Masturbation, Just DO It! Facts from under the cover...

Definition: Masturbation
1. Manual stimulation of the genital organs (of yourself or another) for sexual pleasure.[Wordnet]

*

Surprisingly little research attention has been paid to the specific effects of masturbation. The history of masturbation is littered with moral condemnation and scientific inaccuracies regarding its negative effects but thankfully there finally seems to be medical agreement that masturbation is a healthy form of sexual expression, and one with more positive than negative effects.

Still many of us believe the masturbation myths we are raised with, which makes it worthwhile to learn the truth about the effects of masturbation on the body and the mind (See Below: "The Questions We Never Dare To Ask About Masturbation"). 

Masturbation can increase self-knowledge: 
Sex educators don’t call masturbation the cornerstone of sexual health for nothing. Masturbation is the first, safest, and best way to get to know how your sexual body works. You can learn what turns you on and what doesn’t. You can learn how to give yourself sexual pleasure in a hurry, or when you’ve got nothing but time. As an educational tool, masturbation is better than any textbook, video or website you’ll ever read (that includes this one!). 

Masturbation can lead to self-discovery:
Even if you know how to get the job done, masturbatorally speaking, your capacity to feel sexual pleasure is limitless and masturbation is a great way to find new functions for familiar parts. Often when we’re having sex with a partner we might be too self-conscious, shy, or otherwise distracted to pay close attention to what’s happening in our own body. Masturbation, when you’re doing it by yourself, allows you to focus on the subtlety of your own sexual response , and possibly discover things you hadn’t previously realized were part of your sexuality.

Masturbation is nature’s sleep aid:
While thinking about sex might keep you up at night having it, including masturbation, is a great way to deal with insomnia. In a 2000 study of U.S. women, 32% said that in the past three months they masturbated as a way to fall asleep. Whether it’s because of the hormones and endorphins released following orgasm, the benefits of clearing your head, or the mini cardio workout, masturbation that ends in orgasm is a great way to get to sleep without pills, television, or counting sheep.

Masturbation provides pain relief:
Whether you’re experiencing temporary or chronic pain from sore joints, headaches, menstrual cramps, or other causes, masturbation and orgasm can, in some cases, provide natural pain relief. While we don’t know exactly why, research has documented arousal and orgasm resulting in reduced pain thresholds. It’s worth pointing out that for some conditions (like migraine headaches ) orgasm can either reduce the pain or increase it.

Masturbation is a great stress reliever:
Several studies have documented the relaxation effects of masturbation induced orgasm. Aside from the physical benefits, masturbation, when you’re doing it right, is all about “you time” and taking time to focus on yourself is a great way to break up the stress of a busy life. Particularly when used with sexual fantasy, masturbation can be a great escape, a way to let off some steam, and while masturbation alone might not be enough to deal with all the stress in your life, it’s a healthy, free, and non-pharmaceutical tool right at your fingertips (or other body part or sex toy, as the case may be). ....

(Sources: Cornog, M. The Big Book of Masturbation San Francisco: Down There Press, 2003. Komisaruk, B., Beyer-Flores, C., and Whipple, B. The Science of Orgasm Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.)

* 

Female Orgasm Benefits 

 stress ; Stress increases ACTH- and prolactin release. Oxytocin de-stresses, through regulating prolactin- and ACTH-levels. Clitoral orgasms diminish stress. Now you know why you fall asleep after great sex. 

 cancer ; Stress increases prolactin secretion. And excessive prolactin can enhance breast cancer, brain tumors and leukemia. Oxytocin regulates prolactin secretion. Orgasms therefore decrease cancer risk. 

 Oxytocin increases dopamine level. Dopamine is known to inhibit excessive prolactin secretion. Like stress, progesterone increases prolactin level too.

 obesity ; Oxytocin also regulates appetite, through receptors in the brain. Oxytocin inhibits appetite to prevent obesity.

 bacteria ; Oxytocin is a natural antibiotic, attacking hostile bacteria, decreasing susceptibility to uterine infection.

behavior ; Oxytocin is anti-psychotic ; oxytocin plays an important role in the regulation of normal cognitive functions and behaviors, which are disturbed in schizophrenia. Some forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder are also related to oxytocin dysfunction. Oxytocin also gives you fighting spirit. 

memory ; Oxytocin plays a key role in meltdown of prior learning in preparation for new learning, like new books in a library have to be catalogued and shelved. Orgasms keep you inquisitive and investigative ; ready and hungry for new input.

(For information about another exciting sexual taboo being pulled out in the open, check out this great website with information about female ejaculation.) 

* 

Male Prostate Orgasm Benefits:

Prostate stimulation is a term that is surrounded by confusion and poor information. More and more men are acknowledging that they need to learn more about their prostate. ...

 
Aside from the potential health benefits, this form of stimulation can for many men, lead to a prostate orgasm. A prostate orgasm is much different than a typical male orgasm in the fact that they usually are much more intense and last longer than a typical male orgasm. As well, for many men, stimulating the prostate is often done without stimulating the male penile member. ... 

The most common way to stimulate the prostate is by a prostate massage or a prostate milking. Both of these methods involve an internal approach through your anus and into your rectum. While you cannot directly touch your prostate, only a small amount of tissue separates your finger from your prostate. For some men it is easier to have a partner perform the prostate massage for you or to purchase a prostate massager. A prostate massager is specifically designed to stimulate the prostate and is very beneficial for men who dislike using their finger for the prostate massage or prostate milking or can't reach their prostate.

Research summarized in a 2007 article in Sexual and Relationship Therapy found that masturbation may help men by:
— Improving his immune system’s functioning.
— Building his resistance to prostate gland infection.
— Making for a healthier prostate.

Australian researchers have reported that frequent masturbation may lower a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer. A survey of men found the more frequently a man masturbates between the ages of 20 and 50, the less likely they are to get prostate cancer. In fact, those who masturbated more than five times a week were one-third less likely to develop prostate cancer.

* 

The Questions We Never Dare To Ask About Masturbation
 

Can a person become addicted or masturbate too much?

People often wonder about the normal amount of masturbation. Each person must decide for himself or herself how much to masturbate. Professionals agree that there are no physical or mental implications for frequent masturbation, unless it is symptomatic of an obsessive/compulsive disorder (OCD). Symptoms of OCD are repeatedly performing a behavior to the extent that it interferes with daily functioning, professional responsibilities, or personal relationships. Behaviors that are performed to reduce stress or alleviate tension, including masturbation, are not considered symptomatic of a disorder unless they interfere with a person’s daily personal or professional life or hinder a person from fulfilling their responsibilities and commitments.

Are there side effects?

• There are no harmful side effects of masturbation. Medical science has debunked many myths formally associated with masturbation, such as hair growing on the palms, insanity, or that masturbation will drain excessive energy from the body.
• Some people report feeling guilty about masturbating. Negative feelings associated with any behavior can threaten a person’s health and well being.
• The American medical community pronounced masturbation as normal in the 1972 publication Human Sexuality.

Myths

The following are myths relating to masturbation that are unfounded in medical and social science.

• Only people, who cannot find sexual partners; or who are socially inadequate masturbate.
• Masturbation leads to physical problems such as mental illness and growing hair on your palms.
• Masturbation “ruins” a person for partner sex.
• Men will run out of semen or sperm if they masturbate excessively.
• Others, including medical doctors and sexual partners, will be able to tell if you masturbate.

 (By the McKinley Institute)

 *

Love Yourself, Just Do It.

 -Love Slut Conspiracy