What Happens if You Masturbate Too Much
What is Masturbation?
Masturbation is a natural and healthy way for people of all genders to explore their bodies, experience sexual pleasure, and learn about their sexual preferences and needs. It’s a normal part of healthy sexual development.
Masturbation is an encouraged activity to learn about the body’s sexual preferences and needs.
What Happens if You Masturbate Too Much
However, too much of anything is bad, and this applies to masturbation, too. Masturbation can have the following effects on the body if done excessively.
Physical Effects
1. Genital Irritation:
Overstimulation can cause soreness, redness, or irritation of the genitals. In severe cases, it might lead to skin abrasions or injury.
2. Fatigue: Excessive masturbation can lead to physical fatigue and a general feeling of tiredness due to the energy expended during the activity.
3. Decreased Sensitivity:
Frequent stimulation might lead to temporary desensitization, reducing the pleasure derived from sexual activities.
4. Tendonitis: Repetitive hand or wrist movements could potentially lead to tendonitis or other repetitive strain injuries.
5. Edema: excessive and frequent masturbation in men may lead to oedema. This is the swelling of the penis. This swelling typically goes down after a few days.
Psychological Effects
- Moral or religious guilt
Masturbating and doing it excessively may lead to an overwhelming sense of guilt both on moral grounds and religious grounds.
- Sexual dysfunction and abuse
For someone with a history of sexual dysfunction, masturbating excessively may affect the sexual health of such a person. Sexual abuse might lead to further feelings of distress and shame.
- Masturbation addiction
An excessive need to engage in a particular activity may lead to an addiction to that activity. This form of addiction is classified as compulsive sexual behavior (CSB).
- Decreased Interest in Partnered Sex:
Excessive masturbation might lead to an overstimulation of the sensory senses. Consequently, this would lead to a reduced interest in sexual activities with a partner, potentially affecting relationships.
- Emotional Distress:
Feelings of loneliness, depression, or anxiety can sometimes be exacerbated by excessive masturbation, particularly if it’s used as a coping mechanism.
Social and Lifestyle Effects
- Interference with Daily Activities:
When masturbation becomes a priority over responsibilities such as work, school, or social engagements, it can disrupt daily life.
- Relationship Issues:
Excessive focus on masturbation might lead to neglect of a partner’s needs or reduce the time and energy available for building and maintaining relationships.
- Isolation:
Spending excessive time on masturbation can lead to social isolation and withdrawal from activities and interactions with others.
If masturbation is interfering with your life, relationships, or responsibilities, it may be beneficial to seek help from a healthcare professional or therapist if you are experiencing the above.
Treatment and Prevention
Some people are more prone to CSBs because of certain health conditions, such as:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- bipolar disorder
- Pick’s disease
- Kleine-Levin syndrome
- obsessive-compulsive disorder
In people with these conditions, treating the underlying medical issue often helps reduce sexual compulsions and behaviors.
Some illicit drugs and prescription medications, especially those that increase dopamine levels, may also increase someone’s sex drive. These include:
- methamphetamine
- Parkinson’s medications
- cocaine
In these cases, stopping or altering medication or drug use can often reduce sexual compulsions such as excessive masturbation.
Some forms of psychological therapy may also help reduce CSBs and manage their negative repercussions, including:
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- psychodynamic therapy
- group therapy
- couples therapy
Limited research also shows that some medications may help reduce CSB, such as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Tips and Techniques to Prevent Masturbation
These include:
- Consult with a therapist or counselor if you feel that masturbation is becoming a compulsion or causing distress.
- Seeking help from a mental health professional or doctor who specializes in sexual health
- Engaging in other activities – finding hobbies and activities that provide enjoyment and fulfillment.
- Getting enough exercise
- Improving social connections and relationships
- Staying busy
- Setting Limits: Establishing personal boundaries, one of which is avoiding pornography.
