We usually just find cute kitty videos and links to banana slicers on our Facebook feed but today we saw a post that made us feel good about ourselves—and feel good about feeling ourselves.
A report out of Australia some years back claimed that men who masturbated five times a day were only third as likely to develop prostate cancer. The theory is that disease-causing toxins build up the urogenital tract and servicing yourself helps flush out the system.
Here are some other benefits to rubbing one out, as determined by Men’s Health (so you know it’s legit):
It makes you harder. As you age, you naturally lose muscle tone—even down there. Regular sex or masturbation works out your pelvic floor muscles to prevent erectile dysfunction and incontinence. “It keeps the angle of your dangle perky,” says Brame. Aim to (ahem) arrive 3 to 5 times a week for rock-solid results.
It helps you last longer. Taking yourself to palm prom may help you stretch your sack sessions. “[Masturbating] an hour before a date will give you more control,” says Brame. Train yourself by timing how long it takes you to orgasm, suggests Ava Cadell, Ph.D., founder of loveologyuniversity.com. If it usually takes two minutes solo, try for three next time. Or count how many strokes you need to get to your happy place. If you’re spurting after 50, shoot for 60. “Most men can double the number of strokes and the time within one month,” Cadell says. Practice makes perfect, right?
It ups your immunity. Ejaculation increases levels of the hormone cortisol, says Jennifer Landa, M.D., a specialist in hormone therapy. Cortisol, which usually gets a bad rap as a havoc-wrecking stress hormone, actually helps regulate and maintain your immunity in the small doses. “Masturbation can product the right environment for a strengthened immune system,” she says.
It boosts your mood. Masturbating releases a slew of feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine and oxytocin that lift your spirits, boost your satisfaction, and activate the reward circuits in your brain. “An orgasm is the biggest non-drug blast of dopamine available,” says Brame. “A brain scan of someone having an orgasm looks like a heroin addict’s.”
Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some work to do.
How about we take this to the next level?
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yaoming
Is it 5 times a day or 5 times a week? There’s a big difference.
Goforit
It is nice to know that I am going to live forever. The only downside as far as I can tell is that I can barely undo my zipper with my left hand but I can crush a VW with my right.
Fidelio
I dunno. In a past relationship I was having sex about 3 times a day and finally I started jizzing rocks. It looked like dry, dusty semen, so I doubt anyone can sustain doing it 5 times a day. Plus, my Pedro got irritated.
I”m curious about something, though, and want to ask bottoms out there this: I take longer to climax and am super self-conscious about it (30 min or longer). Is a longer session a good or bad thing?
Fidelio
@Goforit: lmfao! Goddamn superhero.
Aidan8
Well, I can scratch prostate cancer risk off the list. lol
Dionte
Now I can offset the cost of using so much tissue.
GayTampaCowboy
This is news HOW? More than 10 years ago my primary care physician, during my annual physical, told me, during a discussion about colon and prostate cancer, that frequent ejaculation has been proven to be a good tool to help prevent these types of cancer.
the subject arose (no pun intended) during the pre-exam interview/questionnaire session where he asked me about my sexual activities. If i was married, single, in an LTR, if i had multiple sex partners, etc. That’s when i disclosed my orientation and his questions became more specific about what i did sexually.
The discussion was non-emotional and quite sterile. I think that’s also why i was comfortable being 100% open with him as i didn’t register any reaction to my answers or my sex partners and safer sex practices.
He asked me how often I masturbated, use of sex toys, and the prostate. To be honest, it was one of the best discussions and health-affirming appointments i’ve ever had. He was very upfront. Ejaculating 3-5 times a week provides many benefits to my sexual/urinary health and that it was something i should seriously consider now, as opposed to having surgury later down the road to address issues arising from NOT excercising this organ (the prostate).
OWN YOUR HEALTH FOLKS!
Dresden
That’s it… I’m calling Humana right now to see if I can get a masturbatory discount.
2eo
There’s an awesome charity campaign in here somewhere.
viveutvivas
@Fidelio, taking longer is heaven for some bottoms and hell for other bottoms. Find the right bottom. Also, try to relax and enjoy the journey as opposed to being fixated on the destination, since you probably know by now that worrying about it just makes it worse. What’s the worst that can happen? (Also, sometimes when I can’t c*m in a timely way with a bottom I just fake it.)
Chad Hunt
@Dionte: LOL … you can now claim those tissues as a preventative medical expense on your taxes.
MuscleModelBlog.com
Everything in moderation, I guess.
jwrappaport
@Fidelio: I’m definitely in favor of shorter, but I never really time it. Depends how big and/or rough the top is.
trelin
@Fidelio The shorter, the better. Sadly, I’m a sex-hating bottom. I enjoy EVERYTHING else but the intercourse. Too much pain.
boring
My prostate can beat up your prostate.
Mickie_Newton
@yaoming: If you aim for 5 times a day 5 days a week you should feel great! lol
Fidelio
@viveutvivas: exactly! thank you. the more i think about it the worse it gets. never tried faking it, though. i suppose drinking doesn’t help, either.
hf2hvit
@Dionte: Just get a dog…
jwrappaport
The headline should have been: A handjob a day keeps the urologist away.
Knut
Another blow to the moralist crusade against masturbation. Masturbation is good, and as said it reduces the risk for prostate cancer significantly. It also prevents the unpleasant condition called “blue balls”.
drdemarco
Check out a couple of happenings to celebrate National Masturbation Month in May! First, there is an upcoming film called “Sticky: A Documentary on Masturbation” (see the trailer at http://www.facebook.com/stickythemovie ) as well as a viral photo project called #iMasturbate over at http://www.imasturbate.co
TallGuy
oh well I’ll never to worry about prostate cancer. ever since my dad showed me a Playboy magazine at the age of 6 I’ve been going non-stop. I’ve been dropping 2 loads a day for 30 years. which is a good thing because I can last long with a girl. the jerking makes it less sensitive
prostate therapist
Yeah, there may be some good science to support that this works but we all know it is just plain fun!
About the science, if it were actually true it cut your risk of prostate cancer by 1/3, would any man ever get prostate cancer?
moalta
But, seriously, a question for which I could not find an answer. I had/have prostate cancer, quite high risk at Gleason 9+. I received ADT (11 months) and radiation therapy (8 weeks) together. My PSA level has stayed low almost 4 years later. Question is: does frequent masturbation and/or use of libido stimulants (Maca, Horny Goat Weed, Tongkat Ali) pose a risk for disturbing cancerous (or potentially cancerous) prostate cells? By the way, prostatitis CAN BE AN INDICATION OF PROSTATE CANCER (contrary to what I was told 20 years ago) and I still have prostatitis pain, especially after masturbation.
momuk
I think it is interesting that the Harvard Medical School study proposes that frequent ejaculations will lower the risk of developing prostate cancer http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/ in older men; however, any ejaculation tends to raise at least temporarily the PSA SCORE. In fact, urologists urge male patients to avoid masturbating or sex at least 3 days prior to having the PSA tests to avoid skewing results.
Does anyone have a comment on these facts?
josue_diaz
I have heard a lot about it, and that masturbation helps to prevent prostate cancer, is it true? In my case i have a healthy alimentation because i consider its the best way to prevent it, also i read serious studies that recommend it, besides it I take a natural supplement named alpha rise, it has worked miracles on me! another thing to keep on mind is that if you drink alcohol or smoke you stop doing it!