man (wooey as it may be). Regular, daily masturbation is fine--a boon to mankind! Yes, wanking several times a day, every day, might not be a good idea for many reasons.

And now I'm counting down the minutes until some doper comes around to passionately refute that last part.

[Learjeff]

Originally Posted by Freakenstein

Don't they also believe that a guy has a pre-programmed amount of that, and when it's all used up, the production stops no matter what Your age is.
My understanding is that those tadpoles grow old just like everything else and their DNA starts to deteriorate. And since it's not always the fastest that wins the race, one of these geezers may do the job with its inadequate data - not good for the kid to be. So it makes sense to keep the fresh supply ( Not that it isn't recycling anyways, but at least the chances for using outdated stuff is cut down ).

You're confusing eggs and sperm. See link above about constant rate, for example.

Based on hypotheses about cancer, Mel Greaves states in "Cancer - The Evolutionary Legacy" that prostate cancer risk might be increased by the number of orgasms.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn of other possible disadvantages to "excessive" masturbation (many times a day, over a lifetime). Most kinds of obsessive behavior have their drawbacks. But I suspect occasional masturbation is healthier, in general, than complete abstinence.

[njtt]

Originally Posted by outlierrn

So, where do women get these righteous brain growth factors, and are they or aren't they at risk for the perils of overwanking?

This is why it is important for women to swallow.

[mlees]

Ah.

P O E.

[Drunky Smurf]

Originally Posted by njtt

This is why it is important for women to swallow.

Which is why I printed out the OP and will be showing it to my girlfriend. She needs her vital fluids.

[Irishman]

The biggest risk of excessive masturbation - friction burns.

Arm/hand cramps and ergonomic issues can also be a drag.

[Freakenstein]

Originally Posted by Learjeff

You're confusing eggs and sperm.

Nope. Like it says in the quote of My post 'in Hindu and Buddhist traditions'.
And I started 'Don't they...' because I'm pretty sure I've heard it somewhere. Also I don't see how eggs could be recklessly used out.


Hniyer:
I seem to remember Cecil writing a column that says it could prevent cancer ( i.e. preventing it getting cut off - now that's shrinkage for You! )

[Michael63129]

Originally Posted by Learjeff

Based on hypotheses about cancer, Mel Greaves states in "Cancer - The Evolutionary Legacy" that prostate cancer risk might be increased by the number of orgasms.

I thought it was the opposite, a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Well, according to Wikipedia some studies did find an increased risk, but probably due to multiple sex partners and an increased risk of infections (they also only looked at intercourse, not all ejaculations):

Another study completed in 2004 reported that "Most categories of ejaculation frequency were unrelated to risk of prostate cancer. However, high ejaculation frequency was related to decreased risk of total prostate cancer." The report abstract concluded, "Our results suggest that ejaculation frequency is not related to increased risk of prostate cancer.

[Learjeff]

Originally Posted by Michael63129

I thought it was the opposite, a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Well, according to Wikipedia some studies did find an increased risk, but probably due to multiple sex partners and an increased risk of infections (they also only looked at intercourse, not all ejaculations):

Nope, it was increased risk. From page 164:

PSA levels vary physiologically and rise dramatically, though transiently, in one normal situation -- around five hours after sexual intercourse. Now of course this makes sense. If you use up all the lubricant, then in a resilient organ you would expect this to be coupled with a stimulus to replenish supply. Herein could lie the added proliferative and oxidative stress to the prostate that exacerbates an inherent risk of cancer development. Rather than maintain steady production rate of seminal fluid, sexual activity provides regular acute boosts to activity.

He goes on to state that it's impossible to tell due to the way we do sex research, not counting the number of orgasms, regardless of mode.

Greaves's book predates the 2004 study, and perhaps his speculation was unfounded. Thanks for the cite.

[Learjeff]

Originally Posted by Freakenstein

Nope. Like it says in the quote of My post 'in Hindu and Buddhist traditions'.
And I started 'Don't they...' because I'm pretty sure I've heard it somewhere. Also I don't see how eggs could be recklessly used out.

Sorry, misread your post. Perhaps some believe that sperm, like eggs, are all created at birth, but research shows otherwise: sperm cells are continuously being manufactured.

[justrob]

Originally Posted by Michael63129

Masturbation is more likely to enlarge your penis than shrink it (no, I have no idea if this is true, but it makes more sense that erections could increase your penis size than vice-versa by stretching it, just as too much frowning can cause frown lines and so on)

Not to get all TMI or anything and I understand anecdote /= data but I'm almost positive my penis has increased in size since I started masturbating. (at ~12years old)

[lance strongarm]

Originally Posted by justrob

Not to get all TMI or anything and I understand anecdote /= data but I'm almost positive my penis has increased in size since I started masturbating. (at ~12years old)

Most penises increase size from age 12 to adulthood.

[lance strongarm]

Originally Posted by Freakenstein

My understanding is that those tadpoles grow old just like everything else and their DNA starts to deteriorate. And since it's not always the fastest that wins the race, one of these geezers may do the job with its inadequate data - not good for the kid to be. So it makes sense to keep the fresh supply ( Not that it isn't recycling anyways, but at least the chances for using outdated stuff is cut down ).

DNA doesn't deteriorate.

It's the replication that causes deterioration.

Fresh sperm should be fine, and even the oldest sperm is only a few days old, since the body constantly creates new sperm and absorbs old sperm. So there's really no "geezer sperm" anyway. It all dies young, in your body or, if you're lucky that night, in a woman's body. But an older man may have more problems with DNA replication of the sperm. It's the age of the man that matters, not the sperm.

Very recent study related to this: http://articles.boston.com/2012-08-2...evious-studies

[lance strongarm]

Originally Posted by Foggy

REALLY? So you are saying that if you don't jerk off at least once in a while you will rape and or pillage?

I believe that this is true for some men. I have never had occasion to know if it would be true for me.

[TubaDiva]

This is a Staff Report and not prepared by Cecil himself. Please see the note at the bottom which I reproduce below:

STAFF REPORTS ARE WRITTEN BY THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD, CECIL'S ONLINE AUXILIARY. THOUGH THE SDSAB DOES ITS BEST, THESE COLUMNS ARE EDITED BY ED ZOTTI, NOT CECIL, SO ACCURACYWISE YOU'D BETTER KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED.

All that being said, you all seem to be doing a good job here so please carry on.

[Calesco]

I have noticed this to be true.

I have not masturbated for over week and a couple of days ago I observed my penis had extended enough to make me look at it twice, then a third time, and even a fourth time to confirm what my eyes were seeing.

There is an area in the middle where the skin has little stretch marks, it appears, yet they have disappeared now because I am on a nutritional balancing program.

The OP mentions committing a crime due to pent-up hormones, and I believe there is a lot more truth to this statement than it would seem on the surface of the language. Consider that, when a man is pent-up and horny, he might flirt overly much, or he may lust after another woman who is not his spouse. If there is alcohol involved, he may even have sex which he would remind himself is against his ethical code while sober. I had sex which wasn't intended while I was drunk because I was at a male bathhouse, and it destroyed my relationship.

Is it a "crime" in the eyes of the law? No, the law does not care about who we have sex with. But is it a crime in that you wish dearly afterward that you had kept your self-control? Is it a crime unto your spouse, whose trust is violated in you? Truly, the meaning of the word "crime" goes much deeper than the textbook definition of an act which will land you in jail...

[TriPolar]

I couldn't read this zombie thread because my eyesight is failing.

[Sparky812]

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

Bwa ha ha ha ha! Silly! Girls don't masturbate.

I can't believe this post didn't unleash a barrage of cites disputing this statement.

ETA- Zombie porn!

[Elendil's Heir]

Originally Posted by Sparky812

I can't believe this post didn't unleash a barrage of cites disputing this statement.

ETA- Zombie porn!

Manifestly false statements often get a pass.

And I'll be in my bunk.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Rachellelogram

In the interests of fighting ignorance, you're very, very, VERY wrong. Unless you're using sandpaper to masturbate, you will not shrink your junk by rubbing it. Even if one believed in the anti-masturbatory rhetoric you're preaching here, what's the use of having a slightly-larger penis if you can't jack off? Regardless of religious efforts to discourage masturbation, polls continually show that at least 90% of men do it (and the true answer is probably closer to 100%). So, even if masturbation did shrink the size of your penis, it wouldn't matter at all from a comparative standpoint--because everyone else is masturbating anyway.

And think about it this way: if you don't masturbate, then your body will spontaneously emit seminal fluids while you sleep. So why not have some fun doing it yourself?

Hmm... Sandpaper? Sounds interesting!

[Irishman]

Originally Posted by astro

Your hypothesis is basically an arm waving contention that the presence of seminal fluid in a man's testicles is (somehow) critically necessary for the support and health of other systems in the body, and that ridding your body of seminal fluid and it's yummy basket of these chemicals depletes these systems.

You offer zero proof for this contention in your cites other than the fact that some processes and organs in the body use the same chemicals components present in seminal fluid, so (somehow) these systems must be dependent on this storehouse of seminal fluid in the testicles for their function and health.

I don't believe the assertion is that the chemicals pool in the genitals and then are drawn from the genitals as the body needs them. Rather, I believe the assertion is that frequent ejaculation means that the body will work harder to produce more semen, and in doing so draw upon the resources of the body. Since the dietary intake of said resources is limited, having a larger draw for the creation of semen to support a frequent ejaculation habit will reduce the resources for other needs.

At least, that is the most reasonable interpretation of the remarks presented. I make no claims as to the validity of that assertion.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

Bwa ha ha ha ha! Silly! Girls don't masturbate.

And, of course, girls don't fart either.

[Darth Panda]

Originally Posted by hniyer

It was specifically claimed that sexual abstinence resulted in the conserved semen translating to "ojas sakti", which means the conserved seminal constituents somehow made their way to the brain, where they became good stuff like intelligence, memory etc.

I am inclined to believe them.

You're inclined to believe that your brain is full of semen?

You know, you might just be right about that...