How often should you really be masturbating? Doctors give their verdict

Masturbation is still a taboo subject – so it can be tricky to figure out if you’re doing it too much or too little.

In recent years, there has been a notion that access to pornography has led to too much masturbation, sparking a wave of sexual problems and distorted views of sex.

But DailyMail.com reported last week on a study suggesting that it’s also bad not to please yourself — and could increase the risk of anxiety, depression and erectile dysfunction.

We asked three health experts about the exact number of times men and women should masturbate each week, with very surprising results:

Dr. Yvonne Fulbright, a sex expert in Iceland, said women should try to masturbate for nine days during the menstrual cycle to relieve cramps. Dr. Ian Kerner, a sexologist and best-selling author, previously told DailyMail.com that it was fine to use pornography, but urged people to pay for the use

Women – at least once a week (and consider masturbating during your menstrual cycle for pain relief)

Dr. Peter Kanaris, a Long Island sex therapist, recommends that women masturbate or have sex at least once a week.

“I would say if a person is inclined and able to be active on a weekly basis, that is beneficial, whether through masturbation or involvement with a partner,” he said.

Dr. Yvonne Fulbright, a sex expert from Iceland, told DailyMail.com that women should masturbate regularly around their menstrual cycle to relieve pain.

“With managing one’s premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menstrual problems such as pain, one would want to indulge more than once a month,” she said.

“PMS often starts five days before the bleeding starts and goes away within four days after it starts.”

“So it can be helpful to masturbate on any of those days.”

Masturbating increases blood flow to the pelvic area, which helps relieve pain. The method can also be used to relieve other conditions such as back pain, she said.

A 2020 study from University College London suggested that masturbating once a week in your 40s can help delay menopause.

Researchers followed 2,936 women over the age of 45 for a decade and found that those who were sexually active at least once a week were 28 percent less likely to enter menopause by the end of the study compared to women who were less masturbated more than once a month. .

The scientists behind the study suggested that when women don’t have sex or masturbate, the body “choses” not to invest in ovulation, triggering menopause.

Dr. Rena Malik, the director of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at the University of Maryland, told DailyMail.com it was important for women to choose a frequency of masturbation that they feel comfortable with.

“There is no right or wrong amount,” she said. “If you’re masturbating, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your daily life and your time with your partner or friends, it’s fine.”

She said postmenopausal women should “absolutely, 100 percent” continue to masturbate to reap the physical benefits.

When asked what constitutes too much masturbation, the experts said, just like with men, this would be when it starts to interfere with a person’s daily life.

Men — 21 TIMES a month is sweet spot

According to Dr. Kanaris, the “sweet spot” for men is about 21 times a month — or five times a week.

He said the lower limit should be about seven times a month.

Dr. Kanaris cited a 2016 study of 32,000 men that showed that frequent masturbation lowered the risk of prostate cancer.

He encouraged older men to masturbate more, as data shows they tend to have fun much less often than those in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

“It’s good to be aware of these correlation numbers,” he said. “But thinking I’m failing because I’m not hitting the target is the wrong way to look at it.

“If a person feels, “oh dear, once a week is what I’m comfortable with,” that’s fine.

“I don’t want people to think that if they don’t get these numbers, they’re in trouble.”

The 2016 study, by researchers at Boston University, found that those who ejaculated more — through masturbation or sex — were up to a third less likely to get prostate cancer.

The act is thought to help remove potentially carcinogenic substances from the prostate.

Dr. However, Kanaris cautioned that men should not become compulsive in their masturbation and be guided by how they feel.

He told DailyMail.com, “I’d be careful about creating a sense of mandatory masturbation, though.

“You know, ‘I’ve only masturbated 16 times this month and this is putting my health at risk,’ that would be the wrong way to look at it.”

Research also shows that when people masturbate, it triggers a flood of feel-good hormones, which are responsible for relieving anxiety, stress and boosting self-esteem.

Studies have also linked masturbation to lasting sex longer, helping men bond with their partner.

When asked how much masturbation is too much for men, Dr. Kanaris said there wasn’t a specific number — but he did suggest masturbating multiple times a day was problematic.

He said someone could tell if they were masturbating too much if the habit started interfering with their daily lives, including going to work and seeing family and friends.

Dr. Peter Kanaris, a Long Island sex therapist, suggested men should masturbate seven to 21 times a month

Other risks of masturbating too much include injuries, which occur when people start using more force to get the same pleasure.

Is porn OK? You may want to read a book instead

All experts said pornography was okay to use, but in moderation.

Dr. Ian Kerner, a best-selling author and sex therapist, told DailyMail.com, “I’m all for a relationship with your own sexuality.

“And if porn is going to be the thing to fuel sexual arousal, then I have no problem with that.”

However, he added, “I do suggest ethical porn. It costs a bit, but means they all want to be there, have agreed and get paid.’

Dr. Malik warned that pornography was a “mixed bag.”

She said using it “occasionally” was beneficial for masturbation and getting to know your sexuality.

But watching porn too regularly carries risks because it’s “very produced” and “doesn’t reflect what real sex is like.” She warned that this could lead to unmet expectations and disappointments in the bedroom.

Alternatives to pornography include fantasy — using your brain to imagine a sexually arousing scene like “before porn existed” — and erotic literature, she said.

People can also use their partners, she said, or sex toys to find other ways to stimulate themselves.