Masturbation is about as taboo as a
topic can get. Men may discuss the
topic in a joking manner and ladies
may whisper about it among each
other after a few glasses of wine, but
in actuality serious conversations on the subject are few and far in between.
Taking the shame out of masturbation
is the first step to fully understand this
equally unique and healthy human
activity. The Science Bit What makes us human? A lot of things
could be used to answer this question,
but for the sake of this topic, the fact
that we masturbate quite a lot is
another distinctively human trait.
Although other animals have been observed practicing self-pleasure,
none do it to quite the same extent as
man. Masturbation is here for a reason. In
males, the younger and more fresh the
sperm sample is, the more likely it is to
be accepted by the female
reproductive tract and result in a
fertilized embryo, Scientific American reported. Evolutionary biologists
Robin Baker and Mark Bellis took
samples of female “flowbacks," the
post-coital sperm that is rejected by
the woman’s body, exiting around
5-120 minutes following sexual intercourse. It was found that the
longer a man went without
masturbating, the higher the number
of sperm in their partner’s “flowback.”
Based on this finding, they labeled
male masturbation as a natural way to shed old sperm and make room for
new, fitter sperm. In females, orgasms, which are often obtained through masturbation, are
also attributed to higher sperm
retention. It is also believed that
orgasms give women an incentive to
have more sex, and therefore increase
their chances of procreating. The Benefits of Masturbation Although there may be an
evolutionary reason for why the habit
of masturbation has stuck around for
so long, the lists of benefits from the
act of self-pleasing do not end with
fertility. The orgasm so often achieved as a result of masturbation releases
endorphins into the body. These
hormones can help to relieve stress,
relieve sexual tension, help offset
insomnia, and boost metabolism, Everyday Health reported. Orgasms, achieved by oneself or with
the help of a partner, were also found
to suppress the pain of a migraine and
at times even halt the actual migraine
processs altogether, LiveScience reported. “There's a [portion] of
patients with migraines, about one-
third, who experience relief from a
migraine attack by sexual activity,"
said study researcher Stefan Evers, a
neurologist and headache specialist at the University of Münster in Germany.
Alexander Masukop, a neurologist
and director of the New York
Headache Center added to LiveScience
that “having an orgasm in any way
shape or form” will help with migraine relief. What About Hairy Palms and Acne? The good news is that masturbating
will not give one hairy palms, make
one go blind, or ruin future
experiences of sexual intercourse. In
fact, most experts will agree that
moderate masturbation will lead to more satisfaction in one’s sex life with
a partner. The old wives' tale that masturbating gives you acne may be based a tiny bit on truth, for men at
least. Male arousal results in the surge
of male hormones, the same
hormones that are also known to be
responsible for the formation of acne.
Theoretically, the long-term abusive masturbation can result in acne
because of an imbalance of androgen
hormones, which cause an increase in
acne. However, most dermatologists
regard this link as being very strained. Too Much of a Good Thing? Excessive masturbation — that is masturbating every day several times
a day for several years — can
stimulate acetylcholine/
parasympathetic nervous functions.
The result of this is an overproduction
of sex hormones and neurotransmitters. Possible bodily side
effects can be fatigue, hair loss,
memory loss, blurred vision, and groin
pain. It can also lead to sexual
exhaustion, which is exhibited in the
form or impotence or erectile dysfunction. Askmen also reported
seminal leakage as another common
problem associated with extreme
masturbation. Just like any other obsessive
compulsive behavior, such as alcohol
abuse or gambling, extreme
masturbating can interfere with an
individual’s personal relationship and
professional life. At this point, the National Health Service suggests taking a break from the act may serve
as a good thing. For those who
seriously experience problems with
controling their masturbation habits,
there are programs such as Sex
Addicts Anonymous that may prove helpful.