If there’s one thing that almost every guy is an expert at, it’s masturbation. After years of extensive, hands-on experience, you think you know everything there is to know. But according to the experts, maybe you don’t.

Men may talk about it more often, but women do it, too.

More than half of American women 18-49 masturbate at least once every 3 months, according to a study from The Kinsey Institute, and that’s true for single women and those who are coupled up. Self-pleasure doesn’t have the stigma it once did, says Nicole Prause, PhD, but myths still affect the way that some women feel about it — and how they do (or don’t) touch themselves.

Here are some things you should know about masturbation for both men and women.

MEN:

1. Masturbation doesn’t have the health benefits that sex does.

“It appears that not all orgasms are created equally,” says Tobias S. Köhler, MD, MPH, an associate professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield.

Study after study shows that intercourse has all sorts of benefits for men — for your blood pressure, heart and prostate health, pain, and more. You’d think that masturbation would, too. But it doesn’t.

Why would it make a difference whether you ejaculate during sex or on your own? No one’s sure. But your body seems to respond differently. Even the makeup of semen is different if you masturbate instead of having sex.

Still, does it really matter? Have you honestly been masturbating all these years only because you wanted to boost your prostate health? Didn’t think so.

2. Masturbationh4 is not risk-free.

Sure, it’s low-risk. It’s the safest form of sex possible. No one ever caught an STD from himself or made himself pregnant. But like other low-risk activities (chewing, walking), it still has some risks.

Frequent or rough masturbation can cause minor skin irritation. Forcefully bending an erect penis can rupture the chambers that fill with blood, a rare but gruesome condition called penile fracture.

Köhler has seen guys with it after vigorous masturbation. “Afterward, the penis looks like an eggplant,” he says. “It’s purple and swollen.” Most men need surgery to repair it.

3. There’s no “normal” amount of masturbation.

Guys can get hung up on whether they masturbate too much. But it’s not how many times you masturbate in a week (or day) that really matters, says Logan Levkoff, PhD, a sexologist and sex educator. It’s how it fits into your life.

If you masturbate many times a day and have a healthy, satisfying life, good for you. But if you masturbate many times a day and you’re missing work or giving up on sex with your partner because of it, consider seeing a sex therapist.

Even then, there’s nothing specific about masturbation that’s the problem. Compulsive masturbation is like any behavior that disrupts your life.

4. Masturbating doesn’t reflect on your relationship.

Levkoff says the most damaging myth about male masturbation is that it’s a sign something is wrong in your relationship.

The fact is that most guys masturbate. They masturbate if they’re single, in a bad relationship, or in a great relationship. It’s just something they do that has nothing to do with their partners.

Masturbation isn’t only about sex, Levkoff says. For many, it’s a routine way of relieving stress, clearing your head before work, or going to sleep.

5. Masturbation is almost certainly good for your sex life.

Masturbation can help your sex life, since it’s how guys learn what they like during sex. “I think women would be more satisfied sexually in their relationships if they masturbated as much as men do,” Levkoff says.

Are there exceptions? Some guys do get so hooked on a certain amount of pressure during masturbation or the stimulation of porn that they can’t perform with a partner, says Ian Kerner, PhD, a sex therapist and author of She Comes First.
Still, Kerner says those guys are the exception. “For the vast majority of men, masturbation is a healthy thing,” he says. “I’m usually more concerned about a guy who’s stopped masturbating — which can be a sign of anxiety or health problems — than a guy who’s doing it regularly.”

WOMEN:

1. It’s good for you.

Masturbating increases blood flow throughout your body and releases feel-good brain chemicals called endorphins. “That may explain why there’s a clear mood benefit, even if you don’t orgasm,” says Prause, a sexuality researcher at UCLA. And while men are more likely to talk about blowing off steam by masturbating, research suggests it’s a stress-reliever for both sexes. “It takes your mind [off your worries] while activating areas of the brain associated with pleasure,” Prause says.

2. It improves your sex life.

Masturbation can make you sexually comfortable and confident. “It puts you in touch with your desires and gives you the chance to get to know your own body,” says sexuality educator Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD. “Experimenting with what feels good and makes you respond positively can lead to better sexual experiences, both alone and with a partner.”

If you have trouble reaching orgasm, it’s a private, stress-free way to try different types of touch and pressure to see what helps you climax, Fulbright says.

3. It can ease postmenopause sex problems.

Many women see changes during menopause. Masturbation can help, says Judi Chervenak, MD, a gynecologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

“The vagina can actually narrow, which can make intercourse and vaginal exams more painful.” But masturbation, especially with a water-based lubricant, can help prevent narrowing, boost blood flow, relieve some tissue and moisture problems, and increase sexual desire, Chervenak says.

4. It doesn’t have to be quick (or end with an orgasm).

The media may suggest otherwise, but masturbation isn’t just a “quickie” experience. That’s OK. “Rushing can make it less enjoyable, and so can focusing too much on orgasm,” Fulbright says. “Give yourself time to touch all parts of your body or try different positions, and don’t feel pressure to climax.”

5. Toys can help.

Nearly half of women between the ages of 18 and 60 have used a intimacy gadget like a Love Machine or vibrator, according to a survey by Ashley Leonard at Robert Morris University. If you’ve had trouble reaching orgasm and want to climax, a vibrator (which stimulates the nerve endings in the clitoris) may be helpful.

Don’t worry whether it will lead to sex problems later down the line, Prause says. “Put simply, if it feels good, go for it.”
Source: http://www.accraxclusive.com/is-masturbation-good-for-you/