Key takeaways
- A Harvard study of 31,925 men with 18 years of follow-up shows 21+ ejaculations per month is associated with 19-22% lower prostate cancer risk
- Women who experience masturbation as important and empowering score significantly higher on the FSFI (Female Sexual Function Index)
- It's not just about frequency — emotional context (shame-free, curious) determines whether the effect is positive
- May is globally Masturbation Month, introduced in 1995 after the firing of U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders for her statements on the topic
Every May there's an extra month of space for a conversation most people avoid on every other day of the year: masturbation. Solo pleasure. Self-touch. However you name it — it's statistically universal, psychologically powerful, and among the best-evidenced forms of self-care we have. And yet: shame still wraps around it. This guide peels back that shame using peer-reviewed data.
What is Masturbation Month — and why does it exist?
The month was initiated in 1995 by San Francisco sex shop Good Vibrations in response to the firing of U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. She had simply stated that masturbation "is part of human sexuality" and deserves attention in sexual education. Within weeks, she was fired. The public outrage birthed what's now an annual, international occasion to break the stigmatization of solo pleasure.
Since then, substantially more scientific research has become available on its health benefits. Let's start there.
What peer-reviewed research says about the health benefits
For men: the prostate data
The most cited study on this topic is by Jennifer Rider (Boston University) and colleagues, published in European Urology (2016). They followed 31,925 men over 18 years (the Harvard Health Professionals Follow-Up Study). The conclusion:
- 21 or more ejaculations per month at age 20-29 → 19% lower chance of prostate cancer diagnosis
- 21 or more ejaculations per month at age 40-49 → 22% lower chance of prostate cancer diagnosis
- The effect remained significant after controlling for PSA screening frequency and other lifestyle factors
The working hypothesis: regular ejaculation helps "flush" potentially carcinogenic substances from the prostate.
For women: the FSFI data
A 2024 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine (Oliveira et al.) investigated the relationship between masturbation and sexual function in undergraduate women. Their findings:
- Women who experienced masturbation as important scored significantly higher on the FSFI — across nearly all subdomains (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction)
- Women who felt empowered or satisfied during masturbation scored higher than women who felt shame or guilt
- Frequency alone was a weaker predictor than emotional context
In other words: how you think about your masturbation matters more than how often you do it.
For everyone: general health effects
A large 2022 study (MDPI) of 12,271 Finnish adults found frequent masturbation positively correlates with overall sexual function. Additionally, masturbation is associated with:
- Lower stress and cortisol (via endorphin and oxytocin release)
- Better sleep (via the prolactin peak after orgasm)
- Reduced menstrual pain (via blood flow and endorphins)
- Higher sexual self-knowledge (which then improves partnered sex)
Myths it's time to dispel
Myth 1: "Too much masturbation is bad for your body"
Research confirms no physically harmful effect of frequent masturbation, except in rare cases of compulsive behavior (more on that below). "Too much" is medically undefined.
Myth 2: "It reduces partner sex"
Partially nuanced. The Finnish study found that in single women, more masturbation correlates with better orgasm function, but in women in relationships, sometimes with slightly lower orgasm scores — likely because it's used as compensation for unsatisfying partner sex. The remedy isn't stopping masturbation, it's improving partner communication. See our guide on introducing sex toys.
Myth 3: "It causes erectile or orgasm problems"
Research doesn't support this for normal frequency. What it can do: very specific masturbation technique (e.g., death grip — extremely firm pressure) can reduce sensation during partner sex. Varying technique solves this.
Myth 4: "It's only for single people"
50% of people in relationships masturbate regularly. It's complementary, not replacement — and often a factor that enriches partner sex through better self-knowledge.
Masturbation for women: self-knowledge as the most powerful effect
For many women, masturbation isn't primarily about orgasm or stress relief. It's a direct investment in self-knowledge that then strengthens everything that comes after (solo or with partner).
What you learn through solo exploration
- Where your clitoral glans is most responsive (left/right asymmetry is normal)
- How much pressure works for you
- Which intensity accelerates vs. slows arousal
- Whether you're more responsive to direct vs. indirect stimulation (through the hood)
- How an orgasm announces itself (the 20-30 seconds before peak)
This is information almost no one gets through formal education. Solo exploration gives it to you directly.
For deeper technique and anatomy: our ultimate guide to clitoral stimulation and our G-spot guide are direct companions to this solo practice.
The role of toys in solo pleasure
Toys aren't a requirement for masturbation, but they substantially shorten the learning curve.
For beginners: the bullet
A small, quiet bullet like the ODES Intima is ideal because it feels less dominant than larger toys and leaves your hands free to explore.
For targeted clitoral stimulation: tapping
For those who discover that vibrations flatten over time, The Touch tapping vibrator offers a completely different sensation many women describe as "more intense and precise."
For combined stimulation: Tarzan vibrators
The Lustra or Seduce Tarzan vibrator combines internal and external stimulation — ideal for learning what dual stimulation does for you.
For men: the prostate option
For men who want to deepen solo pleasure, a prostate vibrator like the Ombre is an underrated tool — it offers a completely different kind of orgasm than penis-only stimulation.
How masturbation strengthens partner sex
This is the point most often missed. Regular solo sex doesn't make you a worse partner — it makes you a more aware and articulate one.
You learn to name what you want
After 10 solo sessions you know with reasonable precision what works for you. That translates directly into usable partner communication. "A bit softer" is more specific than "hmm, not quite."
You raise your orgasm ceiling
People who orgasm regularly (solo or together) generally have a shorter "arousal pathway" to the next orgasm. Your body stays primed.
You lower pressure on partner sex
When solo sex is a reliable outlet, the pressure to make every shared session perfect evaporates. That reduces performance anxiety and strengthens pleasure for both.
How much is "too much"?
There's no scientific upper limit on healthy masturbation. It becomes problematic when one or more of these is present:
- Masturbation disrupts work, studies, or social obligations
- You can't stop despite the intention to stop
- It replaces all other emotional regulation (you reach for it at every emotion, not just arousal)
- It causes physical injury (extreme pressure, irritation)
- It's accompanied by persistent shame or guilt
For most people, "normal" falls between 1-7 times per week, with wide individual variation. Anything within that range is completely healthy.
A 6-step plan for this Masturbation Month
Step 1: Create a shame-free zone
Time, place, privacy. No rush. No guilt afterward. This is literally the first requirement for a healthy solo session.
Step 2: Start with breath, not touch
The 2 minutes before you start physically touching matter more than the 20 after. Deep breaths, eyes closed, mental vibration to neutral. Then body.
Step 3: Explore without a goal
Especially the first 10 minutes: no orgasm as target. Just discover what you feel where. This breaks the "work mode" many accidentally adopt.
Step 4: Vary consciously
The same technique every time conditions your brain to that one route. Vary pressure, place, intensity, tempo. That keeps your responsiveness broad.
Step 5: Introduce toys when you're ready
Not required, but powerful as expansion. Start with one tool like the Intima bullet or discover tapping technology.
Step 6: Reflect briefly after
One sentence to yourself: "what worked today?" or "what was new?" That builds self-knowledge faster than years without reflection.
Common mistakes
Mistake 1: Only doing it when you "have enough time." Short sessions are valuable too. 10 minutes is fine.
Mistake 2: Always same toy, same tempo, same position. Builds condition-specific response that can work against you in partnered sex.
Mistake 3: Porn use as automatic startup. Not wrong, but risk of dependency on external triggers. Alternate with only fantasy or body awareness.
Mistake 4: Ignoring shame buildup. If masturbation starts feeling "like something to hide," it's time to look at the underlying shame script. Sometimes personal, sometimes cultural or religious.
Mistake 5: Hygiene carelessness. Wash hands first. Clean toys with warm water + mild soap or dedicated toy cleaner. Use body-safe lube where needed — see our lubricant guide.
When is masturbation behavior a signal?
With respect for nuance: masturbation is healthy, except in these scenarios:
- When it disrupts daily functioning (work, social, sleep)
- When it's paired with compulsive porn consumption that escalates
- When pain, irritation, or injury develops
- When it's become primarily emotion avoidance, not pleasure
- When persistent shame or guilt weighs on life
In these cases, a conversation with a sexologist or psychologist is more powerful than self-habit-adjustment. No shame — just smart.
Frequently asked questions about masturbation and health
Is daily masturbation unhealthy?
No. Daily masturbation is completely healthy for most people, as long as it doesn't impair your functioning or cause physical injury.
Does masturbation lower my testosterone?
No. Studies show testosterone peaks briefly after ejaculation and returns to baseline. Longer abstinence doesn't significantly change baseline values.
Can I be too old for masturbation?
No. Masturbation is healthy at any age. Research shows benefits for circulation, mood, and sleep in older age categories too.
Can masturbation lower my libido long-term?
Not according to research. What it can do: regulate you. If your libido seems lower after, it's because direct tension was released — not because something is "depleted."
Is masturbation during my period safe?
Yes, and for many people even relieving for cramps. Blood flow and endorphins act as pain relievers.
What if I orgasm much more easily solo than with a partner?
Completely normal and widely common. Usually it's about script differences (solo = direct control). The solution isn't less solo — it's more conscious partner communication. See our orgasm gap guide.
Conclusion: solo pleasure is self-care
Masturbation Month doesn't exist because we need to "celebrate" it. It exists because we still don't normalize it enough. The data is clear: regular, shame-free masturbation is associated with lower prostate cancer risk (men), higher FSFI scores (women), reduced stress and better sleep (everyone), and higher self-knowledge that directly enriches partnered sex.
If you want to do something this May: pick one evening. Shame-free. Slow. Curious. With or without a toy. That's the point.
Explore our complete ODES collection, collection for her, or collection for him if you want to introduce something new this month.
