Is masturbation good for you?

Masturbation means the stimulation of the genitals (penis, testicles, vagina, vulva, clitoris) and other erogenous areas of the body (anus, breasts, etc) for pleasure. You can masturbate for your own enjoyment (self-masturbation) or you can masturbate with someone else (mutual masturbation). People often masturbate in order to have a sexual release known as an orgasm. However, not everyone masturbates to have an orgasm. Some people may want to learn more about their bodies, find out what they enjoy sexually, or use it as a way to relieve stress.

Is masturbation good for you?

Previously, there has often been false beliefs and stigma attached to masturbation. Some religions and sex education programmes have taught that masturbation is bad and that there can be negative consequences from doing it, but this is not true. Masturbation can be good for your health both mentally and physically. Masturbation can be a pleasurable experience where you discover what you like sexually, connect with your own body, and develop good sexual health and attitudes.  It can also be a great way to relax and can bring happiness and enjoyment to your life.

Not everyone chooses to masturbate or enjoys masturbating, and that is also perfectly okay. Each person’s comfort and experience of their own body is a bit different. It is also normal for your attitude towards masturbation to change over time and throughout your life.

What are the benefits of masturbation?

Masturbation can:

• Help you discover what you enjoy sexually
• Release sexual tension
• Reduce stress
• Help you sleep better
• Improve your self-esteem and body image
• Help treat sexual problems such as genital arousal disorder
• Relieve menstrual cramps and muscle tension
• Strengthen muscle tone in your pelvic and anal areas

Is masturbation normal?

Masturbation is completely normal and nothing to be ashamed about. You deserve to experience pleasure in your life and masturbation can be beneficial to your physical and mental health.

When should I masturbate?

Masturbation is something that should be enjoyed, and people may choose to masturbate for different reasons. Some people may masturbate to ejaculate or orgasm and others might do it to relax or discover what they enjoy sexually. There are appropriate places and times in which to masturbate, and it is best to masturbate somewhere you know you can relax and feel comfortable. Masturbation should never be done in front of someone else without their consent and masturbating in front of someone without consent is sexual violence. If you are masturbating alone, make sure you are doing it somewhere where you have privacy and where others won’t disturb you.

How often should I masturbate?

How much you choose to masturbate is up to you, and not everyone masturbates. Some people masturbate daily, while for others it only happens every once in a while, or never.  You might notice there are different periods of your life where you are more or less interested in masturbation, and this is normal.

There is no right or wrong amount to masturbate, but there can be healthy and unhealthy relationships with masturbation. If masturbating starts to bring problems to your life instead of enjoyment or you are worried about how much or little you are masturbating, consider speaking to your GP or to a therapist or counsellor about it.

Can masturbation cause problems with sex?

There is no scientific evidence that masturbation can cause people issues when having sex with others, but some people report only being able to reach orgasm by themselves or when masturbating in a certain way. If you are finding difficulty orgasming with a partner, there can be many reasons for this, such as not feeling as comfortable with them as you do by yourself or due to trauma you may have experienced in the past. You may also find that your partner enjoys having a style of sex that is pleasurable for them but is not the type of sex you enjoy. Talking to your partner about the type of sex and positions you enjoy and trying out these styles together can help you to reach orgasm if that is what you want. If you are feeling anxious about having sex with a partner, speaking to a counsellor or therapist about it can also help.

Again, it is important to remember that having an orgasm isn’t the most important thing during sex, and that sex can be enjoyed and be pleasurable without having an orgasm. If having an orgasm with your partner is something you would like, masturbating by yourself in different ways can help you to discover styles that might work when having sex with others.

Watching porn while masturbating

Some people like to watch porn or look at or listen to other sexually stimulating content when they masturbate.  If you choose to look at porn, try to be aware of the effects it can have on you. Sometimes watching porn can spread unrealistic expectations of sex, poor body image, or unhealthy sexual attitudes.

While all genders watch porn, a lot of porn is made for men and by men, which affects the way a lot of porn is made. Women and LGBTI+ people are sometimes shown in porn as submissive or are disrespected, treated roughly or abusively. Other times the porn will only focus on a man’s pleasure. In real life, sex should be pleasurable and comfortable for all involved.

Remain aware of the messages the porn you are watching is giving you, and be on the lookout if you think porn is having a negative impact on your mental health, or if you develop an unhealthy relationship with it. This is nothing to be ashamed of, and it happens to a lot of people, but talking to someone about how you’re feeling can really help.  If you think you may have a problem with porn there are people you can speak to for support. Text SPUNOUT to 50808 if you would like to speak to someone anonymously about how porn is affecting you.