Masturbation is a healthy way to engage in sex, however, when done compulsively can lead to undesired side effects. Excessive masturbation, of course, isn't healthy, these are some of the side effects it can cause:
Due to the frequency or compulsiveness of masturbation, some individuals can develop a dependency and therefore an addiction to it.
The truth is, there is nothing unhealthy or bad about masturbation. If an individual is single or their partner is unavailable or there is a sexual desire mismatch between the couple, there is nothing wrong if the individual seeks to release their sexual energy through self-pleasuring or masturbation. Even married men and married women can masturbate.
It can be good for your health, emotionally, mentally, and physically. There are various benefits to masturbation such as better sleep, stress relief, reduced muscle tension, and can even improve your self-esteem.
The amount that people masturbate does depend on their sexual libido. However, what we are going to talk about is understanding how excessive masturbation can be unhealthy. Of course, there isn’t a number limit for you to identify if you have been masturbating excessively. But, it can be considered “too much” if it disrupts your daily life — such as affecting your responsibilities, causes mental frustration, results in interpersonal problems within a relationship, causes physical soreness, or leads to disrupted erectile function. Another criterion is: that if masturbation is being done solely for stress relief or to get rid of boredom or inability to sleep, but, is not driven by sexual desire, it’s considered compulsive.
In some cases of excessive masturbation, an individual may develop a sensitive glans penis or sensitive penis head. This is due to the constant and frequent stimulation.
While it is premature to say that excessive masturbation causes premature ejaculation, it can be experienced at times - especially if it becomes a learned behaviour wherein men engage in it and finish it as a quick task to do. This is because while an individual gets dependent and used to masturbating for sexual release, they can climax early while engaging in sexual activity with a partner(s).
This again, isn’t a direct result of excessive masturbation, however, when an individual gets used to using their imagination, porn, or other forms of arousal-inducing methods to masturbate for sexual release - they are unable to get or sustain an erection while engaging in sexual activity with a partner(s).
Delayed ejaculation can occur because men who masturbate using props such as a pillow or the bed, don’t experience the same degree of stimulation and/or friction when they have sex. Due to this, they may struggle to climax leading to delayed ejaculation.
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Erectile Dysfunction is defined as the inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. The condition can affect anyone at any age.
Remember - the blood flow (BF), the nerve supply, and the balance of sex hormones - a concern in any of these can lead to Erectile Dysfunction. Erectile Dysfunction can be caused by a physical (a ‘hardware’ problem) or psychological (mental health effects) - mental health can play a huge part.
Did you know that Erectile Dysfunction can be an indication of cardiovascular concerns? Chronic health conditions affecting blood flow can lead to Erectile Dysfunction.
If a man lasts less than 2 minutes after penetration (all or most of the time), and/or if it leads to frequent dissatisfaction for him or his partner, he may have Premature Ejaculation.
The causes of Premature Ejaculation include:
(1) Physical Factors: Medical conditions, chronic health conditions, or sexual disorders are some physical causes of Premature Ejaculation.
(2) Psychological Factors: Depression, Anxiety
Did you know that Erectile Dysfunction can be a cause of Premature Ejaculation?
Premature Ejaculation can lead to other sexual dysfunctions, but that is not a wide-known fact.
Vaginismus is a condition in which the muscles in the vagina tighten up during penetration.
Vaginismus is commonly caused by psychological factors. Women don't have control over the tightening, and it can be uncomfortable. Due to the physical discomfort, the anxiety or fear response gets worse, and this can lead to a cycle of avoidance.
Did you know that there are four types of Vaginismus?
(1) Primary Vaginismus
(2) Secondary Vaginismus
(3) Situational Vaginismus
(4) Global Vaginismus
Low sexual desire, commonly referred to as low libido, is a decrease in sex drive.
Individuals that experience low sexual desire due to various causes are impacted physically, mentally, and emotionally by the symptoms the condition can cause.
Like other most common sexual disorders, low sexual desire can be influenced by many aspects, such as hormonal imbalance, increased age, side effects of medications, chronic illnesses, and addictive or compulsive behavior.
This would include concerns with infertility and/or conception. Sexual disorders such as Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, and Vaginismus can lead to challenges with pregnancy attempts.
There could be various causes of infertility, such as sexual dysfunctions, chronic illnesses, and mental health conditions leading to low sexual desire and a low sperm count. A sexual health professional should evaluate the causes of failed pregnancy attempts because there can be a variety of causes.
Porn addiction refers to a person becoming excessively dependent on pornography leading to a disruption in their everyday life. This could include their job, relationships and at times, their day-to-day lifestyle.
The causes behind porn addiction could be:
(1) Negative sexual experiences
(2) Incorrect understanding of porn and its uses
(3) Initially trying to learn about sexual experiences, resulted in dependency
(4) Experiencing mental health disorders such as OCD (an anxiety disorder) or depression
Watching porn isn’t a bad thing, nor should it be associated with any shame. However, compulsive porn watching can have negative effects on your sexual, physical and mental health.
