You’ve probably heard many myths throughout your life about masturbation. Like this old one: if you do it too much you might become infertile or even go blind! Even though these myths might have been propagated for years, probably because moms and dads were tired of walking in on their teen offspring jerking off, I can assure you that these are in fact false statements. Masturbation is a completely natural and healthy thing to do, and virtually all men do it! In fact, in the 2018 study “Feel More: TENGA Global Self-Pleasure Report,” data showed that 78% of adults in the world masturbate, including 92% of American men. Most men start masturbating between 13 and 15 years of age and continue throughout their lives. Now, if this is happening so often and for so long, there must be impacts on one’s sexual performance, right?!
Keep reading to learn more about how masturbating can make you better at sex, the positive side effects in your life, relationships and the plethora of health benefits.
Relationships
In relationships, masturbation can be a subject that can cause tension. Your partner can feel robbed of your “sexual energy” or feel like you aren’t attracted to them. Here are a couple of valid points you can use to justify using “Palm-ela Hand-erson” from time to time. Your partner isn’t always readily available or even in the mood at the same time as you are. By masturbating you can avoid trying to pressure your partner into having sexual relations (which you should never do in the first place, but you get the point) and it can release the sexual frustration you might be experiencing. In turn, your partner can feel less obliged to satisfy your sexual urges, and it can reduce the feelings of resentment you might feel towards your partner when they don’t want to get busy at the same time as you.
Masturbation can help men with the exploration of their own bodies without feeling judged or feeling pressure to perform. That way they can learn about their own sexuality, and can better communicate their desires and preferences to their partners, something that would be harder if they hadn’t explored it on their own. This leads to more open and honest conversations about sexual preferences, which in turn, contributes positively to both partners’ sexual experience.
It is indeed important to some, when in a partnered relationship, to try and prioritize coupled sexuality, but masturbation can affect partnered sexuality in numerous positive ways. Masturbation can increase the feeling of sexual excitement, increase chances of reaching orgasm, gives men the chances to explore fantasies they wouldn’t usually and can even help them feel more sexually fulfilled.
Mental Health
When talking about masturbation, we don’t usually associate mental health with it. When men masturbate, they are taking more time for themselves, taking the time to appreciate their own bodies, and it can even give their self-esteem a little boost. When masturbating, dopamine is released into the brain which reduces feelings of stress, and other endorphins are released, which can reduce feelings of pain. Masturbation can also help treat certain sexual problems that do not stem from biological issues. It can be used to increase or spark sexual desire and sensitivity that might’ve decreased or been lost.
By masturbating, men can have a better understanding of their orgasm, how to reach it, how long or fast it takes, and what can get in the way. When men are aware of how they can achieve orgasm and are able to get themselves off, they are less anxious and hyper focused on achieving orgasm because they know how to get themselves there eventually. In a way, men who masturbate can focus more on their partner’s pleasure because it isn’t the only opportunity they have for getting off, and it isn’t a big deal if they don’t get off in that particular sexual encounter.
General Health
Not only does masturbation help release feel-good hormones, but it is an effective way to release sexual tension, de-stress, and help with sleeping! This means men who go solo tend to be happier, are more rested, and tend to be more relaxed in sexual encounters. These men can be better lovers because their sexual performance increases when masturbation is frequent. But: watch out, as excessive masturbation can lead to desensitization, which will have the opposite effect. When men masturbate, they can see a significant increase in their endurance during sexual activities and even observe a longer delay of ejaculation, making it more probable for both partners to orgasm. Masturbators can feel and be more sexual because they are triggering the sexual parts of their brains more often, making it easier to get aroused and keep an erection.
So can we now say that men who masturbate make better lovers? Well, you can make that decision for yourself, but the facts are, that when an individual is more in tune with their body, understands their own sexual needs, and experiences frequent sexual pleasure, they are more likely to be open to sharing their wants and needs and being open to those of their partners. When men learn how to be great sexual partners to themselves first, they can then be great sexual partners with others. In the end, the most important thing to remember is that the most crucial element that makes a good lover is communication.