Table of contents:
- What is masturbation?
- Benefits of masturbation for health
- 1. Letting go of sexual desire
- 2. Reduce stress and pain
- 3. Help identify yourself
- 4. Improve the quality of sex with a partner
- 5. Prevent various diseases
- What is the danger of masturbation if it is not done properly?
- 1. The penis is injured
- 2. Irritation and infection
- The characteristics of masturbation addiction
- Causes of masturbation addiction
Everyone has their own way of exploring their own body. One way that maybe almost everyone has done is masturbation, aka masturbation. Not only men, it turns out that many women also do it. Unfortunately, there are still many who consider this action taboo, so that there are also myths about masturbation. This article will discuss thoroughly about masturbation, from the benefits to the dangers for health if done excessively.
What is masturbation?
Masturbation or masturbation is an activity carried out to get sexual pleasure by touching one's own genitals. This activity usually aims to reach a climax point, or what is also called an orgasm.
Activities that are carried out during masturbation generally vary, from touching, stroking, to massaging the genitals.
Masturbation or masturbation is a common sexual activity by most people. In a study from JAMA Pediatrics , as many as 73.8% of men and 48.1% had masturbated.
In addition, an estimated 62.6% of men reported having masturbated since the age of 14, and 80% of women tried to do it since the age of 17.
People masturbate for a variety of purposes. There are those who want to feel more relaxed, some want to get to know their body better, some do it as an outlet for sexual desire, especially for those who do not have a partner to engage in sexual activity.
Some people often masturbate, some rarely, and not a few do not do it at all. This activity is classified as private and is a personal decision, so there is no "right" or "wrong" way.
However, this activity can also be a problem if you do it uncontrollably, the desire to masturbate is interfering with your daily life, or affecting the quality of sex with your partner.
Benefits of masturbation for health
Although many people consider it taboo, masturbation or masturbation are normal activities. In fact, masturbating is the first experience of sexual activity that both men and women have.
Unfortunately, the perception of masturbation as a negative activity has led to many misleading myths circulating in the community. Some say masturbation causes infertility, reduces penis size, and causes blindness.
All the myths above are completely untrue. In fact, masturbation or masturbation that is carried out within reasonable limits provides various benefits for your health. Some of them are:
1. Letting go of sexual desire
Many people may not be able to let go of their sexual desire by having sex. This usually happens because you are not married, have certain health conditions, or your partner has to be away for a long time.
Well, the solution that can be done to release that desire is masturbation. You can still achieve sexual pleasure without the need to have sex with other people.
2. Reduce stress and pain
Any sexual activity, including masturbation, that ends with an orgasm will help the body release endorphins, chemicals that can induce pleasure and relieve pain.
This is why masturbating can help relieve stress, especially if done until you reach orgasm.
In fact, according to the Planned Parenthood page, some women masturbate during menstruation to reduce pain.
3. Help identify yourself
Not everyone immediately knows what they like and don't like during sex.
So, a way that can be done to explore and understand your body better is by masturbation.
4. Improve the quality of sex with a partner
As explained above, masturbation helps you to recognize your body better.
From there, you can also tell your partner which parts of the body are easily stimulated sexually. The relationship between you and your partner in bed becomes warmer and more pleasant.
5. Prevent various diseases
Because this sexual activity does not involve sex with other people, you can avoid various sexually transmitted diseases.
Additionally, a study from the journal European Urology states that men who ejaculate more frequently a day can avoid the risk of developing prostate cancer.
What is the danger of masturbation if it is not done properly?
Actually, there is no right or wrong way to do masturbation. However, some improper or excessive masturbation techniques can put you at risk.
Here are some of the dangers of masturbation that may occur if done excessively:
1. The penis is injured
Although masturbation will not cause venereal disease, excessive masturbation can cause skin irritation on the penis.
Broken penis is rare, but it is also possible when the erect penis hits a hard object during masturbation, causing irritation of the skin.
The same thing applies when you force an erect penis when masturbating. This can lead to bleeding wounds and can potentially lead to penile fracture.
2. Irritation and infection
The chances of contracting a sexually transmitted disease are very small when you have sex. However, there is a chance that your genitals may become irritated and infected if you don't practice hygiene while masturbating.
For example, irritation can occur if your genital skin is sensitive to products used during masturbation, such as lotions, petroleum jelly , or oil. There is also a risk of irritation when your genitals are not properly lubricated and masturbation is too rough.
Meanwhile, an infection is likely if something that touched your anus was previously inserted into the vagina. This is at risk of causing an infection in the vagina.
The characteristics of masturbation addiction
Some experts argue that it is okay to masturbate or masturbate as often as possible. However, this can become a dangerous condition if done too often and affects various aspects of your life.
In the medical world, addiction related to sexual activity is classified as sexual compulsive behavior.
According to the Mayo Clinic, this behavior is characterized by sexual urges, fantasies, or behaviors that are difficult to control, trigger stress, and have a negative impact on health, work, social relationships, or other aspects of life.
Here are the characteristics of masturbation addiction that you need to be aware of:
- You have sexual urges, fantasies, and behaviors that come up too often, and you feel like they are getting out of control.
- You feel guilty after letting go of that sexual desire.
- You have tried to reduce the sexual activity and failed.
- You use masturbation as an escape from other problems, such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, or stress.
- You have a hard time maintaining and building stable relationships with other people.
If you have experienced one or more of the above symptoms, you should consult a doctor or psychologist. This can be a way out to control your sexual addiction.
Causes of masturbation addiction
Excessive masturbation addiction and is classified as compulsive sexual behavior is usually related to medical conditions and other external factors. This can include:
- Chemical imbalance in the brain
- The presence of certain diseases that affect the brain
- Ease of accessing sexual content
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Certain mental conditions, such as depression or anxiety disorders
Sexual addiction is a condition that is quite difficult to detect without professional help. The reason is, it is not easy to determine whether a person's sexual behavior is normal or problematic.
Masturbation or masturbation is normal sexual activity while you are doing it within reasonable limits. There's nothing wrong with giving yourself pleasure, so you shouldn't feel guilty.
However, if you feel that your sexual activity has started to interfere with your daily life, don't hesitate to consult a doctor or psychologist.
x