# Can chronic masturbation lead to impotence? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2011, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642 "2011-08-22T11:26:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/21 "2011-08-23T17:24:04Z")
Can impotent men masturbate to climax? Are you only impotent if you can’t have sex with another person, or is it not able to have sex, period? ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/22 "2011-08-24T23:19:13Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Can impotent men masturbate to climax? Are you only impotent if you can’t have sex with another person, or is it not able to have sex, period? I thought impotence meant “unable to get an erection,” or at least “unable to sustain an erection for very long.” If that is indeed the definition, then impotent men can indeed masturbate to climax. There are numerous techniques for masturbating to orgasm with a flaccid penis; it’s just har—er, _more difficult_, than the normal up-and-down motion. I don’t think we need to get into specifics right now, as they’re easily Google-able… ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/23 "2011-08-24T23:30:19Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Emmm…how do you get it in if it isn’t erect? like stuffing a marshmallow into a coin slot. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/24 "2011-08-25T03:43:02Z")
No it does not make you impotent. I tried the experiment in my own laboratory. (bedroom). ---
**Author:** ![Uncertain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Uncertain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncertain)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/25 "2011-08-25T12:24:44Z")
> [@JBDivmstr](#): > > Careful there Capitaine Z, you’re “dating” yourself! 😃 Of course. If he were dating somebody else, he wouldn’t need to masturbate. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/26 "2011-08-25T12:28:47Z")
The answer is, of course, no. Although if you are jerking it 5 times a day, it might be more difficult to have sex for the same reason it would be difficult to masterbate a sixth time that day. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/27 "2011-08-25T16:19:42Z")
> [@Uncertain](#): > > Of course. If he were dating somebody else, he wouldn’t need to masturbate. That’s not what I was implying, but I can certainly see how that could be inferred from my statement. 😉 Capitaine Z > [@](#): > > (… ha, the days of impromptu hard-ons, God, do I miss that) … JBDivmstr > [@](#): > > Careful there Capitaine Z, you’re “dating” yourself! ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/28 "2011-08-27T20:18:43Z")
Follow-up: My friend who had the unfortunate experience (Details are light, but as I understand it, it failed to happen with a girl he was nuts about for quite a while) says that (after I mentioned the thing above to him, before starting this thread) he has stopped masturbating since the morning after that night. Also he is now paranoid that it is weaker, and less responsive than it was… …I honestly don’t know what to tell him, and he’s too proud to go to his doctor.😃 He wasn’t impressed when I told him that the not masturbating thing wasn’t true though 😛 Thanks for the replies everyone, it’s interesting to put that little bit of faulty sex ed to rest. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/29 "2011-08-27T20:27:56Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > The answer is, of course, no. > > Although if you are jerking it 5 times a day, it might be more difficult to have sex for the same reason it would be difficult to masterbate a sixth time that day. Speak for yourself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/30 "2011-08-27T20:29:40Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Emmm…how do you get it in if it isn’t erect? Shoe-horn ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/31 "2011-08-27T20:44:20Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > I thought impotence meant “unable to get an erection,” or at least “unable to sustain an erection for very long.” If that is indeed the definition, then impotent men can indeed masturbate to climax. .. Two points: “Unable to sustain an erection for very long” is real condition, known as anorgasmia. It is a frequent side effect of anti-depressants. It can lead to essentially “impotence” when both partners eventually say “the he’ll with this, nothing’s going anywhere, let’s call the whole thing off.” 1. It’s occurred to me that wanking it to Internet porno has created a new type of sexual stimulation antithetical to using your partner as a solo sex toy for self masturbation only (not that there’s anything wrong with that for some couples), and thus leading to half-mast when push comes to shove: jerking off to constantly new images on the Web, changing on the order of a seconds, is not at all like real-life stimulation, by which I include National Geographic pictorials, cross-section drawings of female anatomy, and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/32 "2011-08-27T20:52:57Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > 1. It’s occurred to me that wanking it to Internet porno has created a new type of sexual stimulation antithetical to using your partner as a solo sex toy for self masturbation only (not that there’s anything wrong with that for some couples), and thus leading to half-mast when push comes to shove: jerking off to constantly new images on the Web, changing on the order of a seconds, is not at all like real-life stimulation, by which I include National Geographic pictorials, cross-section drawings of female anatomy, and the like. You could always make a paper bag of National Geographic pages and make your partner wear it over her head… ---
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/33 "2011-08-27T21:30:39Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Two points: > “Unable to sustain an erection for very long” is real condition, known as anorgasmia. It is a frequent side effect of anti-depressants. It can lead to essentially “impotence” when both partners eventually say “the he’ll with this, nothing’s going anywhere, let’s call the whole thing off.” Anorgasmia is not the condition of “being unable to sustain an erection for very long;” it is the inability to **achieve orgasm at all** whether the flag is high and proud, at half mast, or down for the night. _ETA_ It is correct that anorgasmia can be a be side effect of some anti-depressants; Paxil is one such. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/34 "2011-08-27T21:59:54Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > This doesn’t seem to make any sense. > > Men masturbate or penetrate \*after \*they achieve an erection don’t they? So unless these men possess psychic penises that know in advance where they are going, how could this possibly be true? > > Are there large numbers of men out there who masturbate/penterate in order to obtain an erection? 😕 In addition to the already pointed out (that some manual manipulation, whether by the man himself or a willing partner) is how many men achieve an erection, it’s also important to note that not all ED is characterized by an inability to get an erection. Another component of ED (not anorgasmia) is an inability to _maintain_ an erection to orgasm. So a man could have a spontaneous erection (or a manually, uh, inspired one), begin masturbating or begin sexual activity and then go limp - even if things are still feeling really good. That’s part of ED, too. A very frustrating part, for both partners. But as for the chronic masturbation leading to impotence…no, I am not aware of any scientific studies linking the two. There are lots and lots of old medical and pseudo-medical texts which say that there’s a link, but they were written by Victorian doctors and other “experts” with a very particular anti-masturbation point of view. You’ll probably find weakness, moral turpitude, blindness, excessive hair growth and madness also on the same list - and all wrong. We women hear a similar myth, by the way, from a similar agenda-filled source, with an added dose of misogyny and fear of female sexual freedom. Using a vibrator has NOT been shown to make us “insensitive” to other forms of stimulation. In fact, for women as well as men, using sex toys to explore and discover what feels good while masturbating generally increases arousal and responsiveness when one is sexual with a partner. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/35 "2011-08-29T12:44:54Z")
> [@Fatwater\_Fewl](#): > > Anorgasmia is not the condition of “being unable to sustain an erection for very long;” it is the inability to **achieve orgasm at all** whether the flag is high and proud, at half mast, or down for the night. > > _ETA_ It is correct that anorgasmia can be a be side effect of some anti-depressants; Paxil is one such. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/36 "2011-08-29T18:32:50Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > In addition to the already pointed out (that some manual manipulation, whether by the man himself or a willing partner) is how many men achieve an erection, it’s also important to note that not all ED is characterized by an inability to get an erection. Another component of ED (not anorgasmia) is an inability to _maintain_ an erection to orgasm. So a man could have a spontaneous erection (or a manually, uh, inspired one), begin masturbating or begin sexual activity and then go limp - even if things are still feeling really good. That’s part of ED, too. A very frustrating part, for both partners. > > But as for the chronic masturbation leading to impotence…no, I am not aware of any scientific studies linking the two. There are lots and lots of old medical and pseudo-medical texts which say that there’s a link, but they were written by Victorian doctors and other “experts” with a very particular anti-masturbation point of view. You’ll probably find weakness, moral turpitude, blindness, excessive hair growth and madness also on the same list - and all wrong. > > We women hear a similar myth, by the way, from a similar agenda-filled source, with an added dose of misogyny and fear of female sexual freedom. Using a vibrator has NOT been shown to make us “insensitive” to other forms of stimulation. In fact, for women as well as men, using sex toys to explore and discover what feels good while masturbating generally increases arousal and responsiveness when one is sexual with a partner. Anectdotal I have a friend that is unable to achieve an orgasm _ **without** _ the use of a vibrator. (Physiological) ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642/37 "2011-08-30T04:02:44Z")
I believe the OP was using “impotence” in a non-technical sense. That is, not nec. the inability to get an erection, but the inability to have either an orgasm or other satisfying sexual experience because the plumbing’s not working up to spec. One thing I haven’t seen mentioned (except perhaps indirectly) is that masturbation is more, shall we say, efficient. First, most people have more practice with it. But moreover, when there are two people involved, there are other considerations. Tab A and Slot B might not be precisely congruent (and if not, it might not be immediately obvious to everyone involved). Or perhaps you’d like the source of stimulation to rotate 3 degrees clockwise; you’ll have to communicate that somehow (in a way that doesn’t get you banished to the couch). And there may be things that aren’t particularly pleasurable to you but that you want to do for your partner. When it’s just you you know without delay what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s perfect, you can correct it immediately if need be, and there’s no need to focus on whether your partner is enjoying him/herself too. –Cliffy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-chronic-masturbation-lead-to-impotence/593642.md?page=1)