There is a lot of information out there about masturbation and usually, people are quick to tell you why it’s bad for you. What they’re not so forthcoming with is the truth about where they get their information. Most of them are guesses or information passed from one friend to the other or from religious and/or moral dictators who have their reasons for saying it’s wrong. Let me make this clear, most of the information you get from these sources are not backed by science. WebMD editors define masturbation as the self-stimulation of the genitals to achieve sexual arousal and pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm (sexual climax). It is commonly done by touching, stroking, or massaging the penis or clitoris until an orgasm is achieved.
Why Do People Masturbate?
There are a gazillion reasons why people masturbate and it’s not always because they’re horny and no one is around. Sometimes it’s about the relief they feel afterwards, it could be because they’re bored or need to sleep and much more. Here are more reasons why people masturbate;
- To reduce sexual anxiety.
- For sexual enjoyment.
- To relieve stress.
- To spice things up with a partner.
- Some people do it to improve their performance in bed.
- To avoid getting pregnant and the risks of STDs.
- WebMD shares that a sex therapist may advise masturbation to either make a person orgasm (typically in women) or to postpone one (often in men) when the person has sexual dysfunction.
Some Misconceptions About Masturbation
- Masturbation makes you go blind.
- It can cause you to suffer from erectile dysfunction.
- Masturbation doesn’t provide any long-term health benefits.
- Children do not masturbate.
- There’s no limit to how much you can masturbate.
- People in relationships do not masturbate.
- Women do not masturbate.
- Masturbating at an early age can lead to deviant sexual behaviour.
- Masturbation causes infertility.
- Masturbation can damage the genitals.
- Masturbation is not a normal part of sexual development.
- There are no health benefits of masturbation.
- People only Masturbate when they’re Alone.
- Infertility.
- Dehydration.
- Hormonal imbalances.
- Changes in the size or shape of the penis.
- Decreased sperm count.
- Vision loss.
- Acne.
- Hairy palms.
- Low libido.
- Penis curvature.
- Low sperm count.
- Infertility.
- Mental illness.
- Physical weakness.
- It can make hair grow on your palm.
- It can damage your kidneys.
Positive Effects Of Masturbation
- Relieve built-up stress
- Sleep better
- Boost mood
- PreventTrusted Source anxiety and depression
- Relax
- Feel pleasure and enjoyment
- Relieve cramps
- Release sexual tension
- Have better sex
- Better understand your wants and needs
- Improve your self-esteem and body image
- Help treat sexual problems
- Relieve menstrual cramps and muscle tension
- Strengthen muscle tone in your pelvic and anal areas
Does Masturbation Affect Your Kidneys?
The misconception that masturbation negatively affects your kidney began with a Chinese study that became a part of traditional Chinese medicine. According to this small 2020 study, supporters of this system had long held the belief that men with weak kidney function (ShenKui) performed poorly during sexual encounters, Healthline shares. Though the study clearly says otherwise, there is no scientific support for this notion, and there is no proof that routine masturbation or ejaculation poses any health risks.
Another ‘basis’ for this misconception is another unscientific belief that kidney damage can result from a loss of protein and nutrients through semen. The truth is the protein and/or nutrients in semen are too little and insignificant to have any true impact on your health. Derek H. Owen and David F. Katz share in their article, ‘The Review of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Human Semen and the Formulation of a Semen Simulant’ that, the average amount of protein in 100 millilitres of semen, or the equivalent of around 0.25 grams in one ejaculation of the semen is 5.04 grams which basically means that to get that back all you need is less than an ounce of cheese(an ounce of cheese has about 7 grams of protein) or less than a cup of oatmeal(which is about 240 grams and has 5 grams of protein in it).
If you experience pain in your kidney after masturbation it may be because you contracted a UTI that has spread to your kidney, it could be because of the position you stayed in while masturbating or you could have had some other underlying kidney issues that didn’t present its symptoms until after your masturbation. Essentially, masturbation cannot on its own cause kidney pain, failure, damage and/or disease.