15 Benefits Of Masturbation And 5 Possible Side Effects

Sexual pleasure is a topic not many often talk about. But, have you ever wondered why it is like that? It doesn’t matter if you are doing it yourself or you have a partner for that, it is important one knows about the benefits of masturbation as well as the side effects that string along with it.

Masturbation itself is a very taboo word, something not many people are educated about. The lack of awareness around it is what makes it hard for people to assess not just the benefits but even the shortcomings that come along with it.

By the end of this article, you will have a complete overview of all the effects of masturbation on the physical and mental health of an individual.

What is Masturbation?

Masturbation is the act of pleasuring yourself.

It is not necessarily subjective and can be practiced by anyone on the gender spectrum. Many people have this notion that masturbation isn’t healthy and while anything in excessive isn’t good, pleasuring yourself in moderation can most definitely bring in a lot of positive impacts on the body – both physically and mentally.

Benefits of Masturbation

When it comes to discussing the effects, it is always best to start everything off on a positive note. In order to help you gain a better insight into the prospect of the benefits of masturbation, we are going to jot down some of the benefits that one can experience in either of the genders – male and female.

Let us look into some of the beneficial impacts of it, shall we?

Benefits of Masturbation in Female

While men have always had the liberty of being vocal about masturbation and the benefits it follows, the term has been very casually stringed along when it comes to women.

If you are looking into the health effects of masturbation, it is quite important to ensure that you know about the possible benefits of it as well.

To help you know everything a little better, we have sorted out some of the benefits of masturbation for women that can provide with a better outlook.

1. Drives Stress Away

Chasing the rushing feeling of orgasm is one of a kind, one that you just can’t compete for anything else with. If you have been stressed lately with the over piling work and the unprecedented prospect of pressure from the social and professional life, masturbation is just what can help you through.

When you are chasing your orgasm, chances are that your mind won’t be clouded with the unprecedented amount of stress that might have been swirling around before. Experts suggest that orgasm does successfully shift away from any kind of trigger that could be making your stressed through the process.

It is believed and said that any form of sexual pleasure, be it orgasmic or not, has the capability of taking your mind off of the stress that has been building on in your mind.

2. Promotes Better Sleep

You technically wouldn’t realize this but masturbating is quite a rigorous and energy consuming task. You do need quite a lot of energy and it does make you a lot more tired than what you initially expect altogether.

Following you masturbating or even having sex, there are certain physiological changes in the cycle that the body undergoes. According to experts from the Cleveland Clinic, they suggested saying that when you are sexually aroused, the very first change that the body undergoes is that the heart rate and the breathing intensifies. Additionally, the clitoris also does become engorged with blood to ensure that you get the most satisfying impact in the end.

The muscles work along together to promote better release as well, thus tiring them out in the process further. When you finally reach your peak, letting go off of all the energy and the tension leaves you tired and worked up at the same time.

This tiredness is amazing to make you fall asleep after an exhausting round, thus ensuring that you do get your sleeping cycle in the schedule as well.

3. Endorphin Release for Better Mood

How often has it happened that you have had a better mood following masturbating? Happens every single time, doesn’t it? Well, the same happens because masturbation piques the release of endorphins in the body which are responsible for boosting one’s overall mood.

These endorphins are not just mood boosters but have also been found to have beneficial impacts in managing the levels of stress in the body. The only rift in this is the fact that there are not many scientific studies to prove the connection between the act of masturbation, endorphin release and the elevated mood. It is just considered as a medical fact.

But, these assumptions as medical facts are actually true and hold its ground effectively without much difference to the findings. Apart from the boost in the mood, some people have even reported having better energy levels at times too because of the rush of endorphins in the body.

4. Boosts the Libido

Experts often term masturbation as the “feed forward” mechanism. What this means is that the more one pleasures and stimulates themselves, the more they want someone to do the same to them. When you find yourself at your peak, experiencing such a satisfying orgasm, chances are that you will most definitely want more of that.

Women often struggle with low libido. The same is sometimes either because of the lack of exposure in this or sometimes even because of the struggles one face because of the experiences that one has been subjected to.

There could very well be a number of reasons behind a woman suffering from hampered libido, depression; pain during intercourse or even any form of chronic illness could be a contributing factor to the same.

If a woman wants to get back into the prospect of better sexual health and actually enjoy the process, masturbation can be of a lot of help. If the same is still not enough, it is always best suggested to consult a medical professional and see where it takes you.

5. Assures Your Sexuality

Talking about sexualities is still a stigma is several places across the world. The lack of knowledge around the same is what ends up causing issues in catching up with the preferences and what one feels comfortable in.

One of the primary benefits of masturbation is that it helps to ascertain one’s sexuality and be assured of it. The same is advocated because of the string of thoughts that one have during the prospect of masturbation.

Experts believe that masturbation can actually be quite fruitful in boosting one’s self-confidence and self-esteem in terms of their sexual preferences. This helps women explore more of what they like instead of settling for something they are just okay with.

6. Boost Heart Function

Yet another one of the positive effects of masturbation is the fact that it helps in boosting the overall heart function. Experts believe that masturbation itself is enough of a workout to help replace the exercise sessions that you have been planning around.

We did mention before that chasing your orgasm does help in boosting the heart rate as well as the breathing. It is believed that if you do indulge in a heavy bout of masturbation, chances are that you can easily get your heart rate up to a significant level.

The only shortfall in this is the fact that there isn’t a specific verdict on the amount or intensity of masturbation that can end up helping boost the heart function.

7. Calls for a Mini Workout

One of the benefits of masturbation in women is the fact that it helps in boosting a mini workout for your inner thighs as well as the buttock region.

Don’t get your hopes up too high thinking it’s going to be life changing when that is actually not the case at all. Owing to the fact that a number of muscles are involved in the process of reaching an orgasm, the spasm and relaxing of the muscles have actually been found to have beneficial impacts in helping tone and strengthen the muscles around the inner thighs as well as the butt region as well.

You won’t even feel this as a form of exercise which further strengthens the fact that masturbation is not a stigma but an important and beneficial way to get yourself a mini workout.

8. Relieves Menstrual Cramps

If you are tired of experiencing unmanageable and painful cramps in your abdominal region because of menstruation, the best way to combat that is with masturbation.

Prostaglandins are the hormones responsible for causing the uterus contraction which ends up causing pain and discomfort to the abdominal region.

The best way to counteract that is with endorphins. Endorphins have been found to have beneficial impacts in managing the impacts of the prostaglandins, keeping them in check for a better experience through the menstrual cycle.

9. Better Cognition with Age

You might not realize this but one of the most important benefits of masturbation is that it helps in boosting the overall cognition of a woman with age.

Even some research has shown that the connection of masturbation with cognition is uncanny, something that not many people are aware of.

The experts are still conducting research to find better insights into what the connection is but initially, they do believe that the release of dopamine during the masturbation is what is believed to have better impacts in driving better brain health.

Benefits of Masturbation In Men

Coming on to the benefits of masturbation in male, the list is just as long. If you are here wondering what is it that sets the difference between the two of them, you are in for a ride.

Let us take a look at some of the benefits of masturbation that affect men, shall we?

10. Boosts the Immune System

While the same might come off a bit unrealistic but it is actually the truth. The prospect of masturbation in men has been found to have better impacts in channelling in better immunity in men.

A conducted study (R) suggests that the human seminal plasma has immunomodulation properties, thus helping boost the overall immunity in an individual.

The semen contains high concentrations of prostaglandins which is responsible for regulating a cell-mediated immune response. There needs to be a further study conducted in this to deduce the complete understanding of connecting the two of them.

11. Boosts Overall Health

Given that the rate of prostate cancer is on a sudden rise around, studies have found that masturbation does help a lot in maintaining the problems and risk factors associated with the same.

If you are wondering what, it is believed that the masturbating can actually help men in gaining a better grip in preventing the associated risks of prostate cancer.

A study (R) has found the correlation between the ejaculation rate along with the prospect of prostate cancer, devising the fact that it does help in managing the condition and prevents it from getting worse than what it is.

12. Relieve Tension and Stress

Much like the benefits of masturbation in women, the same does have beneficial impacts in handling the condition in men as well. Masturbating can help in getting rid of the strain and the constant stress and tension that one’s mind has been going through.

The main reason behind the same is because of the fact that masturbation ensures the release of endorphins in the body. This has been found to have beneficial impacts in helping boost the mood and relieve an unprecedented amount of stress that one might be going through.

13. Relieves Sexual Tension

Popping a boner just about anywhere is not the easiest task to do. If you are struggling with it, chances are that masturbation can most definitely help in managing the sexual tension that you have been struggling with.

Masturbating can offer an amazing release without causing any kind of awkward moments or glances around that you could be feeling stressful about.

14. Fights Depression

Much like how masturbation in women is sort of a taboo topic, the same goes out for depression in men as well. Not many people are vocal about the same and all because of the fact that there is a lack of awareness surrounding the same.

The main reason behind the same is because of the fact that masturbation promotes the release of endorphins, especially serotonin and dopamine which has been found to help alleviate one’s mood.

So, if you have been suffering from depression and need a healthy outlet and find ways to cheer yourself up, masturbation is an effective way to do so.

15. Channel in Some Money

Yet another one of the possible benefits of masturbation is the fact that it helps in getting you some cash as well.

Owing to the fact that there are several available sperm banks around, you can masturbate, collect the sperm and then donate the same to a sperm bank in exchange for money.

This is quite helpful in getting in better cash without any kind of issues whatsoever. Just ensure that you go to a legit sperm bank and ensure that they have good encryption when it comes to the database and such.

Side Effects Of Masturbation

As we did mention before, doing anything too much is never good for health. If you are on the lookout for positive outcomes, it is always best suggested to ensure that you take the time out to do everything in moderation if you don’t want to experience the masturbation side effects.

In order to still help you get a better and overall better picture of the situation, we do have a better outlook on the same, especially the impacts of excessive masturbation.

1. Addiction

Masturbation is a form of addiction if you are continually doing it on a regular basis. Not many people realize this but the feeling of when you reach your climax is one of a kind and very thrilling. So, when you are subjecting yourself to that kind of a feeling, chances are that you will want to experience this time and time. This is what ends up making one addicted to the feeling, driving them to indulge in it from time to time.

2. Back Pain

Not many realize this but masturbation involves a number of your muscles throughout the body. The constant spasm and relaxing of the muscles have been found to have impacts in causing back pain and such which is what is considered as one of the side effects of masturbation too much.

3. Lack of Sexual Drive

You might not realize this but indulging in excessive masturbation can often end up causing a lack of sexual drive. This doesn’t necessarily bring down your libido but when you have masturbated for an extended period of time, chances are that you are either going to be very tired and exhausted from the whole process that the thought of sex won’t necessarily be the first thing that crosses your mind.

4. Affects Reproductive System

Masturbating every once in a while is okay but the same is affected when you do it without any control as such. Given the fact that you are putting in so much efforts and such on your reproductive organs, the same does have the potential to get affected because of the condition of excessive masturbating.

The benefits of masturbation are uncanny but it is also important to ensure that you don’t go overboard with it as well. If you want to keep an eye out on the overall health, it is best suggested to ensure that you do take the time out to be cautious of the frequency and intensity of the act that you are indulging in.