# Is masturbating healthy for a person? What have scientific studies shown? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102 "2002-08-03T00:20:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jason1234567892001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Jason1234567892001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jason1234567892001)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/1 "2002-08-03T00:20:28Z")
Is masturbating healthy for a person? What have scientific studies shown? Smoking is pleasurable, but is bad for a persons health. What are the affects of masturbation on a persons mental and physical health? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/2 "2002-08-03T00:27:39Z")
The problem with legitimate studies on masturbation is that the subjects typically end up double-blind. šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/3 "2002-08-03T00:43:48Z")
I thought it was because they had so much trouble getting a control group. Personally, I think horniness leads young men at least to indulge in too much irrational, stupid, and downright dangerous behaviour, so in that sense masturbation is healthy. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/4 "2002-08-03T03:46:16Z")
Only young men masturbate? ---
**Author:** ![Slugworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Slugworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slugworth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/5 "2002-08-03T03:46:47Z")
Regular orgasms have been shown to have a positive effect on health. Sexā€™ll get you there with some more physical exertion, which barring any medical problems is healthier for you, but masturbation certainly isnā€™t _bad_ for you. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/6 "2002-08-03T13:18:34Z")
Personally, I think itā€™s healthy not only for the practitioner (just think how much lower his/her stress level is, and letā€™s not forget that women masturbate too, and we all know the health benefits of low stress levels!), but for significant others, too. Just think how often thereā€™s an imbalance of libidos in a relationship: if it werenā€™t for masturbation, and the hornier partner had to nag the less libidinous one until he/she finally gave up in order to get any release, thereā€™s be a lot more black eyes out there. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/7 "2002-08-03T15:24:04Z")
In [this column](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mjackoff.html), Straight Dope Staff Jill says that all of the reported health dangers of masturbation are myth. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/8 "2002-08-03T17:50:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dr. Lao \* > \*\*Only young men masturbate? \*\* I didnā€™t say that only young men masturbate, but I was only addressing that particular portion of the masturbatory population, because I have some experience in that area, having once been a young man. Now Iā€™m an old man. Whew. I hope that clears that up. It was not my intention to slight any women, young or old, in my previous post. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/9 "2002-08-03T18:40:41Z")
What about chafing. That can be a problem I am told. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/10 "2002-08-03T18:42:54Z")
Has anyone masterbated with any thought as to whether it was healthy or not? Never crossed my mind. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/11 "2002-08-03T23:02:45Z")
Your body can only produce sperm so quickly, so excessive masturbation can cause you to have a low sperm count until your testicles catch up. Not a problem unless youā€™re trying to get someone pregnant, and if you are masturbation probably isnā€™t a big issue for you. There is the chafing issue, especually if youā€™re uncircumsized. Thatā€™s what lube is for. Oh, and thereā€™s this: [http://www.dbaseiv.net/](http://www.dbaseiv.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/12 "2002-08-03T23:11:59Z")
[hijack]What if you **donā€™t** masturbate **or** have sex? Are you risking your health?šŸ˜• ---
**Author:** ![SmoothOperator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SmoothOperator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmoothOperator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/13 "2002-08-03T23:17:49Z")
I read somewhere _and if I can find a link to it, Iā€™ll show it_ that lesbians had an easier time during menopause with feminine dryness because of the supposed frequency of masturbation. [http://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/hostedfiles/features/atrophicvaginitis\_partone/07.htm](http://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/hostedfiles/features/atrophicvaginitis_partone/07.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Monkeypants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Monkeypants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkeypants)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/14 "2002-08-03T23:22:18Z")
I definitely donā€™t want to know what the placebo would be in the OPā€™s study. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/15 "2002-08-04T00:04:30Z")
Arenā€™t regular orgasms good for keeping the prostate healthy? I read that somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![loupdebois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e495f1/32.png) [@loupdebois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loupdebois)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/16 "2002-08-04T03:05:24Z")
Eva Luna, your point is a strong one which has made me not need to post. Although it wears thin, it has spared my relationship much stress ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/17 "2002-08-04T03:16:04Z")
Speaking strictly of men (yes, we all know women do it too;)), I think I once read some place that masturbating changes the male hormone testosterone into a less _ā€œdangerousā€_ form so that the male is less likely to get testicular cancer. That actually brings up a good question. Is it **un** healthy **not** to masturbate? My advice: play it on the safe side and just continue doing it;). šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/18 "2002-08-04T03:22:53Z")
How about the mental effects? Iā€™m curious about that. Iā€™ve got this, erm, friend you seeā€¦ ahem šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/19 "2002-08-04T03:29:07Z")
[This cite](http://www.teenadvice.org/archive/27715.html) has alot of interesting info about it. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102/20 "2002-08-04T14:50:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fogmage \* > \*\*[hijack]What if you **donā€™t** masturbate **or** have sex? Are you risking your health?šŸ˜• \*\* Consult [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=128401). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-masturbating-healthy-for-a-person-what-have-scientific-studies-shown/122102.md?page=2)