# What are the effects of frequent masturbation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2006, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130 "2006-11-20T10:04:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/41 "2006-11-21T03:25:02Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] I swear I read somewhere that if a male masturbates more frequently, he’ll have fewer wet dreams. Since I’m not a man, I can’t say whether or not that would be a good thing-I guess it depends on what you prefer. [/QUOTE] I can chime in as another anecdotal support for this one. I discovered the pleasures of masturbation before ever having a wet dream, and, I suspect as a result of this, have not had a single wet dream in my nearly 28 years of life. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/42 "2006-11-21T03:30:28Z")
I’m a female with a very high libido. I’ve noticed that if I don’t masturbate quite regularly I will have sex dreams and masturbate in my sleep. When living with a same-room roommate, I will try to masturbate at least twice a day to avoid this embarassment. The only problem with frequent masturbation is that if you use the same technique too often, it can become difficult to get off any other way. It is best to try masturbating in many different places and in many different ways to avoid this. I’ve occasionally pulled muscles, but that was due to quality rather than quantity. I guess if you went for the 10s every time you would either be constantly sore or very healthy. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/43 "2006-11-21T03:31:10Z")
Lots of happiness? (BTW, I’m female) ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/44 "2006-11-21T04:16:39Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] Besides making you go blind. 😉 It seems to me that when I masturbate frequently (3-5 times a day) it affects my energy level, making me feel tired and lethargic. Is this just my imagination, or irrelevant to the act, or is it just me? Also, I know some will say it can have social effects, i.e. less motivation to go out and meet mates. This can certainly be true and responses along these lines are welcome but I am especially interested if it has been shown to have any significant physiological effects. P.S. I am male. [/QUOTE] Is it possible the tiredness/lethargic feelings aren’t the reason for masterbating? When I was in a period on depression I tended to masterbate alot more often then I normaly would. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/45 "2006-11-21T16:19:30Z")
[QUOTE=boytyperanma] \ When I was in a period on depression I tended to masterbate alot more often then I normaly would. [/QUOTE] That’s a good point. I remember a period of… I guess, semi-incarceration I endured. The staff gave out hand lotion because a lot of the guys were getting bladder infections that were attributed to masturbation with the antibacterial soap they used in the institution. Some asked why they should get bladder infections in the stir and not at home. The consensus was that guys masturbate _A LOT_ more because of boredom, but even more so because of stress. Heightened stress could be the cause of both increased frequency of masturbation and lethargy and general malaise. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/46 "2006-11-21T20:23:45Z")
Yeah, jacking off definately can be addictive. Definately is for me. I’ve tried to tell myself tons of times, “no, abstain for a few days, it’ll feel better”… but hell, I just can’t do it. Then again, it’s probably the stupid hormones. speaking of better sex from abstaining… > [@](#): > > They also have methods for masturbating to orgasm without actually emitting any ejaculate, which is believed to be the part that “saps” your system. These involve pressing on a certain area of the groin to stop the flow of semen. I love tantric. You need to be horny enough, but if you are, slow is the ONLY way to go. And I’ve always wanted to have dry runs, because then it doesn’t sap your horniness. It increases it, even. Can’t get myself to stop, though. The pressing on an area sounds weird. Maybe you’ll get your cum to back up, but I’d be really surprised if orgasming didn’t still have all the effects of orgasming. But who knows, I should try it. > [@](#): > > It’s believed that the loss of semen results in the lethergy that a male (in particular) experiences after orgasm. I guess that semem is considered a a very rarefied kind of matter that requires a lot of energy from the body to produce. The more you force your body to produce, the weaker you get. Also, retaining it causes it to be transmuted in some way to contribute to overall spiritual enlightenment. Ha. I love how the East gets carried away with everything. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/47 "2006-11-21T20:26:32Z")
Anyway, > [@](#): > > It seems to me that when I masturbate frequently (3-5 times a day) it affects my energy level, making me feel tired and lethargic. Is this just my imagination, or irrelevant to the act, or is it just me? The best way of finding out is to keep a journal. Then you can see if your mood really does correlate with frequency. That’s the scientific way. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/48 "2006-11-21T22:53:17Z")
[QUOTE=Alex\_Dubinsky] Anyway, The best way of finding out is to keep a journal. Then you can see if your mood really does correlate with frequency. That’s the scientific way. [/QUOTE] I tried this, but the journal pages kept getting stuck together. ---
**Author:** ![Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roboto)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/49 "2006-11-21T23:21:07Z")
[QUOTE=Alex\_Dubinsky] The pressing on an area sounds weird. Maybe you’ll get your cum to back up, but I’d be really surprised if orgasming didn’t still have all the effects of orgasming. But who knows, I should try it. [/QUOTE] I figured this one out a while ago . . . it’s hardly rocket science. All you have to do is press really hard in the spot where your penis meets your balls right before the orgasm. You’re just sinching off the tube. You can even pinch the “tube” with your fingers if you like. It doesn’t hurt or anything. The orgasm is basically the exact same, only slightly less gratifying since you don’t get all of the normal theatrics. Afterwards, you kind of feel bad for your penis, like you were dishonest with it or something. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/50 "2006-11-22T00:27:17Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] It seems to me that when I masturbate frequently (3-5 times a day) . . . [/QUOTE] . . . Is there anything unusual about your diet? Lots of garlic? Oysters? Do you practice yoga? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/51 "2006-11-22T00:30:04Z")
Ginseng? Do you take ginseng? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/52 "2006-11-22T00:35:31Z")
Effects of frequent masturbation? Frequent masturbation! Seriously, do frequent wankers report any loss of potency? Or is the rule really: Use it or lose it? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/53 "2006-11-22T01:58:26Z")
> [@](#): > > I figured this one out a while ago . . . it’s hardly rocket science. All you have to do is press really hard in the spot where your penis meets your balls right before the orgasm. You’re just sinching off the tube. You can even pinch the “tube” with your fingers if you like. It doesn’t hurt or anything. The orgasm is basically the exact same, only slightly less gratifying since you don’t get all of the normal theatrics. Wait… you mean no cleanup?? What about blue balls? Aren’t there any repercussions? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/54 "2006-11-22T11:13:31Z")
[QUOTE=Alex\_Dubinsky] Wait… you mean no cleanup?? What about blue balls? Aren’t there any repercussions? [/QUOTE] No blue balls. The semen’s getting diverted into the bladder and it’ll get pissed out in due course. I sometimes wonder if the sphincter that keeps the bladder closed might object to the treatment, though, being forced open from the wrong side. I find the sensation of no ejaculation less satisfying, so despite the advantage of no cleanup, I’ve not gone this route in years. ---
**Author:** ![Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roboto)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/55 "2006-11-22T16:30:04Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] No blue balls. The semen’s getting diverted into the bladder and it’ll get pissed out in due course. I sometimes wonder if the sphincter that keeps the bladder closed might object to the treatment, though, being forced open from the wrong side. I find the sensation of no ejaculation less satisfying, so despite the advantage of no cleanup, I’ve not gone this route in years. [/QUOTE] The main benefit of this technique is that you can now masturbate in place that you couldn’t before, since there is no longer any cleanup. So you can now whack it at work, at the mall, in your car . . . anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/56 "2006-11-23T00:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] I swear I read somewhere that if a male masturbates more frequently, he’ll have fewer wet dreams. Since I’m not a man, I can’t say whether or not that would be a good thing-I guess it depends on what you prefer. [/QUOTE] With wet dreams, you get a sticky mess to clean up – and, at least in my case, you **don’t remember the dream!!** ☹ The worst of both worlds. ---
**Author:** ![TruthPal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@TruthPal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruthPal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/57 "2015-11-02T05:16:00Z")
This is not your imagination. I have been following my feelings regarding masturbation for over 30 years. I’d masturbate day and night if I could however it affects my eyes with pressure so bad that it’s hard to even look at anybody. I hear it all the time that “masturbation is harmless”, absolutely wrong and how I would love to believe the experts were right, but it’s false information. My energy levels drop and this also attributes to fatigue and feeling like a wreck. I have been keeping myself aware of the symptoms that have been around since I started masturbating in my teens and know what I am talking about… ---
**Author:** ![TruthPal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@TruthPal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruthPal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/58 "2015-11-02T05:21:00Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Doesn’t anybody do a search first anymore? > > [Is Frequent Masturbation Good For You (Especially Males)? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345030) > > [Masturbation and baldness - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=339032) > > In brief, any ill effects you’re feeling are probably psychological. No evidence of frequent masturbation being harmful was given. On the contrary, it may have some beneficial effects. Perhaps you’re lucky. masturbation affects my eyes and leaves pressure on my eyes, so bad even I can’t see straight. I have no guilt about masturbating, in fact I’d do it day and night if I could but it affects me destructively. ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/59 "2015-11-02T06:08:44Z")
I find the main problem is what to do with the stolen panties afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130/60 "2015-11-02T06:12:39Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > You have to remember that Olive Oyl and her family (Brother Castor, father Cole, and mama who eventually acquired the name “Nana”) were the _original_ stars of Elzie Segar’s **Thimble Theater**. Popeye was a bit character who came in and took over the strip. So it’s unlikely that Segar had a pun about “extra virgin” Olive Oyl, at least with respect to Popeye. It’s conceivable that he did with respect to Olive’s original swain, Ham Gravy, butr I doubt it. People weren’t given to risque humor, especially not in family comic strips, back then. Of course, W.C. Fields used to crack jokes on his radio show regularly about “my son, Chester” although he hated children. The sponsor, Lucky Strike, took ages to catch on that the name was “Chester Fields” and probably was not a name they wanted the audience to think about. But that was more about needling his sponsors than being risqué. Re the OP - they say most teenage boys have a very active sex life, it just does not involve anyone else. Since nobody has really pointed out any serious medical problems from abstinence or too much (other than friction burns) I would suggest the OP’s much overdue answer is “no effect”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-effects-of-frequent-masturbation/381130.md?page=4)