May is Masturbation Month in the United States. This month just wouldn’t be complete without getting more of a handle into this subject.

What do medical professionals and sexual health authorities have to say about masturbation? The general consensus is that solo sex can have a positive impact on one’s emotional, physical and sexual health. So let’s touch on five of the most common myths regarding masturbation:

1. Masturbation causes physical illnesses—Untrue. There are people who still believe they’ll go blind if they masturbate. Others believe hair will grow on the palms of their hands or they’ll never be able to reproduce. Other conditions associated with self-pleasuring are acne and hair loss. None of these statements are scientifically true.
2. Masturbation causes mental illnesses—Wrong! Medical science has debunked many myths formally associated with masturbation, such as insanity, or that masturbation drains excessive energy from the body. Misunderstanding masturbation can cause guilt and shame, but sexual energy is part of our divine nature.
3. One can become addicted to vibrators—Vibrators are not drugs. They can stimulate and satisfy someone when masturbating and also while having sex with a partner/partners. Professionals agree there are no physical or mental implications for frequent masturbation, unless it’s symptomatic of an obsessive/compulsive disorder (OCD).
4. It’s wrong to masturbate if we’re in a relationship—Inaccurate. Masturbation does not “ruin” a person for partner sex. Masturbation and partner sex are two different activities and they produce different, yet similar kinds of pleasure. In reality, the more we know about our bodies, the easier and more satisfactory partnered sex can be.
5. Masturbation limits the frequency of our orgasms—False! There is no limit to the number of orgasms we can reach in a lifetime. We can decide how many we want or enjoy comfortably. In addition, for men, the quality of sperm is actually healthier if a guy ejaculates regularly.

There are many ways to cultivate and stimulate sexual energy. Enjoying sexual pleasure is a key part of our human experience and masturbation can be the first step we make to accept and feel comfortable in our bodies. Happy Masturbation Month!

Bonus:

Relephant:

Mindful Masturbation: 5 Tips to Create a Self-Pleasure Practice.

Let’s Get Intimate: Masturbation in Marriage. {Adult Q& A}

Author: Martha Lee

Editor: Evan Yerburgh

Image: Flickr