2. Stimulate the head

There are as many benefits of masturbation as there are to grease your pole. Here are 14 to talk about over brunch.

You probably heard the rumors even if you weren't a Catholic schoolboy. Too much masturbating will make your hands grow hair, give you acne, or make you infertile. The latter might not be a big worry. But even if it is, they're all myths.

In fact, there are plenty of benefits of masturbation. Regularly touching yourself can strengthen your hair, refresh your skin, and potentially increase your sperm count.

Need more reasons to run home to your Fleshlight? You've come to the right place.

Is masturbation healthy? 14 surprising health benefits of masturbation

You don't need a partner to get your dose of sexual healing. Here are 14 benefits of male masturbation to prove us right.

It keeps your dick strong

A jerk a day keeps the doctor away. Your body naturally loses muscle tone as you get older. Like every other body part, you have to work out your penis to keep its muscles firm.

Manual stimulation is one way to work your pelvic floor muscles, which support your bladder, bowels, and sexual function. In other words, it keeps your pipes from leaking. Likewise, weak pelvic floor muscles can lead to pain in your rectum and softer erections. Masturbating is so effective that doctors recommend it to prevent or reverse the effects of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

It can improve your stamina

Most men lose control and blow their load quicker than they'd like from time to time. A great partner will take it as a compliment. But, an estimated 20-30% of sexually active men suffer from chronic premature ejaculation, which can lead to psychological stress or lowered self-esteem.

If you chronically cum in less than a minute, shoot for an extra few seconds and gradually build up your stamina. Try moving slower, stimulating less sensitive areas, and eliminating stimuli that quickly push you over the edge. You can also partner your sexercise with regular Kegels to strengthen your pelvic muscles. With consistent practice, you may feel more confident as a top or gain sustained pleasure in every slurp and lick during oral sex.

It can lower your chance of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis among men and disproportionately impacts Hispanic and Black men compared to white men.

Over eight years, researchers studied the relationship between masturbation frequency and prostate cancer with a group of more than 400 patients. They found that male masturbators who ejaculated more than 21 times a week dropped their risk of prostate cancer by about 33% compared to patients who masturbated once or twice.

It might boost your immunity

Although it's not a remedy for the common cold, playing with yourself can strengthen your immune system. Sexual arousal and orgasm pump your body with NK cells, which are responsible for limiting the spread of several types of tumors and microbial infections.

It gives you a rush of happy hormones

Don't pout, rub one out! It's scientifically proven that masturbation feels good. Orgasms pump your body with happy hormones like dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin. That happy cocktail decreases your cortisol levels, which can relieve stress and boost your mood.

Plus, masturbating releases testosterone, which is like a circle jerk for your sexual arousal as it increases your libido.

It's a free facial

Get ready to gag the boys at your next brunch with a new skincare tip. And we're not talking about sperm facials. All those happy hormones don't just destress your mood. They reduce the physical impacts of stress, like the overproduction of sweat and acne. After exfoliating and moisturizing, extract your serum for a post-orgasm glow.

Although you shouldn't kick your esthetician to the curb, regular masturbation might run down your skincare bill. We call that orgasm math.

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It helps you sleep

If you're wide awake in bed reliving that awkward phone sex encounter or the time you forgot to douche, a self-pleasure nightcap will help you relax. When you cum, your body releases oxytocin, which decreases the stress hormone cortisol. The next time you toss and turn, count strokes instead of sheep.

It can energize you

Sex or masturbating might have the opposite effect on sleepiness. There's no better way to determine how your body responds than old-fashioned trial and error. If you struggle to wake up in the morning, a quick solo session before an espresso might be the answer to feeling awake and refreshed.

It increases your longevity

A small Swedish study found that men who lived longer than 75 years had one thing in common: They were still fucking. Add that sexual health hack to a balanced diet and regular exercise and you have a winning combination for a long life. Having sex once or twice a week increases your immunoglobulin levels, which helps your blood fight infection and disease.

Most studies don't discriminate between sex and masturbation when it comes to ejaculation, meaning your right hand and your favorite brand of lube are just as effective as a partner.

It helps you explore your kinks

It's never a bad time to explore your sexuality. Even if you feel in touch with your body, masturbation is a safe space to explore kinks or fetishes, like a double-penetration dildo, blindfolding yourself, or exploring new genres of porn. Understanding what your body likes and doesn't like lets you communicate your desires to your partners, which makes sex more fun and satisfying for everyone.

It keeps your heart healthy

The side effects of daily male masturbation could be a healthier heart. That sounds much more fun than running on the treadmill every day. Sex and masturbation are about as strenuous as walking, making it another option to get in your daily steps.

It might improve your cognitive function

Everyone wants to stay with it for as long as possible. Masturbating is one way to stay mentally sharp, alongside other lifestyle habits like regular exercise, lifelong learning, and social connection. Studies show that sexually active adults over the age of 50 possess better memory and verbal fluency than adults with a less active libido. The study's definition of "sex" didn't just include intercourse - petting and masturbation have the same positive effect.

It can improve your relationship with your body

Here's a mindfulness technique to add to your journaling or meditation practices: guided masturbation. Also known as erotic meditation, orgasmic meditation, or tantric meditation, guided masturbation is a technique to develop a deeper awareness of your body.

Working with a partner, sexual therapist or sexologist, or a guided masturbation app, the practice uses meditation and body scanning techniques to concentrate on the senses. Developing a relationship with your sense of intimacy, pleasure, and sexuality will help you prioritize your needs and communicate them to partners.

It can boost your confidence

Feel yourself - literally. Masturbating is a great way to celebrate your body and all its beautiful wrinkles, freckles, and moles. Try pleasuring yourself without concentrating on the climax, like giving yourself a massage with a happy ending. Whatever makes your body uniquely yours, run your fingers (or your favorite vibrator) along your curves, play with your stubble, or tease your most sensitive spots. It will help you feel more comfortable in your skin.

I bop, you bop, they bop

There are as many benefits of masturbation as there are ways to masturbate. And now that you know it can boost your cognition, libido, and heart health, it's time to stock your bedside table with lubricant, tissues, and your favorite sex toys.

And if you're looking for partners to practice your technique, you'll find them on Grindr. Download the Grindr app now and let the circle jerks begin!