হস্তমৈথুন কী? – হস্তমৈথুনের ক্ষতিকর প্রভাব এবং স্বাস্থ্য উপকারিতা

Masturbation is a type of sexual act that is a natural and healthy habit. Masturbation has many beneficial aspects, including not only achieving sexual pleasure, but also reducing mental anxiety and maintaining hormonal balance. Regular masturbation reduces the risk of prostate cancer and other prostate-related problems. But just as nothing is more good, excessive masturbation also has its bad sides. The harmful effects of excessive masturbation on physical and mental health can indirectly lead to infertility problems. Along with the harmful aspects of excessive masturbation, how it affects the ability to produce children is discussed in detail.

Topic of discussion

• What is excessive masturbation ?
• Harmful effects of excessive masturbation.
• Masturbation and male infertility .
• Masturbation and female infertility.
• Ways to break the habit of excessive masturbation.
• Question: Can masturbation cause hair loss ? Does excessive masturbation lead to weight loss ?

What is excessive masturbation?

Masturbation is a kind of aphrodisiac process. People often get addicted to this pleasurable act. One of the reasons behind this is that during masturbation, ‘feel good chemicals’ like dopamine and endorphins are released in the brain, which makes the mind feel good, and eliminates mental problems like depression and anxiety to a large extent . These ‘feel good chemicals’ keep provoking the brain to do the stimulating act again and again. As a result, masturbation can become addictive. If someone is engaged in masturbation and related thoughts most of the day, it can be said to be excessive. Sometimes this habit consumes so much that the addicted person starts masturbating without any thought. As a result, he has to face embarrassment in society and at work. Healthy relationships are destroyed or not developed at all. It can even indirectly lead to problems like childlessness.

Harmful effects of excessive masturbation

Excessive masturbation can cause these problems:

• Excessive stimulation in the brain.
• Overreliance on endorphins and dopamine.
• Tenderness and swelling (edema) in the genitals .
• Decreased sensitivity in the genitals.
• Guilt and shame.
• Lack of confidence.
• Decreased patience and concentration.
• Pornography addiction.
• Antisocial behavior.
• Inability to integrate into society, destroying healthy relationships.

Excessive masturbation and infertility

Excessive masturbation has no direct link to infertility. However, some physiological and psychological conditions associated with masturbation can lead to infertility problems.

Excessive masturbation and male infertility

No research has yet found any effect of masturbation on men’s inability to become fathers. Rather, like normal sexual intercourse, masturbation also increases the production of new healthy sperm by removing old sperm. Some recent studies have claimed that this increases the quality and number of sperm in men. Studies have also shown evidence that masturbation increases sperm density and motility . Now the question is, when and how does masturbation cause problems?

Now the question is, when and how does masturbation cause problems ? 

Generally speaking, the best quality sperm is found in a man’s semen after he has not ejaculated for 2-3 days . Therefore, when the goal is to have a child, it is better to stop masturbation two or three days before intercourse. Even in assisted reproductive technology, experts advise not to have sexual intercourse or masturbation two or three days before submitting semen to the laboratory.

Now let’s talk about the harmful effects of excessive masturbation. Excessive masturbation, i.e., masturbation more than once a day, has a bad effect on the process of childbearing. Especially if masturbation continues multiple times a day for a week or even for four consecutive days. Normally, a man’s body produces about 1,500 sperm per second and approximately 300 million sperm are released each time he ejaculates. Excessive masturbation causes more sperm to be released from the body than sperm is produced. 

Apart from this, there is another bad effect for those who use ‘sex toys’ for masturbation. Cheap ‘sex toys’ are made of low-quality materials. In this case, exposure to harmful chemicals reduces sperm production and makes it of low quality. ‘Sex toys’ also contain some chemicals that disrupt hormone balance, and there is a possibility of cancer .

In addition, the psychological problems associated with excessive masturbation directly affect erection, sexual ability, and ejaculation. A person addicted to masturbation may have problems in their marital life, which affects their ability to have children. 

Excessive masturbation and female infertility

Female masturbation has no negative impact on female fertility. In fact, research shows that masturbation is in no way linked to ovulation.

Unlike men, women do not need an orgasm to initiate the process of conception . Similarly, during orgasm, a woman does not release an egg from her body. Each activity occurs independently of the other.

The female body produces an egg every month, which travels from the ovary to the fallopian tube for fertilization. If the egg receives sperm within 12-24 hours of ovulation, the woman has a high chance of successful conception.

If fertilization does not occur during this time, the egg sheds into the lining of the uterus, which is shed each month during menstruation . Therefore, women can masturbate without worrying about infertility .

In fact, women who masturbate regularly have lower stress levels and better moods, which ultimately helps with successful pregnancies.

Health benefits of masturbation

Masturbation is a completely natural and healthy aspect of human sexuality. Beyond the pleasure it provides, masturbation offers numerous health benefits that can contribute to the overall well-being of both men and women.

• Stress reduction: Masturbation is a proven stress reliever. When you indulge in self-pleasure, your body releases endorphins and oxytocin, often known as the ‘feel good’ hormones. These chemicals not only improve mood but also help reduce levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress . Regular, (though not compulsive,) masturbation can serve as a healthy coping mechanism for dealing with life’s stresses.
• Improves sleep: Masturbation can improve the quality of sleep. The release of endorphins and oxytocin during orgasm induces feelings of relaxation and contentment, making it easier to fall asleep and experience deeper, more restorative rest. For those who struggle with insomnia or sleep disturbances, incorporating masturbation into their bedtime routine can provide natural relief.
• Increased sexual satisfaction: Self-pleasure is an opportunity to explore your own body and sexual desires without the pressure of a partner. By becoming more familiar with your own preferences and responses, you can communicate effectively with your partner and experience greater sexual satisfaction together. Masturbation can help overcome sexual dysfunctions such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation , providing a safe space to practice arousal control techniques .
• Pelvic floor health: Masturbation can help increase the strength and flexibility of the pelvic floor muscles. The rhythmic contractions that occur during orgasm help exercise these muscles, which play an important role in bladder and bowel control, as well as sexual function. For those experiencing pelvic pain or discomfort, gentle self-stimulation can provide relief by increasing blood flow
• Helps cure urinary tract infections in women: Masturbation also benefits women health-wise. People suffering from UTIs can find relief through masturbation as it flushes bacteria from the cervix.
• Prevents prostate cancer: Masturbation flushes out toxins accumulated in the urethra, making men who ejaculate frequently three times less likely to develop prostate cancer.
• Relief from Restless Leg Syndrome: Another health benefit of masturbation is that those suffering from restless leg syndrome feel the need to constantly move their limbs, which can lead to leg pain and cramps. A publication in a medical journal called ‘Sleep Medicine’ suggests that sex and masturbation can help relieve the symptoms of RLS .
• Boosts Immune System and Overall Health: Male ejaculation triggers the release of a stress hormone called cortisol. Although stressful, experts believe that small amounts of this hormone help build your immune system. For women, masturbation improves cervical and cardiovascular health and also reduces the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Ultimately, masturbation for men can have many health benefits if done in moderation. Excessive masturbation can have a negative impact on your health.

Ways to break the habit of excessive masturbation

Even though it is not directly related to childlessness, the habit of excessive masturbation can cause some problems and complications in life. Therefore, care should be taken to ensure that masturbation does not become an addiction. If it becomes an addiction, the following ways can be followed as a way to get rid of it-

• The habit of watching pornography should be avoided. 
• Instead of masturbation, you need to keep yourself busy with something else or find a ‘hobby’.
• Exercise can be done to release ‘feel good chemicals’ and reduce stress.
• You should increase your interaction with friends and relatives.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy can help.
• Support groups or counseling can also be helpful.
• The habit of masturbation can be controlled by scheduling sexual intercourse with your partner in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can masturbation cause hair loss ?

No, masturbation has nothing to do with hair loss. Masturbation is a natural process. Its excessive habit brings abnormalities in life. However, it has nothing to do with hair loss.

2. Does masturbation cause weight loss ?

Masturbation has no connection with weight loss. However, masturbation can be an indirect way to reduce the excess eating that occurs due to stress, which results in weight gain. Masturbation releases ‘feel good chemicals’. This helps reduce stress. Apart from this indirect aspect, masturbation has no connection with weight loss. 

3. Does masturbation cause problems in conceiving a child?

Masturbation does not affect fertility, but excessive masturbation can have harmful effects. There is no research that suggests that masturbation reduces male fertility. Masturbating for a few minutes a few times a week helps the body get rid of old sperm. Frequent ejaculation can actually improve sperm quality and motility.

4. What are the harmful effects of masturbation?

Excessive masturbation can lead to physical, mental, and sexual fatigue. After ejaculation, the level of testosterone hormone in the body decreases. Testosterone is a very important hormone for men. Masturbation helps in the production of the steroid hormone, cortisol. This increases the metabolic rate and as a result, fatigue and tiredness increase. Excessive masturbation reduces the production of oxytocin, DHEA, testosterone, and DHT. This results in back pain or discomfort.

What is the way to quit masturbation?

There are some ways to quit masturbation – do yoga, meditate, get massage treatments, avoid watching porn. Also, seek the advice of a sexologist in case of excessive masturbation.